BY MEYERS & MENGEL. GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. To 'he Senate atul Home of Representa tires of the Commonwealth of Penn sylvania : Gentlemks :—From the days of William Penn, the great and pious founder of our Commonwealth, it baa been the universal custom of my pre decessors, when making their communications to tbeGenera --- - bly, to acknowledge their and dependence upon the Great Law river of the Universe. In imitation r.f tiiier noble example. iet us earnest ly invoke IDs blessing and guidance in our efforts to perform the great work of legislation now before us :n sueh manner as to meet His approbation, as well as that of our common constitu ents. In transmitting to you toe sexent \ - ninth annual message since the organ ization ofthe present state government, it affords me the highest gratification to congratulate you and our fellow-cit izen-generally on their enjoying, to an unu-ual degree, the hle-sing- of heahh and unstinted prosperity; and that our principles and institutions —the pride and boast of every true hearted pat riot —although tried again in the crucible of a l eafed political contest, the heayings of popular passion, and the collusion of ; artie-, from which we have just.emer ged, remain unimpaired and vital in every part. Under such auspicious circumstances you have assembled, for the purpose of Ili-. barging the important duties, and uming the special responsibilities which devolve upon you. It is ex tremely difficult; even with the great est caution in your deliberations, toen act laws that will fully meet the ex pec tat ions and approbation of all the peo pie; but much of this difficulty may be overcome by avoiding legislation for per* >nal and special intcrists and cot being unminbiul of the magnitude of the interests of the State, and of its rapidly advancing copulation, wealth and influence to destinies bey ond the reach of human vision. A no bier heritage was never given to man thauthat which we {ossess geographica 1 - ,y and politically of the greatest impor tance, an area of more than forty tour thousand -quare miles;diversified with mountains, valleys, plains, rivers; mountains covered with uiajestic for ests of valuable timber of almost every variety: plains dotted with comforta ble homesteads, and presenting well cultivated farms and luxuriant fields marked by the advancement of agricul ture— the'parent, supjwrter and stimu lator of every speeies of industry, ex change and commerce ; hills and val ley- with teeming mines of all the va rieties of coal, iron, oil, salt and other minerals; with farmer-,manufacturers, mechanics, woolgrowers, coal and iron miners, oil producers, and merchant full of activity and confidence; with thousands of miles of railroad- and ca nals to transfer vast products to mar ket, and accommodate the travel of four millions of happy and properous people. Nor should we be forget fu lof education in all its branches, of the public charities, prison-, reformatories the collection of properly imposed tax es the speedy reduction of the State debt, the preservation of order, and the more certain protection of life, busi ness and property. AH these interests and perhaps others of equal importance, demand legislation of the most enligh tened, liberal and comprehensive char acter. In conformity to the requirements of the Constitution, I proceed to invite your attention to such measures as are deemed necessary for your considera tion, and to assure you of my willing ness to share with you the anxieties and responsibilities of all legislation calculated'to advance the prosperity of the people and the best interests of the Com rnon weal th. Finances. From the reports of the Auditor General and State Treasurer, the follow ing statement has been carefully pre pared, and exhibits the receipts and disbursements for the fi-cal year end ing November 30, 1869 : Ik ceip's. Balance in Treasury. Xov 30, 1*69 $1,015 925 o. Ordinary receipts during the fi-cal year ending Xi-t. 30,1869 5.24J.711 2s Total in the Treasury during the year ending Xov. 30. 1809....... 254,636 65 Disbursements. Ordinary expense# paid daring the year ending Xov. 361869 $2,485,114 27 Loans, Ac redeemed at Treasury 109 641 09 Loans redeemed by the Comiss itinera of the Sinking Fund . 362,762 09 Int'st paid at Treas'y 270,665 74 Interest paid by Com missioners of Sink ing Fund 1.725,587 97 Balaaeeln Treasury,Ner3o.lß69 ... 1,400.852 49 It will ho observed from the above, that part of the loans and part of the interest are paid at the Treasury, and part of both by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund. This produces a complication of accounts; which in or der to avoid, and to simplify the finan cial statement, I recommend that au thority be given by law to charge the Commissioners with the whole amount of the State debt, and also with all the money applicable to the payment there of, and that they alone be credited with all payments on both principal and in terestof State debt. Public Debt. The following is a statement show ing the nature of the indebtedness of •he Commonwealth, on November 30, 1869: Funded debt, Tit 6 per cent. loan*... .$25,311,180 (XI 5 per cent. loan#—• 7.277,384 38 4' percent, 10an5.... 112.006 06 Unfunded dbt. viz : Keleif notes in circu!ations96.397 00 Interest certificates out ttandisg 13,086 52 Interest certificates un claimed... 4,448 3* L iineetic creditor'# cer tificates 44 67 -.mount of public debt, Sox 30,'69 32.814,540 95 The public debt N.W. 1868 33,286,947 13 lieduct tbe amount redeemed at the Treasury, during the year ending Xov 36.1869, viz : 5 per cent loans $472,387 18 Relief notes cancelled.. 19 00 PuUic debt Xov. 35,1669 as above. 