GIESON` PEACOCK. Editor.
VOLUME XXIII.-NO. 229:.''
MESSA9-E
HIS EXCELE.FINC.Y
JOHN W. GEARY,
TO TUN
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PENNSYLVANIA,
January sth, IS7O.
Tn theNtmac mellious , , , of Reprenenloliees of the
COMlloOntatOlth of Pciontylronta—GENTEXllMN:
Fiera the days of William Penma) great and
pions founder of 'our Commonwealth, it has'
been the tiniteesal custom ofmypredecessors,
when making their annual communications to
the General .Assembly, to ackuowledge their
gratitude to, and dependence main • the Great
Lawgiver of the. Universe. In imitation of
their noble example, let as earnestly invoke
His blessings and guidance in our efforts to
perform the great work of legislation now
lore. us, in such manner as to meet Ma apprii
balion, as well as t hat of our common consti
tuents.
Hi transmitting to you the eeveuty-ninth an-
• neat message since the organization of the
preseet State government, it affords me the
highest gratification to congratulate you and
Our fello wait izens generally on their enjoying,
to an elms teal degree, the blessings of - health
mai unstinted prosperity: and that our prin•
doles and institutions—the pride and boast Of
every true-hearted patriot—although tried
' again in the crucible of .1 heated political eon
test, the hearings 0: popular pasision, and the
collision of parties, froth which.we have just
emerged, remain unimpaired and •vital in
every teert.
Undeforstieli auspicious circumstances you
have.assembied for the purpose of discharging
the iinportant 4ititte,), and assuming the
Special reSpobs'i bi Wire: which de vo l v e
snob i out. It is I.,:iTeLl/Ciy even:
Avith the . greatest eainicin in your
deliberations, to enact, laws that will fully
Meet the expeetations and approbation of all
people; but intielz;ol4:jalits difficulty may
be overcome by avoiding legislation fur per
sonal and special intere-As. and not being un
luindtnt magnitude of the interests of
theaState,dnd of its popu
let ken, 'WoNfitil suss imfuence to destinii be
yawl the reach of 103179313 Vifti.o!). AII/01/let,
istrit:4o waa nevi r giveuf Iii:111 titan that
which wopOS - KkAS ; geographrctilly and politt
"eittly of the greatest importance; au area of
inure than forty-four theuNind square miles ;
di yeti...tiled with - uniumaine, valleys, plains,
ristets mmintains covered with majiaktie
forests •• of valuable, tirnber of alto
e
evui VarietY; plains dotted with
conitortable homesteads, and presenting well
cultivated farms and luxuriant fields marked
by the advancement of agriculture—
tile paretit. supporter and stimulator of every
species of industry, exchange and commerce
hilts and valleys with teeming mines of all the
varieties of coal, iron, oil, salt anti other
minerals ; : with farmers, manufacturers, me
chanitsi, siool.growers, coal and iron Millers,
oil producers and uterclutnts full of activity
and confidence ; with thousands of miles of
railroad., and canals to tratiSfer the vast pro
ducts to market, and accommodate the
travel of four millions of happy and
prosperous people. Nor should we lee forget
ful of education in all its branches, of the pub.
lie • charities, prisons, reformatories, the eol
lection of properly imposed taxes, thespeedy
raductien of .the State debt, the' preservation
of order, and the more certain protection of
life, business and property. Ail these interests
and perhaps others to equal importance, de- "
inand legislation of the most enlightened,
liberal and comprehensive character.
lu conformity to the requirements of the
Constitution, I proeceil to invite „your atten
tion to such measures as axe deemed neces
sary ler your consideration, and to assure you
willingness to share ' with you the
anxieties and responsibilities of all legislation
calculated to advance the prosperity of the
people and the best interests of thet eointuou.- .
wealth. •
FINANCES
From the reports of the Auditor General
and litate Treasurer, the following statement
has been carefully prepared, and exhibits the
receipts and disbursements for the fiscal year
euding . NOV. 30;1869:
, pts,
Balance, Treasury,Nov. 'J0;0, $1,012,92537
Ordinary receipts during the
fiscal yearouding Nov. 30,'69,
Total in Treasnry during year
ending Nov. 30, 18119. .. . .
DlSitLitsEmENTs
Ordinary expenses •
p e aidduring the
year ending Nov.
;:0,,1869
Loans', &c. ' re
deemed at Trea
5ury.........: sury.. .. .
Loans tedeenied by
the Conuniasion
ers of the Sinking
Fund
Interest paid at
Treasury
Interest -paid by
Counnissio&re of
Sinking Fund
$:2,1ti,1,114 27
109,61 , 1 09
170,665 74
L 725,578 97
Balance in Treasury N0v..30,
1869 - 1)4,09,83; 49
It Will be observed from the abov . e,that part
of the loans and part of the interest are paid
at thegreasury, and part of both by the Com
missioners of the Sinking Fund. This pro,
ducea.a complication of accounts which, in
order to avoid, and. simpli the financial
statetrient, 1 recommend 'th at'anthMitY be,
given , ltv law to charge the Commissioners
with the whole amount of the State debt, and
also with all the money' applicable' to ..the pay
ment thereof,' arid thattbey ahme.be ;credited"
withnll payments on both principal' and in
terest..ofthe State debt.
, Public _Debt.
