Page 117 - Cornelius Hedges Story

For This And Succeeding Generations Gardiner 104

Cornelius Hedges was asked by Governor B. F. Potts to accept
an appointment as Superintendent of Public Instruction on January 7,
1872. At the time, Hedges was attending a session of the Territorial
Supreme Court in Virginia City in official capacity as U.S. Attorney.
On the 17th, he received his commission, and the next day he
filed bond.320 The Superintendency had been vacant for about two
years because the 1870 appointee, S. G. Lanthrop, had never been
confirmed by the Council.321 Thus, even the little which had been
accomplished by such men as Thomas J. Dimsdale, A. H. Barrett, A.
M. S. Carpenter, and Thomas F. Campbel1,322 was at least partially
lost, and much of the foundation work of building an adequate
territorial school system had to be laid again.

Hedges’son, Will, later commented that much of this organization
and implementation was carried on “under the most unpropitious
conditions.”323

Although he was appointed in January, 1872, and took office at
that time, it was not until April, 1873, that the Legislature confirmed
his appointment.324 His first problem was that of making sure he
would receive a salary. On January 29, he entered in his journal,
“Things look ticklish about my getting any salary - Callaway writes
me that Rogers (or Rodgers) will not issue any warrants on my order.”
However, he continued preparing to do a proper job, and added “Got
copy of school law and studied it all night.”325

On the 3rd of February, he got a letter from W. H. Rodgers, and
commented “Looks all right for me to go ahead.”326 Then on April
30, he wrote, “Got warrant from Auditor for $572 - Relieves me
greatly, can work better hereafter” and his comment of the next
day, “money matters stringent” adds to the indication of urgency of
need.327 Hedges never indicated in his journal why there was some
question of his not receiving a salary, but it might well have involved
the fact that his appointment was yet unconfirmed by the Council.

The first year, in addition to visiting schools in and around
Helena,328 he made two extended trips in western Montana visiting
schools in session. On the first trip, November 9 to 19, he visited
schools in Missoula and Deer Lodge. In addition to the school
visitation, he gave public lectures at both towns.329 Most of the month
of December, the 9th to the 25th, Hedges spent on a more extended
school visitation tour of southwestern Montana.