32,614,540 95 Reduction of the Public DM. At the commencement of the present administration in January, 18457, the total outstanding indebtedness of the State was thirty seven million, seven hundred and four thousand, four hun dred and nine dollars and severity seven cents. Since then, and up to Novem ber 30,1 669, tbe sum of four million, eight hundred and eighty-nine thousand, eight hundred and sixty eight dollars and eighty-two cents have been paid, aui at live per cent., the sum of $244,493 44, in interest, is annually saved to tbe Com mon wealth. Consequently, the to rn! amount of indebtedness of the Com monwealth on November 30, 1*69, was '< irty-txeo million, eight hundred and . u risen thousand, five hundred and for ty dollars and ninety five cents. The reduction during the year end ing November 30, ISC9, amounts to four hundred and seventy-two thousand 'four hundred and six dollars and eigh teen cents. Assets in Sinking fund. The assets remaning in the Sinking Fund are as follows, viz —Bonds of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, j -ix million, three hundred thousand dollars. Agreeably to an act dated March 30, 1869, the Sinking Fund Commissioner* delivered all the obli gations of the Sunbury and Erie Rail road Company, being third mortgage bond-, to the Allegheny Valley Rail road Company, and received therefor thirty five second mortgage bonds of one hundred thousand dollars each, making in all three million, five hun dred thousand dollars,executed by the -aid Allegheny Valley Railroad Com pany, and guaranteed by the Pennsyl vania Railroad Company, the North : ern Central Railroad Company, and the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad Company payable to the Common wealth as follows, viz: The principal of one of said trends slt>o,ooo -had be payable each and ev ery year beginning January 1,1875, and so continuing annually thereafter until the -aid sum of three million,five hun- I dred thousand dollars shall be paid, with interest thereon from January 1, 1872. The citizens of Pennsylvania have always borne taxation uot only pa tiently but cheerfully, and they are still aw illing as ever to contribute to the payment of alitheobllgat ions resting upon the State, but they expect their public servants who are intrusted wiih the management of their affairs, to act upon the tu >t prudent and economi cal basis, .in a word, they demand re form in the management ofthe finauaci al affairs of the State, arid.fci* far as pos sibte, the retrenchment of all unneces sary expenditures. Onthe3dthof January last, reply ing to a resolution of the Senate, I -aid : 1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, through the Clerk oi your Ilonoroble body, a copy of the follow ing resolution, passed uu the 12th inst., to w it: "Resolved , That the Governor lie re quested to submit some plan to the Senate to secure the State from loss by the accumulation of large amounts ot surplus funds in the Treasury. "In reply, I beg leave to direct your attention to my message of January 8, 1668, in which* I say, 'the balance now in the Treasury might be rendered productive by b ing invested in the bonds of the State, bearing six per cent, in teres t;'and tothe message of Jan uary 6, 1669, where I remark, 'when ever there may be. surplus funds in i the Treasury, they can with safety and benefit to the State, be employed in the purchase of its outstanding bonds, ami in saving the interest on them which would accumulate prior to their ma turity. Since making these suggestions, and maturely deliberating upon thesubject, 1 have seen no reason to change my mind in relation thereto;and now sub mit the same plan, more specifically set f< ith, based upon the follow ing statement of the loans of the Cuuiuion | wealth, viz: Amount of eoreHue, loacsiuclading bank charter l iao# aud relief noteaunreiiei'iaeii $ 3 9 4-< 25 Am t pavable in st IH7O. ins p. et 1.483,815 65 d 0.." 1871.-d0..6..d0.. 2.820.750 00 do 1872. .do. .6. .do.. 4.907,150 00 do 1872..d0. .5..d0.. 92.850 00 do IS 7..d0..6. .do.. 7 9:t9.00 00 do 1877..d0..5. .do.. 3.9-34 400 (Ml do IS7B. .do. .5. .do.. 321.000 00 do 1879 .. do.. 6 .. do. . 400.000 00 do 1582. .do. .5. .do.. 9 273,050 00 do 1882. .do. .5. do. 1.185.950 00 do! 18s2. .do. .4i.d0.. 112.000 00 Amount of loans 32,810,047 90 To the liquidation of these loaus the surplus funds in the Treasury could, with great propriety, be applied. This indeb'edness is held in bonds bearing interest; and it will readily he per ceived that this intere-t will be saved to the State upon whatever amount of these bonds may be redeemed, and the State be saved from all ri-ks of loss by the accumulation of large amounts of surplus funds in the Treasury. A few illustrations will show the beneficial workings of this plan. At the termination of the fiscal year end ing November 30, 1838, there was an unexpended balance in the Treasury ot $ 1,012,915.36. If the suggestions here | tofore made had been carried out. by the investment of one million of dol lar-.'at that time, in the five fa r cent, bond-that will fall due July 1. 1870, and which 1 am credibly informed could then have been purchased at -omething less than their par value, the intere-t on the same, from Novem ber 30, 1868, to July 1, 1869, would be seventy-nine thousand, one hundred and sixty seven dollar* and sixty-seven j cents, which has been lost to the State. Again, on the 30 hof No vember, 1869, there was in the Treas ury an unexpended balance of $1.40",- .862.49, If one million, four hundred | thousand dollars of this surn had been iu vested in the same kind of bonds at par, on the 1-t day of December, 1869, the interest for the seven remaining He alths, ending July 1, 1870, would be $91,833.35, but which, in consequence I of non-conformity to this plan, will be lost to the Commonwealth. I cannot reiterate too strongly my recommend ations on this subject, and would, therefore, recommend that a law be passed making it the duty of theCom mis-ioners of the Sinking Fund to in \ vest all surplus funds as rapidly asthey accrue in the Treasury, in the pur ; chase of the bond- ofthe Common wealth next falling due. I beg, once more, toreniind the leg islature that the salary of the State Treasurer should at least t>e equal to ' that of the Governor. 