The following is a statement showing the
lature of the indebtedness of the Common
wealth, on Nov. 30,1860
. Funded debt, viz.:
S per , cent. loans.. $25,311,180 09
5 per cent. loans.. 7,277,384 38
4; per cent. loans.. 112,000 00
' 532,700;564 ;18
• Unftinded debt, viz.: ' •
Relief notes, in 'sir-
culatiou .... $98,397 00 , ,
Interest ceitifi,
eates outstanding , 13,0811. 52 ,
Interest certiti-
sates unclaimed.. 4;418.38
Domestic creditors'
certificates
Amount of public debt Nov, 30,
1869 32,814,540 95
The public debt ou goy. 30,1868 $03,286,147 13
Deduct amount redeenaed at the ,
Treasury, during the year end
lug Nov : 30;1869, viz.:
ruutr cent, loans... 1072,387 18
. .
, ,• - •• .• ••• ' ' VTt f' ,' ' , . 1 ' 4
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' . -.. • , ,'. ,:' . ..'; f • ~•:',•.., ••:,.:.%.0.;: , .., ~...f, .. , ,t ..:1,. :.§ 7,,..i; ~-..... , i. 417 ',.. ,v,'t', ,' 1. '.,, !II 1, ; :J ~: 0.. ,, -•••• :' r - , ~.,•,•.:.... ,', :; .. ~,,,,, • . •.,• In:; • •-
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----......*--.
or.
5,241,711 28
6,231,636 65
302,762 09
4,8.53,774 lt;
113,976 ,57
'a4;,
Relief 1656'8 Our
Public debt November 570,,1869, '
as above:-.4. ...... ;.. ... 32,814,516' 95
• mstruestrois OF THE 1'1111.1,111
Attlielcommeticoment of thti present . adi
ministration,'in January, 1867, the total nt
standing indebtedness of the State 'was , thirty.
seven million, seven hundred and four , thousand, -
four hundred and nine 'dollars awl seithnly-hetten'
rents. Since. then . , • and up 'to NoVetriber' !ta t
18141„the'suin of four million, eight hundred and
eighty-nine thousand, eight hundred and sixty-elght
dollars oiid eighty-two cents have beettpaid, and
at liveper cent.,the sum of 32441,493,41, In: in
terest, biannualy saved to the Commonwealth.'
Constoputntly,the total amount of indebtedttesa
of the Commonwealth on 'November 36, 180,.
was thirty-two million, eight hundred and fit-war
ren thousand, five hundred and forty dollars and
nice n fire eenn4. r • • "
The reduction during the year end
ing November 30, 1869, amounts to four hun
dred and set/may-two thomeand four hundred and
niz dollarsand eighteeneents.
• ASSETS 1100 HOMING FUND.'
Tim assets remaining in the Sinking Fund
are as follows, viz :—liondr, of the PenttsylVa-.
nia Railroad Company, six million,three hurt
are(' thousand dollars. Agreeably_to an act'
dated March 30,11169, the Sinking Fund Com-'
missioners delivered all the obligations (Attie.
Sunbury and Erie Railroad Company, being.
third mortgage bonds; to the Allegheny Val
ley Railroad Company, and received therefor'
thirty-five second mortgage bonds of one bun-,
dyed` thousand dollars each, flaking in all
three million, Live hundred thousand dollars,
executed,by the said Allegheny Valley Rail
road Company, and guaranteed by the Penn
i sylvania Railroad Company, the Northern
Central Railroad Company; and the. Phila
delphia, and Erie Railroad Company, payable .
! to the Commonwealth as follows :
The principal of one of said bonds (S 100,000)
shall be payable each and-every year, begin:-
mug January 1, 1875, and so continuing an
nually thereafter until the said sum of three
million live hundreilthousend dollars shall be
paid. with interest thereon from' January 1,
152.
The citizeris of Pennsylvania have always
b6rtie taxation 'not only patiently.but cheer
tully. and they are Mill as willing as ever to
contribute to the payment of all the obliga
tions resting upon the State: but they expect
their public servants who are intrusted with
the management of their affairs, to act 'upon
the most prudent and economical basis. In a
word, they demand reforun in the management
of the financial Wham of the Stale. and, as far
:e, possible.theretrnielimeot of all iinneeessagy
xpenditiirca.
On the ;10th of January last, replying to a
rt.... Anthill of the: Senate I said
hare the honor • Senate,
acknowledge. the re
ceipt. through the clerk of your honorable
body, a copy of the following resolution, passed
,n the 12th'inst.. 4 to. Wit :
"Re-•/ced, That the.Govertior be requested
to submit sonic plan to the Senate ;;t:eure
the State'from loss by the accumulation of
larp,e amounts of surplus funds in the Trea
sury.'
-• .In reply, 1: neg-teavit to direct. vont Weil
ti on to my me of January s,lßii - s,in winch
I say, the balance now in the Treasury might
be remiered productive by being - invested in
the bonds - of the State, bearing kix per cent.
interest and to the manage of January I;,
Isno, where I remark, whenever there may
serphis funds in the Treasury, they can
with safety and benefit to the State, be em
ployed in the purchase of its outstanding
bonds '
and in saving the interest on them
which would accumulate prior to their ma
turity.'" •
Since making these suggestions. and ma
turely deliberating upon the subject, I have
Seen no reason to change my Mimi in relation
thereto : and now submit the same plansnore
eipecially set forth, based upon the following
statement of the loans of the Commonwealth,
:
Amount of overdne loans; including bank
',,after lean. mei relief notes unredeent.d....2.ol.ta2
A moun t. pal' able in 11 , 70. interekt .5 per 0ent...1.1.43,315 G 5
Do 'l+7l do 6- ...do 420,700 so
to ......... fs do 4,907,1:4
„ 1572 do .5. .... 92X0 03
Ito 1607 do 6 du 7 .473.600 Olt
1677......d0 5 do 3,934.100 020
lien IVA d 0... _5 do 311,000 00
Lo 1579......d0 6 100000 01
D o Hot, 'do 0 do 9,2'3,000
Ito 15.1 k -, do 5 __do 1,120,950 00
1,6 do 112,000 00
A ithotint of titans.
