i s s. it i y. c i: h s. r a in i! k n t.
r.xiig I lie subjects of importance to
the ciiizer.s vl 1'etiu? Ivarsia is tie est!
li.-hmei t cf an Insurance Department.
Such departments are in rucecssful epe
i at i. ii in several neighboring otaie?, oy
ejj
wonns of which I he insurers are guan:
i.U'I p.-omoto I. S. careful a supervision
U ha I over the transactions of insurance
companies th:.t i r.u!.- are rendered almost
i:nT .ssitt'.e, and spurious companies cau
l.jt? ni ixietcr.ee. 1 he result cf the
I r; V':-;i thus uffonled, is, that whilst
Lus-ign cow panics, thus protected, doitu
iutiise lnice? in this State, so little con
iidct.ee is hud in thoso of I'cni.s) Irania
t'n.t th.'ir bu-inefs is almost entirely con
"..' i u;thi;i the tit ate V.viit.3 ; and lately
h ):m them have withdrawn their agcu-
i -ii m other States, because no risks
will be taken, ia c aufcrjueucc of the iu
Icjucr.M cf the laws V a Cord protec
tij.ii i .j insrirera. To this defect, more
t.k'cr, -.zy ho attributed the operations ol
the jiuu.'ber of worthless companies which
iiave svldealv sprung up, without any
h lid I a :U, and as suddenly expire I, to
the injury of a.l whose confidence t hey
bta'.ueJ. and to the dishonor of the Com
inouwealth. Whislt Pennsylvania insur
cr.ee companies transact little business
oar-ide : the State, it id alleged that fore
ign li!e insurance companies alone paid
taxes li-t year o;i three million eight hun
I thousand d dlats of premiums rectiv
ol ;:i Pctmsvlvanhi, a great proportion of
v. i.i-'h err.! i he confined to this State if
li.c ?ia:e protection was given by law to
is eiiir.-Mji as U afforded by other States.
'!. report of the Insurance Department
-f .W.v V'o:k, published iu 1S07, shows
'.it the cemrai.ies which were doing
-l- -".iic in 1SGG, in Pennsylvania, and
i- i;: New Yoik, had risks in force for
ia..-e than Si'c thousand million of dol
lrs; and it is Leiivcd that the risks in
J Vnnj3 Ivjuia companies, which, for want
i I a proper lusurance Department, can
i."t be obtained, would swell the amount
t vor s'.x thousand million.
I.i
vie w of' these facts, and of the
cost
, cSjiOiieuce of the people who have
v ta impose 1 upon and defrauded by un-uL-l
j:.tial and ephemeral companies, I
iv: -ut she recommendation made to the
L.-.?: Mature at its last session, that an Li
5 ranee Iepartmeut Le established, and a
.-;:por: jiten'ient appointed by law, who
- '.J'i e supervision and control over
f'.l iusarsnca c.rr.nics allowed to trans-
;. -i l;.:neis rkhia tha State, and aasual-
pu:...:-.:, uaucr
ir transactions.
full reports of
The community is
cj.lv :ntcretcd ia ihis matter, aud de
1 1- t
prut
"I .
:a which caa thus on-
i.
i r u j
s
w i:.vnr..L
i o:; Tiiz ixsAr.r.
'll.j Coa'jjts.;onevs appointed by an
8' t cf the last .c-!oa ; to establish an ad
di'i.;n:il Stdte Hospital fur the Iuaue,"
hive u.;fit-.J me that they will present a
up-jjt of t!ic!r proceedings sometime dur
.mi ; ill? present month, which will be
c i--:oi utiic ated when received.
:S 2V KAIP3.
lii ioriianei with
m act of ilie last
t revving ior
t revving ior an
mvestiatiou
d' ciiiuis ol citizens ot several coun
t';i w!io-e property was destroyed, dam
a-, i .r apprf-piiate 1 for the public ser-
; e. and in the ccuiaaon defence iu the
vj, t suppress the rebellion," a com
'.;.i:nn of tiirce competent gentlemen was
.:. f p Mi.t- J, who have performed the allot
;. i J a tic?, a p. i will soon make a full re
j-.-itoi their trasssctious.
r.r.is rxrosiTiox.
I hire received through the Secretary
; f .v';;e of the United States, a bronze
I.i f.t.d uip'jTjia from the Imperial
'.o;M.i--io:iers f.ir the best specimens of
I'd): y!vania authraite coal exhibited at
I' e 1'aris lxpoiition in 1SC7. These
irih'itcs to su important branch of the in
:.!::;! resources of Pennsylvania have
t-cn .-.-.-igncd a place amon other valua
ble !cl!c in the Kxecative Chamber.