11 is only seven teen hundred dollars, a sum entirely insufficient to command the services of any responsible man, who is required ' tu "furnish a bond with good and ap proved sureties, for eighty thousand dollars, and to run the risk of hand ling at least five or six million of dol lars per annum, u ithout the unlawful use of the State funds, and subsidies from soura-s that dare not toe revealed to the public because they are posi tively prohibited by law, under penal ties of no ordinary magnitude. Yet there are but few men who have held I this office, however poor they may have been when they took charge of it, who have not become rich. There is cer tainly some advantages to be gained ' by the holding of the position of State Treasurer, unknown to the public, but which readily accounts for thedisgrac ful scramble, and for the political and mural debauchery which the people of this State seem to be doomed annually to witness, in the elect ion of that officer; and Ucause of the disgrace it brings upon their representatives, the people i.inig their heads in indignation and shame. Then, in thenameof the good Ijeople of Pennsylvania, I call upon the members of the Legislature, with out distinction of party, to rise above ] the murkyness of the polluted atmos phere of the past, to the true dignity of manhood and exalted patriotism, ar.d purify tlie election of Treasurer as u-L-li as that of every other officer with ! iu this Commonwealth, and punish ev ; cry one who tampers with the purity BEDFORD, PA.. THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 13, 1870. ! of elections, whatever may be his posl tionor pretensions. And then every one who shall have performed his whole duty to sustain the true interests of the State and to maintain the high digni ty of her character, may return unpol luted and with a clear conscience to , hi* constituent,who will receive him with open arms, and with the joyful j exclamation of "well done good and faithful servant." Liberal appropriations are made an nually to our penitentiaries, lunatic a sylumS, ond other charitable and ben eficial institutions, without requiring from those who receive and disburse the money any satisfactory evidence ! that it has been faithfully applied to the objects intended. This is wrong, and should be corrected without delay. All officers ofthe .State who receive pub | lie moneys, not excepting the Governor are required by law and usage to set tle their accounts, on proper vouchers, in the Auditor General's office. This is right; and there is no good reason i why the same accountability should ! not be enforced against all those who receive annually such large -urns of , money from the bounty of the Com monwealth. I, therefore, recommend tiiat a law be passed requiring all per ! sons who receive and disburse State appropriations, to take proper vouch er.-. for all moneys so expended by them, and to make quarterly settle ment- of the -ame in the Auditor Gen eral's office. This is important, not only to protect the interests of the Slate, but also ihegodd name of those ! who receive and disburse the money, at t of the members of the legislature through whose influence the appropri ations are represented to be procured. For many years the general appropri i at ion bill- have been signed on the day j of the adjournment of the Legislature and I here repeat my suggestions of la-t year on this subject. "The Gov -11 nor has been forced either to sign the bill- without proper investigation, notwithstanding any objections he may have; sti-pend the means to de fray the operation- of the government for the ensuing year; or call an extra session of the Legislature. It is there | fore earnestly desired that the appro i priation bill be taken up, discussed and passed at a sufficiently early period | during the session to enable the Gov I ernor to give it that thorough exam* 3 ination its importance demands." Common School*. The peculiar interest which is al ways manifested by the people in the : subject of education, i* an inducement j to lay before you, more at length than would otherwise be done, the princi pal statistics of the system drawn from the report of the Superintend ent of Common School-. There are within the State 1,971 school districts ; 13,930 schools ; 2,445 graded s bonis; 12,9005ch00l lirectors; 70 -u|eriritendon ts; 17,142 teachers, and 815,753 pupils. The average cost of tuition for each pupil is nintv seven cents per month. The whole cost of tuition for the year is $3,500,- 704.26. Total cost including expendi tures of all kinds during the year, $6,- 986,148.92. Estimated valueof school property sl4 015,032. Notwithstanding the fact that our ' school law was made gen ral in the year 184s, it is remarkable that there -tin remain five districts within the State which have not yet conformed thereto. Hopes are entertained that four of these will soon accept theeon i ditions of the law, and the remaining one, known as the Harmony District, under the control of the "Econo mites," having a good school of its own, w ill probably not adopt the pub lic school system so long a.- the present organization of that society exists. It is, therefore, a subject worthy of hearty congratulation that our school ,-ystern has been so universally adopted bv the voluntary consent and general aequies ! eence of the peopte. As important auxiliaries to oureom uicn schools, the Normal #chools are entitled to assume the front rank.— Their flour ishing condiiion may be un derstood from the following statistics: The whole number of students that have attended the four Normal *ehooi* i- 10,237, of whom 321 have graduated. During the past year there were in these institutions 76 teachers, and 4,- j 178 students. Since my last annual communication, a State Normal school ha.