•
To the liquidation of these loam; the surplus
funds in the Treasury could, with great pro
priety, be, applied. This indebtedness is held
in bon& bearing interest'; and it will readily
be perceived that this interest will be saved to
the ttate upon' whatever amount of these
bonds may be redeenied, and the State be
raved from all risks of loss by the accumulation
of large amounts of surplus funds in the Trea
sury.
A few illustrations will show the beneficial
workings of :this plan. At the tennination of
the liscal year ending November . 30, 1808,
there was an unexpended balance in the Trea
sury of 51,102,915 •37. 'lf the suggestions here
tofore, tea& had been carried out, by the in
vestnstnt 'Of one million of dollars, at that
time, in the five per tent. bowls that will fall
due July 1, 1870, and which lat credibly in-.
formed could then have been purchased at.
something less than their par value, the in
terest on the same, . from November 30,
istiS, to July 1, 1569, would be seventy-nine
thousand one hundred and sixty-seven
dollars _ and sixty-five cents, which has,
been lost to ,the State. Again, on the
ZOtli of November, '1869, there was in the
Treasury an. unexpended balance of $1,400,-
562 49. If one million four hundred thousand
dollars of this suur hOd been, invested in the
o
same kiwi of lionds,'at par, n the Ist day of
December, 1869,.the interest for the seven re. ,-
niaining months, endin 1, 1870, would
be 540,83:; ;I, but which, in -consequence of
non-conformity to this-plan, will be lost .to
the Commonwealth. .1 cannot reiterate •too
strongly my recommendations on this subject,
and would, therefortr ' recommend that a law
bs passed making it the duty of the Committ
sioners of the Sinking - lound-to invest all sur
plus funds as rapidly as they accrue in the
Treasury, in the par - Chase" of the' bands of the
Commonwealth next falling due.
I beg, once more, to remind the Legislature
thatthe salary of the State Treasurer should
at least be equal to that of the Governor. It
is only seventeen hundred dollars, a sum en
tirely insufficient to command the services of
any
. responsible man, who is required to
furnish a bond with good and approved sure
ties for eighty thousand dollars, andbarunthO,
risk' of handling at least five or 'six Million of
..dollars-per annum, without the unlawful use
of the State funds; and siabsideia , froth sources
.that dare not be revealed to the public, be
cause they are positively prohibited '>bY,ll4*,
under penalties of: ne •ordinary magnitude.
Yet there are but few men who haVe . held this
oflice,bowever poor they, may have beenjwheri
they took charge of .it. who have not become
. 'Morels certainly some advantage to be '
gained by the holding of the position•of
_State'
•Treasiirer, Unknown to th•'pnblio, but. which
Ireadily accounts for the disgraceful scramble,
and for the political'. and
,moral,•debauchery
which the. people of this State seem >to 'be
doomed annually , to• witness, in the election
of that officer; and because of the disgrace it
.brings upon their remsentatiVes; the people
hang their headsiin indignatiOn'and
Then, in - the name of the good people of
Pennsylyarda, 1 call 'upon , the , members 'of
the Legislature, withotit distinction of party;
to rise above the murkiness of, the polluted
'atmosphere of the ink,' tothe true dignity 'of
manhood anti exalted patriotism, and • purify
the election sTrdasurer as • well as that of.,
every other.. ofticar....within.• this - CoMinon
wealth, and punieln,*.every onetv:who tampers
with the purity of elections, whatever .may,be
his position' r pretensions. And 'every
one who shall have.performed his whole duty
to sustain tho true interests of the State find tc;
47M(NI IA
The peculiar interest which is always mani
fested by the people in the subject of eduea,
tion, is an inducement to lay before you,
more at length than would otherwise be done,
the principal statistics of the system, drawn
from the report of the Superintendent of Com
mon Schools.
There are within the State 1;971 school dis
tricts; 13,936 schools; 2,445 graded schools;
12.900 school directors; 66 superintendents;
17,142 teachers,.and 415,753 pupils.. The aver
age cost of tuition for each, pupil is ninety
seven cents per month. The whole cost of
tuition for the year is 53,500,704 Total
cost including expenditures of all kinds
during the year, $6,946,148 92. D'Alinated
value of school property 514,045,1432.
.Not Withstanding the fact that our ,
school law was made general in the year
Is4B, it is remarkable that there still . re
ntal 11 rive districts within the State which
have not yet conformed thereto) Hopes are.
entertained that four of these will soon accept
the conditions of the law, and the remaining
one. known 22 the Harmony District, under
the control ..+ rho `. I . :Cll7lofflitete: 1 14 - ing , n.
good school of its own, will probably - hot
adopt the public school system so long as the
present organization of that society exists. It
is, therefore, a subject worthy of hearty eor l7
gratulation that our school system has been
so universally adopted by the voluntary con
sent and general acquiescence of the people..
As important auxiliaries to our common
schools, the Normal schools are entitled to
,assume the front rank. Their flourishing con:-
dition may be understood from the following
statistics: The whole number of students
that have attended the four Normal schools is'
10,237, of whom 321 have graduated. During
the past year there were in these institutions
7b teachers and 4,178 students.. Since my last
annual communication, a State Normal school
has been fully established and recognized at
Bloomsburg, Columbia county. Its buildings
are of the most finished antrsubstantial char
acter, and it commences its career under the
most auspicious circumstances. Another is
now in a state of preparation at California,
Washington county, and will probably be
completed during the current year.
