1939: Wyoming

Area and Population.

The name Wyoming, meaning 'large plains,' is from the Indian Maugh-wau-wa-ma. It is sometimes called the 'Equality State' because it was the first to adopt equal suffrage, in 1869. Wyoming was first settled in 1834, became a Territory by Act of Congress July 25, 1868, and after several changes in boundaries was admitted to the Union July 10, 1890. The population numbers 225,565 persons (1930 census) who reside in 23 counties whose total area is 97,548 miles. The white race predominates with 214,067. There are also 1,025 Negroes, and all other races total 10,248. Cheyenne, the capital, is the largest city, with a population of 17,361, and Casper the second city with 16,619 inhabitants (1930 census).

Agriculture.

While 1,500,000 acres are under irrigation and 1,000,000 acres are cultivated under dry-farming methods, agriculture is still in an experimental state. The principal crops are corn, wheat, hay (tame and wild), beans, sugar beets and other grains. Several beet sugar factories are located within the State. Growing seed beans has become an outstanding industry in the northern section of the state.

Wyoming has long been important for the sheep and cattle industry. The wool clip of 1938 yielded 31,389,000 pounds.

Mineral Products.

The output of petroleum, the state's most valuable product, was close to the high figure for 1937, with an estimated total of 19,004,000 bbl. for 1938. Coal production was slightly below that of the preceding year, with 5,200,000 tons, compared with 5,918,359 in 1937 valued at $11,600,000. The flow of natural gas increased, on the contrary, to 38,000,000 M. cu. ft. as against 31,023,000 (value, $4,997,000) in 1937.

Education.

Public education was a provision of the first session of the Territorial Assembly in 1869, and its effectiveness was confirmed by the 1939 census, which showed illiteracy to be only 1.6 per cent of the total population.

The cost of transporting children to schools in the 23 counties of the state was $432,586.29, or an average of $43.45 per pupil transported.

Of special importance to state education during 1939 was the enactment of a law providing that the State of Wyoming accept the provisions of the 'Federal Aid to Education Act.' The State Board of Education is administrator and the State Treasurer is custodian of all educational funds. The 1939 Legislature also amended the School Equalization Fund Law to provide for distribution of any such funds by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

A bill to pension the teachers of Wyoming passed both Houses of the 1939 Legislature, but was vetoed by the Governor.

Legislative Matters.

The Wyoming Legislature meets biennially in the odd years, on the second Tuesday of January, for a period of forty days. The greater part of the 1939 session was devoted to a revision of the Game and Fish Law. Motor vehicle fees for registration were reduced to $5.00 on passenger cars, and reduction was made for licenses on motorcycles, trailers and semi-trailers. A motor-vehicle traffic code was also adopted.

A joint resolution of the Legislature provides that an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Wyoming be submitted at the next general election, proposing that all money belonging to the state, or to a county, city, town, village or other sub-division therein, shall, whenever practicable, be deposited in a National Bank or in banks incorporated under the Laws of Wyoming.

Other banking legislation passed in 1939 had to do with securities which may be used by a depository as security for deposits of public money; and the specification of investments in Federal Land Bank Bonds, Federal Farm Mortgage Corporation Bonds and Loans under the National Housing Act. Articles of Association and Charters of Banks were also revised and defined, and the State Examiner was given full authority to grant application for charter.

Banking and Finance.

There are 32 state banks and 20 National Banks and Trust Companies in Wyoming, whose combined resources as of June, 1939, were $72,407,640.32. This is a net increase of $6,262,407.32 over the combined banking resources of one year ago, and shows a firm financial situation.

The Twenty-Fourth State Legislature appropriated $3,686,826.25 for the operation of the state Government for the biennial period 1939-41, delegated to the following departments: Legislative, $80,700.00; Administrative, $1,258,281.00; Judicial, $222,158.00; Charitable and Penal Institutions, $1,058,552.71; University of Wyoming, $812,000.00; Special and Extraordinary, $255,134.54. Total, $3,686,826.25.

For the same period, the sum of $448,196.00 was appropriated to the following departments: Public Welfare Department, $81,655.00; Sales Tax Division, $132,605.00; Wyoming Liquor Commission, $170,331.00; Workmen's Compensation, $63,605.00. Total, $448,196.00.

State Institutions.

The charitable, penal and reformatory institutions of Wyoming include the following: Wyoming Girls' School at Sheridan; State Children's Home at Casper; Wyoming General Hospital at Rock Springs; Wyoming Industrial Institute at Worland; Wyoming State Hospital at Evanston; Wyoming State Penitentiary at Rawlins; Penitentiary Farm at Riverton; Wyoming Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Buffalo; Wyoming State Training School at Lander; Wyoming Tuberculosis Sanitorium at Basin.

State Officers.

At the inauguration ceremonies on January 2, 1939, the following officers were installed: Governor, Nels H. Smith; Secretary of State, Dr. L. C. Hunt; Treasurer, Mart Christensen; Auditor, Wm. 'Scotty' Jack; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Esther Anderson; Attorney General, Ewing T. Kerr.

United States Senators.

Joseph C. O'Mahoney, Harry Schwartz.