- been fully es abli-iied an 1 recog nized at Bloomsburg, Columbia coun ty. It- buildings are of the most tin- I ished and substantial character, and it commences its career under the mo-t auspicious circumstances. Another is | now in a state of preparation at Cali fornia, Washington county, and w ill • probably be completed during the eur ! rent year. Your attention is again Invited to the fact that there are about seventy five thousand chiidren in theStatethat do not attend schools of any descrip i tion. and who are permitted to grow up in ignorance and without employ j ment, and, in many in*tances, from lack wf industrial and edu -ational training become not only the.votaries of vice, but a prolific source fro*, which the inmates of our prisons and i penitentiaries are supplied. The number of children throughout the State attending private schools, is • estimated at eighty-five thousand. The aggregate of thee lueationa! con dition of the children of the Common wealth, may be thus stated : • Attending the public who 815.753 Attending priv' asturel* 85.01:9 Mot attending schools of any kind, 75 000 W T hole number of children. 975,753 The subject of non-attendance by so large a portion of children, i- specially and mo-t earnestly commended to your consideration, ft is true economy on the part of the State, if possible, to save these children from ignorance, va grancy and crime. To neglect them j would be inexcusable, if not criminal. | Doubtless in your assembled wisdom i you will be able to devise some etfect < uat mode by which this evil can be ; remedied. Many <>f the recommendations con tained in the report of thu Superin | tendent are of the utmost importance, and eminently deserving of serious at tention an I legislativeaetion. The facts above set forth illustrate most forcibly ' the practical value of our most admi rable common school system, and bear ! testimony that cannot le misunder stood, to the wisdom and liberality by which it has been conceived and so successfully carried iuto effect. Soldiers' Orphans' School#. Attention is invited to the report j of the Superintendent cf the Soldiers' Orhpans' Schools, for the year ending May 31, 1889, in which is exhibited their condition, circumstances and ex penditures. The whole number of children ad mitted intt> the-e schools from their o rigin to the 31st day of May, 1869, is four thousand five, hundred and nine; of whom three hundred and seven have been discharged on order, five hundred and eighteen on age, and flf , ty-three have died ; making a to tal of e,iglif hundred and seventy eight, whicn left three thousand, six hundred uud thirty-one in the schools at the end of tile year. Dp to May 31, 18 ..i, the number of discharges from 1 the schools have exceeded former esti- mates by one hundred and seventy five. The number of applications tor admission on file and not acted on, was seven hundred and one; some from ev ery county in the State except six. The sanitary condition of the chil dren in these schools has lieen remark ably good. And from the foregoing statement it appears that during tlje four years in which they have la-en in operation, the whole number of deaths has been less than one-third of one per cent, per anuuui. The entire cost for maintenance, ed ucation. clothing and general expenses, for the year ending May 31, 1669, dif fers but little from the original esti mate of the Superintendent, and Am-'onts to $500,971 62 To pay which there was an unexpendri balance 0f... s*.(>o4 74 Appropriated April !1 6S 400 000 00 Appropriated March 13.'69 50,000 00 456,004 74 Balance unprovided for 44 966 88 For which sum there should be a special appropriation without delay, to meet the pressing want* of the teachers of the different institutions, who have been already compelled to await its payment lor more than seven months. In his la.t annual report, the Superintendent estimated the ex penses for the current year termina ting May 31, 1870, at $494,700. The sum appropriated for that year, by aet of April 16, I*B9, was $450,000. As the Superintendent report- the expenses will not materially vary from his es timate, there will therefore be a defi cit of $44,700 for the current year, to be provided for during the present ses siou. For the maintenance of these schools during the year ending May 31, 1671, it is estimated that $534,500 w ill be re quired. Which sum 1 recommend to be appropriated, with the po-itive un derstanding that the expenditure* shall not exceed that amount. We are admonished by the rapid ex pansion of the system, ami by the con stantly increasing desire to obtain ad mission in these schools, that some def inite limit should be determined upon by law. It i* therefore recommended that tlie indigent children of I'ennsyi vania -oldiers, who served in Pennsyl vania regiments, and who died prior to Jan. 1,1866, from wounds received or disease contracted in the service of the United States during the late war, -hall be hereafter admitted, and nunc others. With unsparing patience, well con sidered measures, and earnestness of purp. *e, many defects li ve been erad icuted, and the schools have been ad vanced to a more perfect and efficient sys'em than that by which they were at lir*t characterized, and elevated to a condition not second to any similar in stitutions in the country. This humane and philanthropic service is lieing ]>er formetl hv intelligent officers and faith ful teachers, which w ill be more fully shown by their reports, communicated for the Information of the Legislature. n-.e < -tablishment of these institu tions, where the destitute orphan chil dren of the soldiers who last their lives In the suppression of the late rebellion, arc fed, clothed and educated at the public expense, continues to command the cordial support, approval and en couragement of our citizens, and tends to elevate, everywhere, the reputation of Pennsylvania, (the first State to es tablish such school.