Your attention is again invited to the fact
that there are about seventy-five thousand
children in the State that do not attend schools
of any description; anctwho are permitted to
grow up in ignorance and without employ
ment, and, in many instances, from lack of in
dustrial and educational training become not
only the votaries of vice, but a prolific source
from which the inmates of our prisons and.
penitentiaries are supplied.
The number of children throughout the
Statej attending private schools is estimated at
eighty.five thousand.
The aggregate of the educational condition
of the children of the Commonwealth,, may be
thus stated
. 3 2.910.017 90
Attending the public schools
Attending private schools
1:of attending schools of any kind
Whele number of chi1dren............915,753
The subject of non-attendance by so large a
portion 01 children,is specially and most ear
nestly commended to your consideration. It
is true economy on the part of the State, if
possible, to save these children from ignorance,
vagranty aircrime. To negleet them would
be inexcusable, if not criminal. Doubtless in,
your azseinbled wisdom you will be able to de-fl
vise some ,effectual mode by which this evil
can be'remedied.
nany of the recommendations contained in
the report of the Superintendent are 'oUtlie
utmost importance, and eminently deserving
of serious attention -and legislative action.
The facts above set forth illustrate most for
cibly the practical value of our most admira
ble common school system, and bear testi
mony that cannot be misunderstood, to the
wisdom and liberality by whick it has, been
conceived and so successfully carried into ef
fect.
Attention is invited to the report of the Su
, perintendent of the Soldiers' • Orphiins ,
Schools, for the year ending May 31, 1869, iu
which is exhibited their condition, circum
stances and expenditures.
The whole number of children admitted
into these schools from their origin to the 31st
day of May, 1869, is four thousand, five hun
dred and nine ; of whom three hundred and
seven have been discharged on order, five
hundred and eighteen on age, and fifty-three
have died ; making a total of eight 'hundred
and seventy-eight, which left three thousand,
';six hundred and thirty-one in the schools at
the end of the year. Up to May '31,1869 the
•number of discharges from the - schools have
exceeded former estimates by one hundred
~'zind seventy-five. The number of applications
.Ifor admission on tile and not acted on, was
seven hundred Mid one; some from every
county in the Stite except 'six. •
The sanitary condition. of these schools has
been remarkably good. And from the fore
going statement 'it appears that during the
four years in which they have been in opera
tion, the whole number of deaths has been
less than one-third of one per cent. per an-
The entire cost of maintenance, education,
clothing and general expenses, for the year
ending Afay 31, 1869,,differs but little from
the original estimate of the Superintendent,
and •
Aroohnta to.. . . ........ ....... $500,971 62
To pay which there was' ".
an unexpended balance
. . .. . $6,004'74
Appropriated April 11,
/bitgv• • • •'• • 400,000 00
ApprOpriated "March 13,
1860.:... . .. . 4i'1111 , 4 50"000 00
0 0 0 I , '• • • • '
Balance Unprovided for 44W 88
THILitOgiLP4IA i wEp..N..00 . ,p4i7, JAIT . AR,y ,:4574 . ';' ~..:
*laid:nit "tha•difigh idikrilty-tif , her character;
may return unpollutedTand with a dear con
science to bia Constituent/I, who 'will receive
him with open arms, .and ' with. thejoyful exr ?
' olainatioir of "Well done , good' and faithtur
servant" ,
Liberal apProp' riaffinis ar e ' made an
nually to our- penitentlary,Munatic ' asp'
lunar, and other 'Charitable' anti .benefliiiiiii
ingitutions, without requiring froth these who
reeitt'e Aind disburse' , the mone • any satis
factory,evidence „that : it litis•' eh ',faltbfniii
aPPlied to Clio ohjeets intended:. hia is Wrorigi•-
b i
and should be corrected without delay. All
officers of the State whoreeeive public moneys,
not exceptingthe Governor, are required by
law and iiigige to settle their accounts, on
proper vouchers, in the Auditor General's
MD ce. This is right;- and there is no good
reason why the same' accountability Illiquid
not be enforced against all those Who receive
annually such large stuns of money from the
isointy of the tiommortwealth. I, therefoie,
recommend that a law be passed re
gifting all persons who • receive and
disburse State appropriations; to take
proper vouchers for all moneys so expended
by them, and to make quarterly tettle th ents
of the' same in the' Auditor'Oenentl'S office.
This is important, not ,onlylo protect the in
terests of the fitate, but aiscithe good 'lament
those who receive And.. diShittne , the"milney,
and of the ineinhers of the Legislature
through whose influence the , appropriations
are represented to be procured. For'iriany
years, the , general appropriation ' bills have,
been signeil. on the day of the ' adjourn
ment of the. Legislature, and I here repeat mv
suggestions of last year on this subject.
" The Governor- has been forced either to sign
the bills without proper - investigation, not
withstanding any objections. he. may have;
suspend the means to' defray the operations of
the government for the ensuing year; or cnli
an - extra session of the Legislature. It is
therefore earnestly desired that the appropria
tion bill be taken up, disci:wiled and nassed at
a sufficiently early period during the , session
to enable the Governor to give it that thorough
examination its importance demands." • •
COMMON SCHOOLS
soLDirss' ORPHANS' SCHOOLS
VR WHOLE
• .
For *lllich Hum there chock' be a special hp-
Iproptiatiou withoiituelay, to Meet Mb preivoi
cingmanta of tho teachers of the different in.;
istitutione, Who have heen already compelled,
te,avrait ,itgi payment for, more than, seven,
,months..
