1941: Wyoming

Area and Population.

A Rocky Mountain state, whose name, meaning 'large plains,' is from the Indian 'Maugh-wau-wa ma,' Wyoming 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, as the forty-fourth state. It ranks eighth among the states in area, with 97,548 sq. mi. of land surface, and 366 sq. mi. of surface water, according to remeasurements of the United States undertaken for the 1940 census.

In 1940 there were 250,742 persons in the twenty-three counties of Wyoming. This is an increase of 11.2 per cent since the 1930 census. The native white race predominates, with 245,008, and there are 5,734 aliens. There are also 2,426 Indians of the Shoshone and Arapahoe Tribes on State Reservations. Cheyenne, the capital, is the largest city, with 22,474 inhabitants; Casper, the second city, has 17,964; Laramie, 10,627; and Sheridan, 10,529.

Education.

Public education was a provision of the first session of the Territorial Assembly in 1869. There is only one institution of higher learning, the State University at Laramie, founded fifty-four years ago. Its present enrollment is 2,200. The University of Wyoming operates eight experimental farms in widely scattered sections of the state, to provide farmers and ranchers with practical information on latest agricultural practices, and to test new varieties of crops and livestock to determine whether they are suited to Wyoming.

The public school enrollment, according to the latest available figures, is 56,220. The total public-school expenses, for 1939-40, according to the report of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, were $6,025,333.13.

Agriculture.

While 1,500,000 A. are under irrigation, and 1,000,000 A. are cultivated under dry-farming methods, agriculture is still in the experimental stage. Sugar-beet acreage was decreased in 1941 to 39,000 A. from 44,000 A. The total yield was 541,393 tons, with a cash value of about $3,300,000.00. There are five modern sugar refineries in the state.

Other important crops are wheat, oats, hay, barley, potatoes, corn, and beans. Honey is also a valuable product.

Wyoming has long been important for the cattle and sheep industry; the total estimated value in January 1941, was $75,116,000. The most important single item in the livestock industry was the estimated 779,000 head of cattle and calves valued at $35,482,000. The state's 3,430,000 sheep produced 33,271,000 pounds of wool, and placed Wyoming second among wool-growing states. The cash income from Wyoming's wool crop was $9,316,000.

Industry.

The principal manufacturing industries total about 310 establishments, which produce goods valued at more than $45,000,000. Oil refining, sugar refining, the processing of bentonite, and cheese manufacturing, lead. The output of over 1,635,234 pounds of both Swiss and American cheese places Wyoming fifth in the United States as a cheese producer.

Mineral Products.

Petroleum was again the most important mineral product of the state in 1940, with 25,683,000 bbl. representing a decided gain over 1939, when the value of the oil was $18,150,000. Bituminous coal advanced slightly in amount, to 5,748,000 tons. The flow of natural gas increased over that of 1939 by almost 45 per cent, amounting to 38,943,000 M. cu. ft. The largest deposit of high quality bentonite in the world is in Weston County, and three processing plants located there have made this section the center of the unusual and distinctive bentonite industry.

Wyoming is now in sixth place for oil and by-products production, with immense reserves of petroleum, as yet untapped.

Finance.

The State Legislature (1941) appropriated $4,200,923.80 for the operation of state government for the biennial period 1941-1943. The general welfare costs, 1941-1943, are estimated at $3,000,000. Before 1935, the state had no general relief program. The Federal Government does not take part in Wyoming's general relief which is financed largely by various taxes.

Tax sources in Wyoming are a two-per-cent sales tax and use tax, real and personal property tax, gasoline tax, excise tax on liquor, auto license tax, highway wheel tax, inheritance tax, and insurance company fees. The sales tax produces about $1,900,000 a year, while liquor commission earnings total $600,000 per year.

Banking.

Wyoming has 32 state banks and 26 national banks and trust companies. During 1940-41. combined banking resources totaled $86,942,535, an increase of $8,015,278. Deposits of individuals and corporations were $77,751,694, an increase of $7,720,250. Loans and discounts aggregated $27,002,256, an increase of $1,325,561.

Legislature.

The Legislature meets biennially in the odd years, on the second Tuesday of January, for a session of 40 days. The 1941 Senate was composed of 16 Republicans and 11 Democrats. The House of Representatives, for the first time in state history, was evenly divided — 28 Democrats and 28 Republicans.

State Officers.

Governor, Nels H. Smith; Secretary of State, Dr. L. C. Hunt; Treasurer, Mart Christensen; Auditor, Wm. (Scotty) Jack; Supt. of Public Instruction, Esther Anderson; Attorney General, Ewing T. Kerr.

United States Senators:

Joseph C. O'Mahoney, Harry Schwartz.