*,) to the highest degr e, for her justice, patriotism and philanthropy. Most heartily have the people en dorsed the past action of their repre sentative* in relation to these schools, and there exists not a single doubt but that they will most cordially approve all necessary appropriations for the continuance of the support, education and guardianship of these adopted child;en of the Commonwealth. To the honor, State pride and humanity of the Legislature i* confided the guar ding and maintaining of these sacred interests, and in the faithful discharge of thi* noble duty, you shall receive from me a special and zealous concur rence. Agricultural College. Tneestablishment of thi* college was undoubtedly intended as u progressive movement, and under the impression that it would contribute much to the e: sy acquisition of a combined knowl edge of agriculture, science and litera ture, and to promote the practical edu cation of the industrial classes in the several pursuits ot life. It has been fostered by the most iiberal legislation and i* endowed with the sum of $381.- 590, invested in Uuited States and Pennsylvania bonds, yielding an ag gregate intere*t this year of $2-5,c0l 540, which has been {(aid to the trustees of the institution. Thus far the most sat isfactory results from the workings of the college have not lieen realized. But it is now under the direction of a pres ident and six professors. It receive* for it* pupils only male* over the age of fifteen years, qualified for admission by a good common school education.— There are in at present forty-five stu dents, with a fair prospect of a consid erable increase in number. Tuition, board and the ordinary necessaries of life, are there furnished at a less rate than i* generally demanded for board ing alone, thus "affording an extraordi nary opportunity to the youth of the country to acquire an accomplished d ucation with comparatively small ex pend iu res. Under these circumstances the college deserves the indulgent sym pathy and support of the people. Three experimental farms are con nected with the college, purchased at an aggregate cost of s43,Sso -50. One is located at the college, one in Indiana county, and one in Chester county.— Operations have been commenced up on them under the prescribed pro grammeof a series of experiments with promises of complete see; ess; the re sult* of which are to be reported annu ally to the Legislature by the Professor of Agriculture. It is confidently ex pected that the record of these experi mental results will prove highly inter esting, and greatly beneficial to the conirii unity. Military. The military department is one of importance to th • honorable history of the Commonwealth, and to thai of her citizens individually. It is the custo dian of all the military records of the .State, embracing that of every officer and private soldier, and the hi*tory of every military transaction performed by the State for the suppression of Ihe rebellion. It has also in its custody all the regimental, State and National flag* borne by our soldiers, and many trophies of war won by their valor on the field. All of which should be .sys tematically and carefully preserved and perpetuated. During the last three years all the staff officers rendered necessary by the war, and the different offices establish ed for the convenience of the soldiers, have been discontinued, und the duties performed by them, as well as official books and papers, have been transfer red to the Adjutant Genera!depart ment. He is, therefore, the i>w!y mili tary officer remaining, to whom re course is-constunlly htd for statistics and information, not only by the soldiers, and their relatives and attor neys, but by oth-r States and by the War Department at Washington. All these circumstances, connected with the present flourishing condition of the volunteer militia in the State, induce me to request the continuance of legis lative favor for the Adjutant General's department, and that it may be gener erou*ly supplied with -ueh appropria tions as have been requested by the Adjutant General for that office. An unusual martial activity prevails throughout the State, but more partic ularly in Philadelphia. The encour agement which has been afforded to the uniformed mil ilia has been responded to with alacrity, and is exhibited as follows: In 1866, there were eight vol unteer companies; in 1867, thirty-eight; in 1868, sixty seven, and in 1869, one hundred and eighty four No less than one hundred and seven companies were organized during the year ending N'o veinber3o, 1869, of which fifty six are in Philadelphia, and fifty one in other parts of the Stale. This is a small but efficient and well equipped force, which, In case of riot, rebellion, or other public danger, would be ready at once to imperil itself for the enforcement of the laws, and the protection of the lives and property of the citizens. It is, therefore, desirable that the Legislature should give the volunteers -ucn practical aid as would, in sorue degree, compensate them for the time and money expended to main tain their organizations, in which the people are as much interested as the volunteers themselves. The report of the Adjutant General will be found a very interesting docu ment, containing much valuable infor mation and many important sugge*- tion-. A careful perusal of its contents and sueh action thereon, as steins to lie demanded by their importance, is re commended. Gen. IX B. M'C'reary has been elected to membership in one of your honorable bodies, and with his last report he closed his career as Adju tant General. In losing his valuable services