STATE COAT OF AIIMS.
i'iiigcnt but unsuccessful search has
i ei u repeatedly made for the coatof arms
1 1 the State, and for the authority under
which the present design was establish
c 1. It seems that for years past no trace
f tlther the origiual authority or design
L'a!J anywhere be found, and it is re
c amended that the Legislature take the
it -
i:ecos:iry ste ps to supply the omission,
by mc!i means as they iu their wisdom
eiiuU determine.
STATE EEXLKICIAniES.
A number of benevolent, charitable
r.u J ether similar institutions annually re
ceive appropriations from the State for
ifi'.ir support. These appropriations, in
uio.-t, if not in all cases, appear to have
bceu adequate for the purposes to which
it ws intended they ehould be applied,
an! areas literal as can reasonably be
xpeeted in the present condition of' the
treasury cf the State.
THE SUSQUEHANNA FISHERIES.
preliminary report on the Susque
): -ir.il fisheries has been submitted by
,k. James orrail, Uivil Engineer, Com
uL-Muner under the act of the Lcisla
O
cure in reference thereto. There are
ome facts which should be embodied ia
the report, but which can uot be ascer
tained until early in January. Permis
moii bap therefore been grauted to the
i'ummisrioner, at his request, to postpone
the submission of his regular report until
jhe earliest day practicable during the
DrchCLi uionlli.
CATTLE LISEASE.
T'ae prevalence of contagious or epide
tuia diseases among cattle aud other ani
mals izas for soaje years past been a pro
lific bGirce of anxiety and alarm amon"
iLc pru'iucers and consumers ot meats iu
xuany ufthe States. It was therefore
deemed important to call a convention of
competent persons to take into considera
tion the tueaus lest calculated to rem
tdy this grea and growing evil. This
convention, Gomposed of three commis
iorJers each fracn the fourteen States re
jresccted, appi,ited in accordance with
an agreement by the several Governors,
assembled at Sprijjgfiel j, Illinois, on the
first of December Utt, and an account of
heir transaction i herewith preseuted.
Withvyt Ii-Ja'ire authority, but Lc-
living my action would be sanctioned by
the people's representatives. I appointed
Dr. Hiram Corson and Messrs. K. C.
Humes and A. Boyd Hamilton, commis
sioners to represent Pennsylvania ia that
convention. These gentlemen freely gave
their time and experience, and also in
curred a pecuniary expense ol three hun
dred dollars, to defray which 1 recom
mend that au appropriation be made.
STATISTICS.
In view of the vast amount and great
variety of the products of the State, a
desk tor the collection of statistics, rela
tive to exports aud imports, agriculture,
manufactures, coal, irou, oil, lumber, lie.,
might, with properiety and profit be es-
tablished. ihis could be accom
plished by the com ploy men t of a compet
ent clerk, under the supervision of one of
the present heads ot department, whose
duty should be to collect ana publish
such facts as might tend to stimulate and
increase our productive energies, instil
new life aud vigor into our manufactur
ing interests, and lead to more accurate
kufiwlcdire of all oar internal resources
and the proper methods for their develop
uient. These is abundant space in the
Capitol buildings to be appropriated as a
receptacle tor books, papers, mineralogi
cal specimens, and other articles that
might be contributed appropriate to sucl
a department and which ia a few years
would form an invaluable collection. In
Jer legislative direction, the good results
would be almost incalculable, and are re
ouiied bv the progressive spirit of the
arc iu which we live.
RESOLUTIONS OF THE VERMONT LEOISLA
TUltE
Your attention is called to the accom
pauying joint resolutions, passed at the
last session of the crmont Legislature
t .t i. w
bearing a in.it tribute to tne late iion
ThadJeus Stevens. Joint resolutions from
the same body are also sent you, which
regard as wortiiy of your consideration, re
lativc to the act of Congress "to establisl
and protect National Cemeteries," and re
commending "to the Legislature of the
State of Pennsylvania the passage of an
act empowering the broad of commission
ers having charge of the Soldier s Na
tional Cemetery at Gettysburg, to trans
fer all the right, title, interest and care
of said Soldier's National Cemetery to tl
General Government, upou the comple
tion of the satuc.
IN ME. MORI AM.
It has bceu the misfortune of the State
during the past year to lose by death two
of her representatives in the Congress of
the nation, Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, of
the Ninth, and Hon. Darwin A. Finney,
of the T wentieth District. Doth were
natives of Vermont, but in early life
selected Pennsylvania for their home, aud
identified themselves with her interests,
which they were chosen to guard in the
Legislature ; and the people of the Com
monwealth will long remember with grati
tude their faithful and efficient services.
The firsit went down to his grave after a
long life of public usefulness and in well
tnatured honors ; the other in the prime
of manhood, which gave promi-e ol a
scarcely lc? brilliant career.
TARDOXS.
