the ownership and to the government of the land. Many difficulties grew out of the conflicting claims, but in 1763 all boundary difficulties were adjusted. The Mason and Dixon line (q. v.) was established. A provincial congress first met in July, 1774, in Philadelphia. A provincial convention in 1775 authorized the preparation of defence for the colony. Pennsylvania's first state constitution was drawn on Sept. 28, 1776. In this provision was made for a supreme executive council, one legislative house and a board of censors. An insurrection known as the Whiskey Rebellion, suppressed in 1794, grew out of a difficulty with the Scotch-Irish regarding the excise tax. Pennsylvania's part in the Civil War was most exemplary. Under President Lincoln's call for volunteers, April 5, 1861, 25 regiments were formed in less than one month. Her borders were invaded three times, twice at Chambersburg and once by General Lee's army when the decisive battle of the war was fought at Gettysburg. In 1877 great railroad riots occurred. In 1895 a law making education compulsory was approved. In 1901 a department of forestry was established, in 1903 a department of state highways. In 1902 a strike kept 147,000 miners of anthracite out for five months.
Education. In all departments of education Pennsylvania has been most progressive. The thought of her earliest settlers seems to have been to give careful heed to the educational welfare of her children. Penn's constitution provided that the governor and provincial council should “erect and order all public schools,” and the laws agreed upon in England provided that “all children within this province of the age of 12 years shall be taught some useful trade or skill.” The first English school was opened in Philadelphia by Enoch Flower in 1683. The first school established by Penn was the Friends' public school, opened in 1689 and chartered in 1697. This school has been continuously in operation, and is now known as William Penn Charter School. In 1743 Benjamin Franklin drew a plan for the Academy and Charitable School of the Province of Pennsylvania. This was renewed in 1749, and subsequently developed into the University of Pennsylvania (q. v.) which to-day is one of the leading institutions in the United States. To-day the state's constitution requires that efficient public schools be maintained for the education of all children above the age of six years. The free-school act dates only from 1834, yet to-day the total annual appropriation to the public schools fund is $15,000,000. The public school system is organized under a state superintendent of public instruction, assisted by directors elected by the people, and for each county a superintendent of public schools elected for three years by these directors. In 1910 there were about 1,800,000 children between five and 18 in the state, and about 1,282,965 were enrolled in the public schools. In 1910 there were approximately 900 high schools and 55 private secondary schools. Pennsylvania is divided into 13 state normal school districts, each having its own school for the training of teachers. The state agricultural college is at State College. It provides free tuition in agriculture and the mechanic arts to residents of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania, besides state schools, has about 40 schools classed as colleges and universities. At Carlisle, Pa., is the largest and best equipped school in America for the education of the Indian. This school was founded by Gen. R. H. Pratt, and under his supervision was in all respects the most efficient institution for the education of the Indian.
Agriculture. In some parts of Pennsylvania are to be found some of the most fertile valleys in the United States. About 65 per cent, of all the state's area is included in farms, and of this about 68 per cent, is improved. There are approximately 220,000 farms, fully 75 per cent. of which are operated by the owners. In the production of corn Pennsylvania yields more than twice as much as New York and of wheat four times as much. Her wheat-crop for 1907 exceeded 30,000,000 bushels. In the production of oats and rye the state is one of the heaviest producers. Potatoes are one of the chief money crops, New York alone of all the eastern states exceeding Pennsylvania in acreage and production. In 1910 only New York and Iowa exceeded Pennsylvania in the acreage and production of hay. Tobacco is also a profitable crop. In 1910 there were raised 49,500,000 pounds, valued at $4,603,500. All the farms, including their improvements and buildings, have an approximate value of $1,041,068,755. If we add the value of the implements, machinery and live stock, we have a grand total of $1,253,274,862. In fruit and stock raising Pennsylvania has, in recent years, come strongly to the front. In orchard-products she ranks third, and in live-stock stands fifth. Pennsylvania's farmers are coming to realize that one of the most profitable sources of money is found in the raising of poultry. The state stands sixth in the value of poultry and third in egg production.
Transportation. Most of the canals have long been out of use. In railroading little was done prior to 1848, and yet Pennsylvania had 1,000 miles of railroads. In 1906 it had 11,290 miles, exclusive of 4,343 more in street or elevated electric track.
Pennsylvania, University of, originated in Benjamin Franklin's proposals relating to the education of the young and in an academy that began to teach in 1751. In 1753 it obtained a charter which described it as a college. In 1791 it became the University of Pennsylvania. In 1872 it moved
