a Blaine, Dewey, Kay, Logan, and Payne counties did not report the number of town lots in 1901. Dewey, Greer, Kay, and Payne counties did not report the number of town lots for 1902. Greer, Kay. Kiowa, Payne, and Washita counties did not report the number of town lots for 1903.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

[L. W. Baxter, Territorial superintendent.]

The Oklahoma public schools have enjoyed another year of prosperity. As the Territory grows older, conditions become more stable, improvements more permanent, salaries increase, and a better equipped body of teachers are employed. The last year has witnessed a great importation of teachers from other States. These teachers are of a superior class, seeking a suitable field for their ability and a place to make a home for themselves.

The latest reports from the county superintendents, bearing date of June 30, 1903, show that there are 190,978 children of school age, 6 to 21 years, in the Territory; that 3,438 teachers were employed that year; that there were 2,578 schoolhouses, valued at $1,617,213.15; that there was received for school purposes $1,535,744.15; expenditures, $1,266,278.55, and that 2,500 teachers were certificated. The foregoing statistics are not complete inasmuch as they do not include all of the counties and none of the Territorial institutions. Attached herewith are tables showing comparative school statistics since 1891.

The Oklahoma public school system is thoroughly planned and organized. It may be divided properly into rural schools, city schools, and Territorial institutions. There are about 3,000 country schools in the Territory, 22 cities of the first class, and 7 Territorial institutions. The Territorial board of education consists of the Territorial superintendent, the president of the university, the president of the Central State Normal School, one city superintendent, and one county superintendent, appointed by the governor. This board has the general management and control of the public school system. The supervision of the schools is vested in a Territorial superintendent, appointed by the governor, and a county superintendent for each county, elected biennially. Each city has a superintendent of its own, who is elected by the city board of education. Each school district is immediately controlled by a school board of three members, one of which is elected at the annual meeting in July of each year.

The State institutions are controlled by boards appointed by the governor. They consist of the university at Norman, the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Stillwater, the Central State Normal at Edmond, the Northwestern State Normal at Alva, the Southwestern State Normal at Weatherford, the University Preparatory School at Tonkawa, and the Colored Agricultural and Normal University at Langston.

The course of study is so arranged that the pupil may begin his education in the most distant district school and may graduate at any State institution. The last legislature made provision for the establishment of kindergartens in the cities of the first class. Only one city, Oklahoma City, has taken advantage of this wise provision of the law. The legislature also provided for a kindergarten training school in connection with the various normal schools. The board of education for normal schools is taking active steps to see that the provisions of this law are complied with.

The secondary schools of the Territory consist of the University Preparatory School at Tonkawa, the preparatory school in connection with the university, the Agricultural and Mechanical College at

THE UNIVERSITY, NORMAN. PREPARATORY SCHOOL, TONKAWA.

AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE, STILLWATER. CARNEGIE LIBRARY, NORMAN.