The list of pardons issued during the
pat year will be found among the papers
to which your attention is called. The
principal reasons upon which they were
based, aud the names of some of the pro
minent petitioners, are given in every
case. That a few of these pardons may
have been unworthily granted, through
misrepresentations cf relatives, friends,
sympathizing neighbors and other inter
ested parties, there is no doubt, but in
the majority of instances it is certaiu that
the facts not only justified but demanded
Executive clemency.
Jhe whole number of applications for
pardons during the year has been sixteen
hundred and twenty three. The number
of pardons grauted in that time has been
one hundred aud six, which is a little
over per cent. Of those pardoned
about five per cent, have been again
brought before the courts in consequence
of their return to the commission of
crime.
I am fully imprcssaJ with the weighty
responsibility of the pardoning power,
which rauks among the most difficult and
embarrassing duties of the Executive of
fice. Daily beset with powerful and piti
ful importunities, a3 well as conflicting
representations, from those in whom he
should be enabled to place the fullest con
fide nee, in order to avoid errors in the
decision of any case, the Governor is com
pelled to take into consideration the ac
tion ol the court before which the con
vict has been tried ; the majesty of the
law which may or may not have been
violated; the condition of the prisoner;
his temptation to err : the iniurv that
j
may be inCicted upon his helpless and
dependent relatives, and the arguments
and appeals of citizens whose opinions
and wishes he is bound to respect. And
however just his decision aud humane
and geoerous his action, either iu favor
of or against the petitioner for celemency,
he must expect to have his motives im
pugned, his name and character milign
ed, and to suffer virulent attacks for the
exercise of this most important and merci
ful prerogative.
The pardon report will exhibit that iu
many instances in which Executive cle
mency has been invoked, youthful pris
oners, charged with their first offences,
aud those of a trivial character, have been
the recipients. The object of punish
ment, iu all cases, tshould not be 60 much
to inflict pain as to reform the sufferer
and prevent the repetition of evil deeds.
1 his fact is frequently lost si;ht of in im
posing punishment upon criminals, es
pecially when inexperienced youths are
shot up in close cells with men harden
ed in crime, where its arts are daily taught
and a romance thrown around its commis
sion. Justead of being improved, they
come forth at the expiration of their
terms of sentence with the loss of self-re
spect, their moral sentiments blunted,
and prepared to practice upou society the
iufamous lessons they have learned.
Such punishments tend to increase rath
er than lesscu the quantity of crime.
eu home of currectiotf ul reforms -
tories are constructed, or a proper system
of confinement and prison discipline is
... i
adopted, there will be a material decrease
of crime, and comparatively few cases to
deniaud the exercise of the pardoning
power.
COMMUTATION OF SENTENCES.
There are confined in the Philadelphia
couufy prison the following named con
victs, under sentence of death, lor whose
execution warrants have not been issued:
Edward Ford, sentenced May 12, 1851 ;
Jerry Dixon, 31ay 30, 1SU3 ; 1'atnck
Fiunegan, February 9, 18G3; Newton
'hampiou, December 1, laGb.and Alfred
Alexauder and Hester Vaughn, July 3,
18G8. Successive Governors, for satisfac
tory reasons, have declined to order the
execution of these persons, lho law re-
luires that they shall be executed in ac
cordance with the sentence, uncondition
ally pardoued, or held in cloae confine
ment in the county jail during lite. Ine
latter puuishment, with the additional
..... . . .
embitterment constantly preying upon
the tuiud that a death warrant may at
any moment be issued, is, perhaps, the
severest that could be inflicted. It would
be both iuat and merciful to give the
Governor authority to commute the sen
tence of death in the above named casci
t) imprisonment, at labor, in the rent.
tentiary, for such a term of years as the
ameliorating circumstances may seem to
justify and demand. One of the convicts
named has becu impresioncd about eign
teen years, and although it might not be
advisable to set him at liberty, humanity
and the ends of justice require the com
mutation of his sentence in the manner
suggested.
COSCLtSION.
The foregoing subjects have been deemed
of sufficient importance to eubmit at the pre
sent time for your information and considera
tion. Others may occur before the close of
the session which may be wormy os spccni
comrnuuicitions. It will be my constant
care and determination to co-operate with
you in ihe prosecution of any measures that
may lend to preserve and increase the pros
perity of the SUte and the happiness of its
people, with the firm belief that your united
wisdom will aim constantly to promote these
desirable results.