Tri ' his last annual report, the Surieriu
tOtiderit: estimated the expenses for the ctir
rent •year termitiatink M'av 31, 1870, at 5494,-
700. The sum appropriated for that year, by ,
t act,Of April 16,.18ti9, was $4150,000. As - the
ifitiperinteildent reports the: expenses will not
'materially vary from his estimate, there will
lie therefore a deficit of 544,700 for the cur-
rent yea!•;t6 be - provided for during the pre
sent iteBololl.
For the maintenance of these Schools during
tbe year ending May 31, 1871, it is estimated
that $554,500 will be required. Which sum I
recommend to be appropriated, with the posi
tive understanding that the expenditures shall
not exceed that amount.
. .
' We are admonished by the rapid expansion
of the systern,.and by the constantly increas
ing ^ desire to obtain admission into these
schools, that some definite limit should be de
termined upon by law. It is,- therefore, re
commended that the indigent children of
Pennsylvania soldiers, wife served. ill Penn
sylvania regiments, and who died prior to
January 1, 1866, from wounds received or
disease contracted in the service of the United
States during the war, shall be hereafter ad
mitted, and none others.
With unsparing patience, well considered
measures and earnestness, of. purpose,' many
defects have been eradicated, and the schools.
have been , advanced to a more perfect and ef
ficient system than that by which they were at
first characterized,and elevated to a condition
not second to any similar institutions in the
country. This humane and philanthropieser=
vice is being performed by in lligent officers
us i faithful teachers, which wi be more fully
Ileiwn by their reports, communicated for the
information of the Legislature.
The establishment of these institutions,
where the destitute orphan children of soldiers
who lost their lives in the suppression of the
late rebellion, are fed, clothed and educated at
the public expense, continues to eommand the
cordial support. approval and encouragement
of our citizens, and tends to elevate, every-
Where, the reputation of Pennsylvania (the
first IState, to establish such schools) to the
highest degree, for her justice, patriotism and
philanthropy. •
Most heartily have the people endorsed
the' past action of their representatives in
relation to these. schools, and there
exists not a single doubt but that they will
most cordially approve all necessary appro..
priations for the continuance of_the support,
education and guardianship of these adopted
children of the Commonwealth; To the
honor, state pride and humanitY of the Legis
lature is confided the guarding and maintain
ing of these sacred interests, and in the faith
ful discharge of this noble duty, you shall
receive from me, a special and zealous con
currence.
The establishment of this. college Was un
doubtedly interned as a progressive move
tricot, and under the impression that it Would
agi manure, cm.c - my,..
contribute much to the easy aefaiisition of a
com bi”eti wiengc
anti aimretlU c, and to promote the practical
education of the industrial classes in the
several pursuits of life. It has been fostered
by the most liberal legislation, and is endowed
with the sum of :i..381.500, invested in United
States and Pennsylvania bonds, yielding
an aggregate interest this year of
$'15,55100, which has been paid to
the trustees of the institutio Thus
far the most satisfactory results . !from the
workings of the college have not been
realized. But it is now under the direction of
a president and six learned professors. It re.
celves for its, pupilg only males over the age of
fifteen years, qualified for admission by a good
common school education. There are in it at
present fcirty-five students, with a. fair pros
pect of a considerable increase in number.
Tuition, board and ordinary necessaries of
life, are there furnished at a less rate than is
generapy demanded for boarding alone, thus
affording an extraordinary opportunity to the
youth of the country to acquire an accom
plished education with comparatively small
expenditures. 'Under these circumstances the
college deserVes the indulgent sympathy and
support of the people.
Three experimental farnis are connected
with the college, purchased at an aggregate
cost of S-13,586 50. One is located at the col-
leg,e, one in Indiana county, and one in
Chester county. Operations have been com
menced upon thent,under the prescribed pro
gramme of a series of experiments with pro
mises of complete success; the results of
which arc to be reported annually to the
Lep,islatine by the Professor of Agriculture.
It is confidently expected that the record of
these experimental results - will prove highly
interesting, and greatly beneticial.to the com
munity.
813,753
85,000
73,000
The military department is one of great im
portance to the honorable history of the Com
monwealth; and to that of her citizens indi
vidually. It is the custodian of all the military
records of the State, embracing that of every
officer and private soldier, and the history - of
every military transaction performed by the
State for the suppression ot the rebellion. It
has also in its custody all the regimental,' State
and Nationaltags borne by our soldiers, and
many trophies of war won by their valor on
the held. All of which should be systemati
cally preserved and perpetuated.
During the last three years all the staff' ofli
cers rendered necessary by the war, and the
different offices established for the conve
niesce of the soldiers,have been discontinued,
and the duties performed by them,as well walla
official books and papers,have been transferred
to the Adjutant General's department. lie is,
therefore, the only military pflicer remaining,
to whom recourse is constantly had for Staffs
tice and information, not only by the soldiers,
and their relatives and attorneys, but by Other
States and bythe War Department at Wash
iagton. All these- circumstances, connected
pith the present flourishing condition of the
volunteer militia in the State, induce me to
request the continuance of legislatiVe faror
for the Adjutant 'General's department, and
that it maybe generously supplied with such
appropriations as have , been requested by the
Ao intent General for that office. • '•
An unusual martial activity, prevails
throughout the State, but more particularly in•
Philadelphia.' The encouragement which has
been afforded to' the unifqrmed militia has
been responded to with alacrity, and is ex
hibited as folloWs : In 1866 there were 'eight
rolunteer companies ; in 1867, thirty-eight
in 1868, sixty-seven, and in 1869, one hundred -
- amleightrfour: - No less than one hundred
and seven companies were organized,
,during
the year ending November,34), , 1869, of Which
fifty-six are in - Philadelphia and ,fifty-one in
other parts of the State.