from a position he has so ably titled for more than two years, the hope i- indulged that the department will gain an intelligent and devoted friend and an able and efficient advocate in the hails of legislation. Military History. The report of the State Historian is deserving of your careful attention. In it you will find a detailed account of the'operations of his department from its com men cement to the present time. The work entrusted to hi* care is one of no ordinary character and responsi bility, requiring talents of a high order, patient industry, careful research, and unbiased judgment. The labor to be performed i- immense, and can only be properly appreciated by those fully ac quainted with its magnitude. It em brace# a faithful account of all the or ganizations of Pennsylvania troops du ring the war of the rebellion ; the col lection and adjustment, in a compre hensive form of each military organi zation, and an unprejudiced description of all military transactions of irn |x>rt ance, so far'as the volunteers of this .State are concerned, in the camp and in the field, throughout the most ter rific conflict of arms that has ever oc curred' in the history of the world.— The propriety of such a work mu-t be apparent to every intelligent citizen of the Commonwealth. Certainly it is due to the citizen soldiers, who offered their lives in the defence of their c*>un trv, that their names should, at least, receive a place in the archives of the State, toward whose honor ant! glory their galiaut deeds have so 'argely con tributed. The work of the Historian, when completed, will embrace four large oc tavo volumes, in which thenameof every Pennsylvania volunteer will have its appropriate place. Two of these volumes are already completed, in a manner highly creditable to tlie Commonwealth. The third is rapidly progressing, and with a generous ap propriation on the part of your honorable body the entire history will be executed, if not before, soon after the close of the present year. Most other State* are publishing histories similar to this, and it is due to the im portance of the subject, and to tlie credit of the State, that Pennsylvania should not he behind in this patriotic undertaking. Home for Disabled Soldiers. There is," probably, no State in the American Uiii 'U that has contributed more liberally toward the support of charitable and benevolent institutions than that of Pennsylvania. The ap propriations annually made for the benefit of tlie soldiers' orphans' schools, a-ylums for the deaf and dumb, blind and insane, and many -imilar worthy establishments in which the poor, helple*.* ami otherwise friendless are cared and provided for, reflect great credit upon the Legislatures who have donned the requisite means for their support. But there is one ether insti tution needed, and the claims for which are more strongly urged by every prin ciple of humanity and patriotism, than any other now in existence, which has not yet received the attention its va*t importance imperatively demands.— This is a home for the soldiers who have "borne the battle" in defence of the honor, integrity anil perpetuity of the American Union. No men living have as powerful claims upon the gen erosity and nurturing care of thetom monwealth of Pennsylvania, as those who, upon the battle field, fought to protect it from threatened devastation and destruction, and who in this patri otic service, endangered their lives, sacrificed their health, lost their limbs, and became enfeebled and disabled for life. And yet we daily see these men, and who drers not blusii to see them?) To whom owe the preservation of our government, the homes we enjoy, and almost everything we possess, hobbling about our streets upon crutch es, with missing limbs, and otherwise so enfeebled as to be entirely unfitted for any "remunerative employment, begging their bread from door to door or sitting upon the corners of the streets turning an organ for the few pennies the 1 charitable passer by may feel disposed to bestow. Everyone of these helpless men, whose patriotic devotion to his country has brought him to this de plorable condition, is a burning re proach to the State for whose welfare he has met the most serious and la mentable of all misfortunes. All of them appeal, by their wounds and des litution, to the"peopleof the Common wealth for that care which, in such contingencies, was promised the soldier of the Union, his widow, and his or phan children. It is time that all such promises should U. redeemed. The wounded and helpless soldiers have a claim upon the State which should not aud cannot be ignored. And I do earn estly recommend in their name,and in their behalf, that measures be taken by your honorable body, to Cofobii-h for them a home wheyu they -Greil be am ply provided with tlie necessary com fort* of life, ainrtia longer be compelled to be pensioner# upon the .--canty chari ty of tlie worl This a debt the State ! absolutely owes, and no lime-hcmld be lo*t in its honorable liquidation. Insurance Depa. true,it. fu two former ca.u nua.e tains your at teLt.ou was called to the importance of' es- talli-iiiriF in the Bta(e an insurance depart nient similar to tho#e esi-uinp in other I States. But the LgUlamre has thus far ; failed to give the subject that considerr.tiun which interests of such magnitude to the people seem to demand. Lu-urance depart ment# in some of the State# are regarded of paramount importance, as they effectually guatd ibe interest# of the insured, and through their hiaithy influence frauds and spurious companies, so common in Pmn-y! I vania, are it ndered a:inost impossible. The greatest hem-fits would certainly accrue both ; to the companies and policy folders as has alread-. Iteen d< nionstrated in the States of j New Yolk and Ma saehusetts, where the j suhjrot of insurance has received the most - i carful study and attention, aud teen re- j ductd 'o a science which commands the ap ' probation and confidence of al! who setk its I f rot etion Tbe necessity for sueh a de partnitnt. with f'u'l powers to organize and j examine all insurance companies, is stnc | tioned by the w .