1941: Rhode Island

Area and Population.

The smallest state in the Union has the longest name, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. It has a total area of 1214 sq. mi., including 156 sq. mi. of inland water surface, according to remeasurements of the United States undertaken for the 16th census. Its greatest length is 48 mi. from north to south; the greatest width, 37 mi. It is the most densely populated state, having 658 persons per sq. mi. The Federal census of 1940 gives the population as 713,346, a gain of 25,849 over the 1930 census. The population of Providence, the capital, is 253,504; Pawtucket, 75,797; Woonsocket, 49,303; Cranston, 47,085; East Providence, 32,165; Newport, 30,532; Warwick, 28,757; and Central Falls, 25,248.

In 1936, the foreign-born white population numbered 144,952, and constituted 21.3 per cent of the total population of the state. Nearly one-fourth of Rhode Island's foreign-born come from countries of North and South America, principally Canada; less than 3 per cent from all the countries of Asia combined. The foreign-born from Italy constitute over 20 per cent. The Portuguese showed an upswing from 1870 to 1936, from less than one-third per cent to more than 6 per cent of the total foreign-born.

Education.

In 1940-41, the 333 public elementary school buildings had 2,197 teachers and 62,856 enrolled pupils; in addition, 34,508 pupils were enrolled in private and parochial schools. The high schools (27 senior and 34 junior) had 2,015 teachers and 47,548 pupils. Local current expenditures for schools, for the school year ending June 30, 1941, totaled $10,925,237,54 for day schools, and $65,399.88 for evening schools. State and Federal expenditures for education amounted to $2,175,000. In addition, local communities spent for capital outlay $1,112,836.42. The state also maintains a College of Education with 33 professors and instructors, and 498 students (1940-41) and a State College with 94 professors and 1254 students.

In 1941, an amendment was passed relative to the registering of private schools or institutions of learning, and a guarantee of employment prohibited. The special commission to study existing laws relating to education throughout the state was revivified, and the commission was authorized to carry on the basic study of the legal structure of the school system of the state in phases of school law not covered in entirety in the report of said commission which was presented to the Governor Oct. 30, 1940.

Agriculture.

According to the 1940 census, Rhode Island then had 3,014 farms with an area of 221,913 A., of which 48,753 were crop land. The total value of farm land and buildings was $26,334,374. The state has authorized that $2,000 be annually appropriated for the purpose of supporting the program of the Department of Agriculture and Conservation in its enlargement of cooperation with agricultural organizations, in the endeavor to promote, encourage and generally better rural living in Rhode Island.

Finance.

For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941, the receipts and payments of the general treasury were as follows: Cash on hand, June 30, 1940, $2,780,872.90; receipts, 1940-41: $21,296,860.56; total $24,077,733.46. Disbursements, 1940-41, $20,935,727.73; cash on hand, June 30, 1941, $3,142,005.73. Net bonded debt on June 30, 1941, $25,302,823.92.

Legislation.

Legislative matters of importance passed by the General Assembly at its 1941 session included Acts concerning guardianship of incompetent veterans, and orphans of deceased veterans; arrest without a warrant, and detention of suspects, regulating the manufacture, sale, distribution, use and possession of explosives; establishment of a State Council of Defense; preference for Rhode Island citizens in employment on government projects; creating office of public defender; penalty for false alarm of fire; eradication of Bang's Disease; amendments to the unemployment compensation law; authorizing housing authorities to acquire land by eminent domain; terminating the terms of the present civil-service commission, and providing for the appointment of their successors; various amendments to the workmen's compensation law; establishing a Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board.

State Officers.

Governor, J. Howard McGrath, Lieutenant Governor, Louis W. Cappelli; Secretary of State, Armand H. Cote; General Treasurer, Russell H. Handy; Attorney General, John H. Nolan; Director of Finance, Christopher Del Sesto; Director of Education, James F. Rockett.

United States Senators:

Peter G. Gerry, Theodore F. Green.