This is a small but efficient and,',well-equip
ped force, which, in case of riot, rebellion, or
'other public danger, would be ready at once
to imperil itself for the enforcement ot the -
laws and the protection of the lives and pro
perty of the citizens. It is, therefore, desi
rable' that the Legislature should give the vol
unteer companies such practical aid as would,
in some degree, compensate them for the tittle
and money expentledto maintain their (Omani
zations,in which the people are as much in
terested as,the volunteers themselves.'
The report of the Adjutant-General will be
found a very interesting document, containr
ink muelyvaltitibie information and many im-.;
portantsugg'estions,“ A'careful perusal of its
contents; and such action thereon. as seems to
bodemanded by, their importance, is- reeom--
Mended.. General,D, B. M'Creary has been
elected to Memberiihip in one of, your honorer
ble bodies; and with lini last report he ,closed,
.his career as Adjutant-GeneraL loetnehle,
Valuable SeririceB front , potation he has so
ably filled for more tball two , years,: the ;hoptfo ,
is indulged that the department will gain an;
iiitelligenti and devoted:fa:lead; and at able.
AORICULTURAL COLLEGN
31 ILI TAXI,
Atoi efficient advotate iv the balls of legfshr
MILITARY ft Drrony
The•report of the butte Historian is desorv ,
' ing of your careful attention. in it you Will
find a detailed account of the operations of his
department from its commencement to, the
present time; The work intrusted to his care
is one of no ordinalrY charaCter and responsi
bility, requiring talents of a high order, patient
industry, careful research, and unbiased ffulg
.ment. • The labor to be perforniedlitiiiontense,
and can only be properly appreciated- by those.
fully acquainted with its magnitude. It. em
braces a faithful account of . all the organi
zations of Pennsylvania troops during
the war of the rebellion ; the Collec
tion and adjustment, in a comprehensive
form, of each. Military organization, and , an
unprejudiced description.of all military trans
actions of importance, so far as the volunteers •
of this State are concerned, in the camp and',
in the field, throughout the most terrific con-.
filet of ' arras that has ever occurred in the
history of the world. The propriety of stich'a ,
work must be apparent to every intelligent"
citizen of the Common Wealth: Certainly - it is
due to the citizen soldiers, who offered their
lives in the defenCe of their country, that their
names should, at least,receAve a place in the ,
archives of the State, toward whose honor and
gloryt ed. heir gallant deeds have so largely con..
tribut
The work of the historian,when completed,
will embrace four large octavo volumes, in
which the name of every Pennsylvania volnn
tear will have its appropriate pile°. Two of
these volumes are already completed, in a
manner highly creditable to the Common
wealth. The third is rapidly progressing, and
with a generous appropriation on the part of
your honorable body the entire history 'will
be executed, if not before, soon after the close
of the present year. brost other States area
publishing histories similar to this, and it is
due, to the importance of the subject, and to
the crqdit of the State, that Pennsylvania
should not be behind in this •patriotic under
taking.
ROME FOR DISABLED SOLDIERS.
There is; probably, no State in the American
Union that has contributed more liberally to.:
ward the support of charitable and .benevo2
lent institutions than that of Pennsylvania.
The appropriations annually made for the
benefit_ of the soldiers' orphans' schools,
asylums' for the deaf, and dumb, blind and in
sane, and many similar worthy establishments
in which the poor, helpless and otherwise
friendless are cared and provided for, reflect
great credit upon the Legislatures 'who haVe
donated the requisite means for their support.
But there is one other institution needed, and
theelaims for which are more strongly urged'
by every principle of humanity and pa
triotism, than' ally othdr now in existence,
which has not yet received the attention its
vast importance imperatively demands. This is
a home for the soldiersovhof have " borne the
battle" in defence of the'lionor, integrity and
perpetuity of the American Union. No men •
liVing have as powerfpl claims upon the gen
erosity and nurturing care of the Common
wealth of Pennsylvania, as those who, upon
the battlefield, fought to protoct it against
threatedie t si ns deN n •: 4 l.lt r ?
otit7 tmienrdodeees.trsuueitbimon;iffacniiii
their lives, sacrificed their newt , •
limbs, and became enfeebled and disabled for
life. And yet we daily see these men, (and
who does not blush to see them?).
to Whom we owe the preservation of
Our goverimOnt, the homes we enjoy,
and almost everything we possess, hobbling
about our streets upon crutches, with missing.
limbs, and otherwise so enfeebled as to be eu
tirely unfitted for any remunerative employ
ment, begging their bread from door to door,
or sitting upon the corners of the streets turn
ing an organ for tile few pennies:the charita
ble passer-by may feel disposed to bestow.
Every one of these helpless men, whose
patriotic devotion to, his country has broilght
him to this deplorable condition, is a burning
reproach fci the &ate for whose Welfare he has
met the most serious and lamentable of all mis-
fortunes.. All of them appeal, by their wounds
and destitution,to the people of the Common
wealth for that care which, in such contingen
cies, was proMised the soldier of the Union,
his widow, and his orphan children. It is
time that all such promises Should be re
deemed. The wounded and helpless soldiers
have a claim upon the State whichshould not,
and cannot be ignored. And Ido . earnestly
recommend in their name, and in their behalf,.
that measures be taker by your honorable
body, to establish for them a home where they
shail be amply provided with the necessary
comforts of life, and no longer be compelled
to be pensioners upon the scanty charities of
the world. This is a debt the State absolutely
owes, and no time should be lost in its honor. ,
able liquidation..
I.NdURANCE DEPAIITMEN7
In two former communications your atten
' lion was called to the importance of estab,
lisbing in the:State ait Insurance Department
similar to those existing in other States. But
the Legislature has thus far failed to give the
subject that consideration which interests of
such magnitude to the people seem to demand.