-dom of experience. And a# I have heretofore remarked, tbe result of i the protection thu# afford--d, is, that whilst foreign companies do immense bu#inc-s# in this State, so little confi it nee i# had in tho#e of i'ennsyivania that their bu-ine-s is a!mo#t j tutirely C- nfinf-d within the State limits ; i and even here foreign companies maintain ' an afcoendencj-. To this same defect is at I trihutahle the operation# of the number of i ■ worthless companies that have suddenly j I sprung into existence without any soad ba : sis. and as suddenly expired to the injury of those whose contid oee thev obtained and j to the dishonor of tbe Commonwealth. In view of these facts. 1 earnestly repeat the recommendation n.ade to the Legisla fure at its last session, that an iu-urancede ' parfment be established, ;jid a superinten dent appointed by law. who shall have su pervision and control over all insurance com i panics allowed 10 transact business within . the State. The community i- deeply inter j estt-d in this matter, and demand# lcgi-lative j protection. Our laws in r< la'ioo to rite in-urance com- . j pauir-s are dof etive and netd rwisiou aud correction. Without the protection referred to these law- bear unequilly upon our own arid foreign ccmpaaies. The latter, iring i protected by h gi#lative enactment, are tn i abied t.> tran-act an ia.men*e amount of business within the limir# o! this Coiumon- Wi-altii wii>i#t our eompani-s, havir-g no 'i:cb jjr t cti'>n. cart d■> but little in other Stats. To" eon.- que dc i-. that foreign conq aru s ur companies would be sorely op pres#ed by the imposition (>f the same li -1 oe- #e tax in states where their operations are excteiineiy limited. And vet these other States have ret diated ujion out be n-e law. by adopting its- provi-i bs and demand ingTrom our companies the same amount of , license in each .State that we demand of their companies iti our#. This i* not only oppre-#ive to our own neglected companies, 1 but it Li's to fun ha ju#t and equitable revenue ftoui the various companies for the amount of '>u#in:#g iran.-acted. The tax sh uld he made to bear equally upon all companies, whttber borne or foreign, and be adjusted proportiot.a'elv to tbe extent of their several opei*ticeen accustomed to rtgard the occupation ofthe uiner a# ore of ordi nary character, now 1 ut t> pur-u- their perilous ' tK-' pati"n, with fearful forebodings Aud ev.'U the "-turdy miner, h't:i#.|t, trembles at his daogeious ca! inc. aud demands gre- a protection than ha - bisherto bet n affordid. The history of tl.is tcrr.b'e calamity seems to be a- follows: Early on the morning of the 6th of September last, one hutidred and . eight men entered the Avondale Mine to prosecute their avocation. None of lhen anticipated danger as they de.-c-ndtd tbe fatal s! aft : n.-t one -upposed that be was entering a t< mb in which he wa# -doomed to be huri-.d alive. But the d stroving anith j hovered ovt r th m, ai d the shaft, i-oa.-tiuct ; e.i prineipabv td e- mbu- ib c ma'e ials. 1 av ina btivHv ignited from some cause, jet undettriniu d, wis soon a -beet of flame, and huvc burning timbers came tumbling frt m above, ch- k tig up with fire and smoke !th - only a enuc of e-capc. Sensible of their peril, 'ho unfortunate tpen sought a price of -a'ety. but n a- not to be found. Th'y i eri d f.r #uecor but no earthh ami ei u'd 1 give tleni help; hopeless they hudditd to ! gather, and clasped in each oth-r# arm#. ; utct des'h in one of its to-st frightful and i agonizing forms. Whilst this fiarlul scene was transpiring below the immense wooden struct ure above the shaft took fire, and burning with fright ful rapidity, was soon reduced to a crumb line mas*. Thousands of men. women aud children ronn surrounded the price, and being unable to afford the slightest relief to their suffering friend# b-low, filled the air with lamentation, appalling even to the 1 stoutest hearts. Never before was a scene more hear re ndering witnessed within the ' limit-* of this Commonwealth, and it is trust ed that through your prompt and t fficient legislative aettoo, another #ueli will never be permitted to occur. ! The mines in many case# are constructed and managed iu the most #eiti#h aud par#i motilou* manner, the owners exacting the i largest amount of pare tit Irom them, from i the least possible outlay ; consequently some of them, like that of Avondale, arc nothing but underground man traps, without any other outlets than woolen cbimnie#, &;.d these co.isfaDtly liable to bv-c me blazing volcanoes, through which e-ca; e # impi-s-i be Tie i vc# f so useful a class of im-ii a- ur in ner# should n -t. -.nd mu#t not 1c ncrmitteJ to be thu - *ucr tic d U[ on the ul ter of bum an cu, iduy. set a repreln :#i ble n g'eci to give tli-m thai protection by iu# wbicit their \ aiuabfo xcrv i-.-es, at best !a' or:, u#.. <1 ]aueos". nqm. -ticr.ably de s'-rvcs, r-i.c ' # . ur ii irdic: .#•;, *:eta than il.a' i f any Oib-T ccun'rv. whilst our iu oii.-.- interests are unwj'.ta" c i by iho*e of any oth-*r ( art of :lie word. Tiic m>-t appalling accidents on reco d h-iv • k n truocd to un#a! - methods ot v. i: tiJri; >n ai Im< r especial I}' 1 }' to the cnip'oy m-. Nt .1 ur * c # at or near the bottom of the shift*, Where the furnace is used, and th- .