Statistical Information
Concerning the Municipality of Argyle for 1898.
The population of the Municipality of Argyle is 3,200. It has 800
resident farmers. Comprises 240,708 acres of which 3,500 acres are
wooded and 80000 acres under cultivation. The municipality is
exceptionally rich in stock, having 5,000 horses ; 7,000 cattle ; 1,000
sheep; and 4,000 pigs. The assessed value of real and personal
pro¬perty is $1,125,000; taxes imposed for general municipal purposes
amount to $3,750; school purposes, $11,874; debenture purposes
$271.50; judicial and county, $866.00 The total taxes imposed for 1898
being $17,762 00. The assets of she municipality at the first audit
were $34,604.52 and the liabili-ties $9,992.55, showing the
municipali¬ty's net worth to be nearly $24,000. The debenture
indebtedness on the 3lst December 1898 was $1.390. It is hardly
possible for any municipality oo be in a better financial condition
than is Argyle at the present time.
Water Supply of Argyle.
In this matter of such vital moment to citizens and farmers alike, this
municipality may be said to be king among the municipalities of the
province. A supply for domestic and stock purposes is obtainable at an
average depth of about 24 feet. The water everywhere throughout the
district is pure and clear as crystal and free from all alkalical
impurities. For instance at Indian Springs, just east of Argyle, the
water is of excellent quality so much so that it has become famous as
the best in Manitoba. The government well boring machine has been
engaged in these parts for over a year and has been a boom to the
farmers. This machine is worked for geological information as well as
benefiting the farmer, who has the option of having a well bored from
60 to 140 feet deep until the main flow of water is struck, by simply
paying for the piping. Over fifty wells were sunk for farmers and in
every instance an abundance of pure fresh water was obtained rising
from 20 to 8 feet of the top of the hole. Besides there are a number of
small lakes and streams; which indeed extending as they do over ihe
province give an explanation of the secret of the supply of moisture,
and these together with stretches of timbered lands are important in
the influ¬ence they bear upon the annual rainfall. There has never been
a failure of crops from lack of moisture, which is attributable to
this fact.
Our Schools.
The educational system of Argyle is in keeping with the provincial
system. It has reached a highly developed and advanced stage throughout
the district. In most of the towns
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two teachers are engaged in the schools,
who are required to have the highest qualifications for their
positions and a rigid normal training. The Baldur public school owing
to its increasing attendance and standing will next year be raised to
that of an intermediate, when another teacher will be added. Rural
schools are numerous throughout the district and every child is within
three miles of a schoolhouse. The standard of these schools is high and
from the older ones many scholars have successfully passed for third
and second class certificates. The law for the establishment or
schools is very simple. To form and re-adjust school districts lies
with the municipal council. Parts can be formed into school districts,
provided there are ten children of school age (5 to 16) living within
the territory in question, being within a limit of 20 square miles The
money to build a school is obtained from the government. The school
district can issue debentures for an amount not larger than seven
hundred dollars; bearing interest at six per cent and payable in ten
annual installments. The maintenance of the schools is provided for in
the following manner:
The government gives $130 a year for each teacher employed, or
proportionaly if the school is not kept open all the year. The
municipal council also gives a grant of $240 upon the same basis. If
any extra money is required it is raised by a special levy on the
school district itself. This system enables new settlements to open
schools, whereas if they had to contribute to the entire support
themselves they could not possibly do so. To secure efficiency schools
must be conducted in accordance with the regulations of the Department
of Education Each school district is managed by three trustees who hold
office for three years, one being elected each year at an annual
meeting of the ratepayers, when all affairs of the district are open to
discussion and criticism by any ratepayer. The trustees engage the
teacher, look after the school, visit it regularly, and in general have
full control of school matters.
The rural schools of Argyle with one exception are substantial frame
buildings mostly on stone foundations, the exception is a handsome new
brick school house which has just been completed in the the
Welsh S. D. and is located about four miles southwest of the town
of Baldur. There are at the present time 20 schools in the municpality
showing that the education of the young is receiving every
considera-tion from the inhabitants, and that no child need grow up in
ignorance from lack of the facilities for receiving a good sound
general education.
FARMING FOR PROFIT IN MANITOBA.
By a Farmer of Eighteen Years Experience.
First on coming to Manitoba if a man has no capital (whether single or
married) he will do best to work for some responsible progressive
farmer for at least 6 months, the
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