Insurance Departments in some of the States
are regarded of 'paramount importance, as
they effectually guard the interests of the, in
sured, and through their healthy influence
frauds and spurious Companies, so common
in Pennsylvania, are rendered almost impos-'
Sible. The greatest benefits would certainly ac
drue both to the companies and policy.holders,
As has already been demonstrated in the States
of New York and Massachusetts, where the
subject of insurance has received the most
Careful study and attention, and been reduced
to a science which commands the approba
tion and confidence of all who seek its protec
tion. The necessity for such a department,
with full powers to organize and examine all
insurance companies, is sanctioned by the
wisdom of experience. And as I have here
tofore remarked, the result of the protection
thus afforded, is,, that whilst foreign compa
nies do immense business in this State, so lit-
tie confidence is had in those of Pennsylvania
that their business is almost entirely
:confined within the State limits;'
and even here foreign companies
Maintain an ascendency. To this same de
feet is attributable the operations of the num
ber of worthless companies that have suddenly
sprang into existence without any solid basis,
and as suddenly expired to,the injury of those
Whose confidence they obtained, and to the
dishonor of the Commonwealth.
• In view of these facts, I earnestly repeat
the recommendation made to the Legislature
at its last session, that an . Insurance Depart
'went be established, and 4, :itlperiiitendent ap
•pointed by law, who shall have superyision
and control' over ' all insurance com
panies -allowed- to' transact - business within
the State. The community is deeply interested
in this matter, and demands legislative pro
tettion.
Our laws in relation to life, insurance com
panies are defective, and need revision anti
correction. Without the protection referred
to,these laws bear unequally unon our own
an foreign compa,nieii: lattjr, being pro=
tscted by legislative enactment, are enabled
to transact. an immense amount of business
within the limits of this Commonwealth,whilst
our companies, having uo such protection, can
do but little in other States. The consequence
is, that foreign companies' an readily afford to
pay a license of five kindred dollars to conduct
their extensive operations in. Pennsylvania,
whilst our companies w ould be sorely oppressed
by the imposition of the sane"-license* tax' in
States where their operations are exceedingly
limited., , And yet these other States haver' re.
taliated upon our license law, by 'adopting its
provisions and demanding from our compa
nies the same amount of license in each State
that Wo'demand'of their . companies in ours.
This is not only . oppressive to our Owni ' ne
glected cOrcipames, but: it' fails to fathish
just ,and equitable revenue from the various
companies _kr the- amount :of business trans ,
acted.' Tlie tax should be made to. boar; equally
main all companies,Whether home or foreign,
F. I, MM3RMS
' ; PRICE THREE CE*B::3
•
and be dtjustu
.pi . opeationate yhySlinexppit i „
. :of their seferat 'triter/Stink's'. ' Thyit
ratigentent -Would • ton 'just tro'
pressive. to • none.e , The '..aboilehinerrad
therefore, of the license law,- and. the
• tidier) in its place of a reasonable and equit-,
able tax; *Mild meet the' approbation of; idl',
conipatilea, in favor ofequbl stud ex ict,{nyticb
whether belonging to this or 'any otherStatell
At the same.time it would insure.a -.larger in%
come 46 the'Treasury. „For instaiwn / there opts- .
life i nstira ride Companies trom,
,rather
States doing busineas in . Yeans,vlvania, wittiA
each pay • a license Of " five hundredth:faith,"
making , the sum of eighteen- thougandst
five hundred dollars. ~Not one of these,coro,
, pantes would object to paying an equal tax oc i
one • half of one per Upon thin
amount of • their .busitiesg. This, Ire
the aggregate of,the thirty-seven' oismpanies;
is more than five millions ofdollare on, whielos
a tax or one-half of one per "ceuCyr,uldr
twenty-five 'thousand della - ra p increasing - this
revenue of the State from . this source shortie'
than six thousand dollars, and at tlie - Jeindierf
time equalizing.the tax iu accordance Airith rho A
business done and profits receiVed. An, elk. /
'dent law, establishing an Inserafice Depart—.
ment, such as is recommended,' would inset'
this and all matters connected with-the astbjeett
.of insurance, in all its branches..
TILE AVONDALE' DISASTER. • ..
The recent' disaster in the Avondale (foie
Aline in Luzern° . cotnity, is still fresh the
minds of the people. It -caused ;a thrill 'of'
horror to spread throughout the country ;."anti
'even in. Europe it haa been, producti,vskof s tho
meat painful emotions, and deepest sorrow for
the sufferers. Womeri'arid children whb hod'
been accustomed to regardthe ocenpatleiffir
the miner as one of ordinary character, news:
look upon it as fraught with danger, andrparts
with relatives and friends, when about to par—.
sue their perilous ocenpatiOn, with fea,rilir, •
\forebodings. And even• the sturdy miner'
himself trembles at his dangerous calling andef
demands greater protection than has hitherto.'
been afforded. . )
The history of this terrible calatnitY seems
to be as followed: Early on the Morning °fib&
oth of September last, one hundred- and eight
men entered.the Avondale Mind to ,prosecute
their avocation. None of them anticipated-.
danger as they descended the fatal.sbaft ; not
one supposed that he was entering a tomb iii
which he wax doomed to be buried alive. ;
the destroying angel hovered over them; and.:
the shaft;•constructed principally, of cont/i145
Mile materials, having become ignited runts,.
some cause, yet undetermined, was 'seen a
sheet of 'flame, and huge bUrning . tinibers
came tumbling from above, choking.up ,With •
tire and smoke the only avenue, of' escape: Soil-it
sible of their peril, the unfortunate men so tight
a place' of safety, , but it Was not ,to be found.:
They cried for succor; but no earthly . aril ' '
could give them help: hopeless they huddled.:
together,and clasped in each other's arzus,mebt
death in one of its most frightful auct
ing forms.