# 0 kc is carried through a woudeu chit.."Cy, if seems almost cnuln that, sopn -4 tr or la cr. by the inevitable accumulation VOL. 65. —WHOLE No. 3.850 of soot or carbon upon the frame work, it tnus ignite frcni the ascending spark* or from the heat of the furnace, an 1 a e icfia • grarion ensue To guard again-t this, it should t>e made oWieifory, if the vc t:la tiug furnace be still sl owed, to build the cbimnies.the sides of the shaft, and the buildings surrounding it at the top with in j combustible materials. But even tl is | re camion is not a sure safeguard, for the fire i is liable, at any moment, to communicate with the "firedamp" or other gas.** us va pors, that, dc-pite of all known means cf prevention, will generate in the host tegula j ted mines. The propriety of dispensing en tirely. therefor.', with the furnace, ha- re ceived the serious consideration of sehntific miners and cuginetrs. sod the fun in that instance, has be?n -übstituted, which being worked by machinery at the surface, pro duces a mote constant current of air. dis penses it more freely through the gangways and chambers, and. in ail respects, aecom j pli-hes the object de-ired with better effect; and when tbe shafts and surface bui dings are fire proof, without tbe possibility of dan • ger. This system of ventilation, with ad vantages so palpably obvious, will, no doubt, be universally adopt- d. But the very na ture of rninng opt rations subj-ct* thonr to other danger-. The wails and roofing of the mines, from the off ess of blasting and oili er causes, frequently give way and fill up 'he gangways so as to render them to>passa ble, a- in the more recent cjlamity al Stock , ton. which resit ted in the death of ten per sons. Hence it L- absolutely necessary, and ,-lWd be imperatively demanded, that every ntine should have more than a single avenue of ingress and egress. Whether as regards fire, or any other source of danger to which the miner is exposed, this is his surest promi-e of safety. Whale vt r sys tem of ventilation may be approved, or safety lamp adopted, the means of escape from the mines, when danger occurs. will depend very materially upon the provision made for the exit of the miner. The b ?t method of constructing, ventila tion and working the mines, should be un ht sparingly adopted; and th -ystdn adopt ed rigidly enforced. The inquiry, therefore, into the causes which produced thi- shock ing catastrophe—the various theories that have betn promulgated concerning it, the r tmd'es hr the prevention of similar oc currence hereafter, the construction and ventilation of collieries, and the tm-d?s of conducting their operations so that the op erant, s may prosecute their labor without j imperilling ihiir iives, ar proper subjects for legidative cor s deration. Such law- a- you rnav enact car, most cer tainly be enforced by competent inspectors in the mining districts, who should be cho - u with strict regard to character, integri ty. capability and scientific knowledge ; and wbo-e duti-s should be s.o specific-tily de ; fin d that they cannot die misunderstcf d. I. therefore, most respectlu! v and earn • estly recommend that this whole su'ject re ceive the attention its importance demands, and that a law be passed so general in its character and so stringent in its provisions., tha* the people of this Commonwealth will never again be appalled by a calamity with in her limits, so sad as that of Avondale. li'xird of Puhlic Oharitie*. In ax-ordanee with an act of the last Leg islature, a B ;i'd of Public Charities has been ap jointed. consisting of the following gentlemen, v z t; eo Th .ma- L. Krne, for five year-; F. B. Penniman, Esq., four years; II or. G. Dawson Coleman three years ; George L. Harrison, Esq., two rears; and. . one 't hK-. ■.,,4 r.,- gantz-d bv rlect'ng drCD. Kane, President, and Hon. W timer Wonhingtoo. Secretary and Geneial Agent. From the establish m~ sit of this board, and especially from the high character and qualifications of the gentlemen who have consented to a--umi tts important tiusts and responsibilities, we have rea-on to hope for the most Is neficia! resu'ts. This change in the manac ment . of our charitable affairs is deemed if the highest importance by many person; inti mately conversant with the workings and management of these institutions, A thorough review of all the establi-h --ncnts receiving appropriations front the State by this board, will give an a—uranc.. to th- Legislature and the people, which ♦ hey have never heretofore possess-, d, that • th< ir benefaction- will be worthily bestowed and properly employed. Some time during the present sea-ion. tbe board will present to the I.legislature, a re port of the condition and requirements of the various tn-ti utious that have he< n re cipients of apptopriafions from th- State, wi; h -nch rrcommendation? as may be deem ed necessary: and, therefore, no informa tion concerning tbera. except the annual re ports of the superintendents, aid at present he Did before yon. Geological Sum y. Many t rominent cit ; z ns have represoat ed that the re exist* creat necessity for a more complete geologic*! and minora logical survey of the St te than at present exists. There i- n > doubt but the developments of mineral weaith that would result from such a survey would be immense, and tho beneficial returns to the State would many times more than reimburse the Treasury for s the expenses attend ns it, including tho printing repot to maps, Ae., sufficient for tbe infortnation of the people. Should the Legislature concur in these views, and pass a law authorizing such a survey, it wih meet with Executive approv i al. Inspection of Rax. At the last session a law was passed er *a ting the <>ffi.*e of inspector of gas and g*s iii' tre* for the county of A h-theny : a- d in accordance therewith. I l ace appointed an inspector pos.-- ing tie necessary S'ientiffie qu Ji'acations. The necessity for such a law has 1 ten long and esren-ivt ly felt, and it hi- ! e.-n earnestly demanded by a large number of highly respectable e:tix*ns, whose opinion* ate eminently worthy ol eon.-ideratn n. I therefore respectfully recommend that tho just and equitcbie provisions