Page 124 - Cornelius Hedges Story

111 The Cornelius Hedges Story

Travel in many areas was much easier than during his previous
terms as Territorial Superintendent, however, because of the advent
of railroads in Montana. From mid-July to the end of 1883, Hedges
was traveling much of the time. He made five trips to visit schools
and attend institutes; two of them were extended trips. He also
conducted an institute in Helena on December 5 and 6.363

On July 17, he left Helena on a school tour. While on the tour, he
attended an institute at White Sulphur Springs; visited Will, Henry,
and his sheep ranch; visited schools at Oka and Martinsdale; and
conducted a three-day Teachers’ Institute at Fort Benton. On August
4 and 5, he returned to Helena, via Ulm and Fort Shaw.364 On August
30 and 31, and September 1, he participated in an institute at Deer
Lodge.365

Hedges left for Virginia City on another extended tour on October
10. On this excursion, he attended and participated in institutes
at: Virginia City, October 11 to 13; Bozeman, October 16 and 17;
Billings, October 18 to 20; and Miles City, October 22 to 24. He also
visited schools at Fort Keogh and Livingston. He returned by train
to Helena on October 27.366

He celebrated his 52nd birthday at home on the 28th, and on
October 29, left again for an institute at Missoula, which lasted two
days. On the evening of the 30th, as was often his custom on these
trips, he gave a public lecture. That night his topic was “The Public
Duty to the Public Schools.” Hedges was home again on November
1.367 In December, the 18th to the 23rd, Hedges spent an afternoon
visiting Butte schools and participated in an institute at Dillon, about
which he happily remarked, “Had trustees present.”368

Judge Hedges’ schedule for visitation and institute trips in 1884
was just as full as in 1883. He participated in institutes that year
as follows: March 26 to 28, Butte; July 9 to 11, New Chicago,
today a ghost town near Deer Lodge; September 22 and 23, Fort
Benton; September 26 and 27, White Sulphur Springs; October 3
and 4, Bozeman; October 9 and 10, Virginia City; October 13 to 15,
Billings; October 16 to 18, Miles City; he simply visited school at
Glendive on October 19; October 22 and 23, Boulder; December
18 to 20, Missoula; and December 23 and 24, Dillon. He returned
home on Christmas Day, and spent much of that day sending out
certificates of attendance at Teachers’ Institutes. He finished the year
with three full days of institute in He1ena.369