Whilst this teaxful scene was transpin
,g/
below;the immense wooden structure above.- '
the shaft took fire, and burning with
rapiclity, was soon retluced, to a - crumblin
mass... Thousands of men, -women -.awl, chif-
dren soon surrounded the place; and beink;
14 , 11 , 17 pi ru t i4 „ .. RlTBc , ds
s stoutest lamentations, appalling . even .to: the 'stoutest
hearts. Never before, was a sceneinore hoart-.
rending witnessed within the limita of thia
CommonweWth, and it is trusted that through
sour prompt and efficient legislative action, '
amither such will never be permitted,to occur.,,,
The mines in many cases are constructed, ;
and managed in the most selfish and parsinuf,
moils manner, the _Miters eXacting.the largest
amount of profit men them, from the least
passible outlay ; consequently some of
them, like that of Avondale. , are .
thing but andcrgronndmain-traps t without.amiy
other outlets than wooden chimneys, 'and
these constantly liable to become blazing'vol-2
canoes, through which escape is impossible: ;
The lives of so useful at. class of men. as our,r
miners should not, and inust not be permitted.,
to be thus sacrificed upon the altar othtiman
cupidity. /Yet a reprehensible neglecttia .give
them that protection bylaw which their Veinal
able services, at. best Inborious.anddangerouss
unquestionably deserves / renders our mining, ,
system worse than that of any other crountry,, : .
whilst our mining interests are, uneqUalledby,
those, of any other part of the world.
The most appalling accidents on record have
been traced to . unsafe methods of ventilation;;and more especially to the employment. qf fur sl - 1 .,
naves at or near "the bottom of the shafts—
IV here the furnade is used, and 'the SinokniS
carried through a wooden chimney, it seetuariz
ainnist certain that, sc#ont.tr or, later, by the
evitable accumulation of soot or carbownpon,
the frame-work, it Must, ignite from, the
ascending sparks or from the heat of the fur-'
mtee, and a conflagration ensue: .• .To guard -
against this, it should be made obligatory,l iD
. the ventilating furnace be still allowed, ;tee
build the chimneys, the sides of the shaft, and.
the building's surrounding it at the top With
incombustible materials.. 'But 'even' this tire
caution is not a tune safe-guard, for.the .firo
is liable at any moment to communicate
the " fire-damp " or other gaseous ,vapors,,
that, despite of all known Means of preven
tion, will generate in the liest regulate.d.raines.
The propriety of dispensing entirely, there
fore, with the furnace, has received the, eeri,
out 'consideration of scientific niineni a ; nd ear
gineers, and the fan, in many :instances, !ma
been substituted. whith, beingrvirorkeld
iuery at the sinface, prof:lin/ea . a , mere San
slant current of air, dispenses:it it, more ft eey
through the gangways and chambers,-,and,Au
all respects, accumnitslw; the object deairert,
with better effect; and when the shafts and
surface buildings.. are fireproof, without the
possibility.of danger. This system. of ventibv;
non, with advantages, so palpably obvious,. I
will, no doubt, be universally, adopted.. nut.,
• the very nature of Mining Operations subjects
them to ether dangers. The walls and tOofitig '
of the mines, from the effects of i blasting and ,; •
other causes, frequently .give way .and ,
till the gangways so as to. J . . tert•!
der them impassable, as in the awe
. recent calamity at Stocktrin, which 'resulted '
in the death of ten persons. Henee it it;
soltitely necessary,and should be imeratively.
demanded, that, every mine should have more
than a single avenue of ingress and ogress,
Whether as regards fire, or any other soiree
of danger to which the Miner is exposed,thiels'
his surest promise of safety, Whatever system '-
of ventilation may bil approved, or safetylamp
adopted, the means of escape from the touch * ,
'when danger occurs, will'depend very materi
ally upon the provisions made for the 'exit - of
the miner. . - • • • •i
The best mode of constructing, ventilating , '
and working the mines shinild. be • utthest, 4
tatingly adopted; and systeel
adopted rigidly enforced. The inquiry . , there ; • )
fore, into the . causes which' protiticed this
shocking catastrophe—various • theories ' that
have been promulgated concerning it, the • ;
remedies for the prevention of similar, occur-, ,J
rences hereafter, the construetion• and. veuti
lation of collieries, 'and the roodesef conduct.:
ing their' operations so 'Unit the operativeii
. may prosecutetheir labor without imperilling
their lives, are proper subjects for legislative!'
consideration.
Stich laws as yon may enact can 'mast cer,
tainly . he enforced by competent inspectors iU '
the mining districts, who should be "chosen
with strict regard, to character, integrity,capa
bility and scientific knowledge,aiid islotookeht
ties should be so specifiially detined.tl,4 ; ttpii,c,
cannot be/misunderstood. , ' ,
1, tberefort, most ie.lpe . cifull7 tuld4neetl3i-
recommend that this whole subject reeeio Mist
attention its importance, dena4nds atuLtbati
law be passed, so g,etteral t in its olytkranter
tso string , ent in its provisions, that t4O Tesopli,
of tbis•CommenriVealth will never 431111 m a*.
palled by a calamity; her 66)1411 , "
as that ofAvouciale. •
BOAR}) or PUBLI p CHM
AUII4.- -
a irracconlanCa with' an act oft a laiSt.oo o . -
venuntizi on Mg rev.
... w. w;~pFt . .s.Y".. ti+Y,R`iaKax.~y. fr::F3A.
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