Many of the events that have transpired
since my last annual communication
to the Legislature have been unusually in
teresting and simficeiit. Tfiey have been
infinitely un.ru than political, and bearciirec
tely upon the great interests and most sacred
destines of the natioii. Apart from the Tin
dication of the principles of ihe party which
sustained the government and the army dur
ing the contest for the preservation of the
Union, and the election to the Presidency
of the first soldier of the age, is the fact
that the people have by triumphant inajori
tiei lorever set! led our controversy upon
certain fundamental principles. Parties way
nd undoubtedly wiij ane upon other issues,
but there can be no future struirirle axout
slavery. Involuntary servitude, as a mon
opoly of labor, is forever des-troyed. The
monster obstacle to the national progres
has been removed, and henceforward all the
faculties of our people can be developed
-without let or hinder nee." The fair and
exuberantly fertil JStatesof the South, here
tofore comparatively retrogressive and un
productive, relieved from this terrible curss,
witli the influx of norihem immigration and
capital, will soon become the rivals cf their
northern sister States in nil the arts of peace,
and additional markets will be developed in
which lo exchange the varied products of the
heretofore hostile sections.
Hardly less magical h.-is been the effect
upon other nations. General Grant s elec
tion haa confirmed the hopes of our nation's
friends, and the fears ot its foes in the Old
World. It supplements and seals the ver
diet of arms and the progress of republican
principles. The downfall of the rebellion in
ihe Umted States was quickly followed hy
the great civil revolution in England; the
peaceful expuUion of the last of the Bour
bons from Spain; the unrest of Cuba; the
concession of more liberal principles in Ger
many ; and the necessary acquiescence of
the Emperor of the French in the republican
sentiments he fears even as ho has betrayed
them. What are thers but the echoes of
the dire ca'aslrophe that has overwhelmned
ari-tocracv in the United S?ates 1
Notwithstanding the importance of the is
sues involved in ine late C4nvas.-, and the
bitterness or feeling as well as the earnest
nesa with which it was conducted, its ter
mination has happily met with the acqiies
cence of nearly the whole people; and at r.e
time in the history of the nation has there
been opened before us a brighter prospect of
continued peace and increasing prosperity ;
and we have no greater cause for unitemal
congratulation than that no differences of
opinion now exists that can materially mar
our national happiness, retard our onward
progress, or threaten the peace or perpetuity
of our government.
In conclusion, permit me to remark that
the voice of Pennsylvania, as well as that of
a majority of the Slate?, ha? at the ballot
box proclaimed to the world lhat all our
national indebtedness, no matter how heavy
the burden, will be paid according to "ihe
letter and spirit" of the agreements made
and entered intoat the lime the debt was con
tracted; and that in this as in all other res
pects our individual and national honor "muat
and sh ill be preserved;" lhat we are deter
mined by all honorable means in our power
to secure ample encouragement and protec
tion to each and every branch of Home In
dutry, and every manly enterprise that con
tribiites capital. Ijbor, skill and industry to
our material wealth, social advancement and
political tranquillity; lhat 'or all our citizens.
the children of the commonwealth, being
alsocuuensot the United State, wedemmd
the fullest protection, in their persons, their
propety. and in all their nghisand privigse
wherever they may go within the national
jurisdication or in foreign lands; and that
wuilst our financial policy shall be such as
to maintain untrammelled our mtional
credit, it is to be hoped thii it may at the
same time, be such as will permit and sanc
tion the construction ot the great railways
now id progress and stretching out their
giantarma to grasp the mighty commerce of
the Pa ci tic, to develop the untolj resource
of wealth in ihe intervening territories, and
to connect ihe mo6t distttit portions of our
country iu a common union, not only with
iron band?, but by the still stronger and more
indissoluble ties of a common interest and a
common brotherhood.
To lesson the burdens of the people, and
lo keep the expenses of the State as nearly
possible within the limits of its absolute
necessities, will always be among the chief;
objects of wise and just legislation. Iet tis,
then, with a due sence of our obligations
and liih responsibilities, endeavor no to dis
charge our duties as "to secure the greateot
ool yf the ouiiiiuui'y ud merit the appro-
bation of Him by whom our Commonwealth
has been eo abundantly blessed.
JOHN W. LiliAKX.
Executive Chamber. )
Harrisburg, January 6, 1869
(El)c 3fcffcrsonian,
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 18G9.
Donation.
The friends and Congregation of the Rev.
( ieorse Shafer, will make mm a donation
visit at his resilience, in Tannersville,on Thurs- cjtjzcn3 to forgo its advantages ; and we are sat
day Jan. 21, 1869, afternoon and evening. The jscj tnat many more millions than were ex-
public are cordially invited to attend,
Look OUt for your Clothes lines.
The clothes-line of our neighbor Mr.dcorge
Heller, was stripped of a quantity of clothing
during the storm on Monday night last. The
thief must have had a hard time m securing
his frozen plunder. It is a pity he could not
have been caught and punished as he deserved. I
rr7, i . i e .l .. .
OCT The third trial of the matter in suit
, , ,
between the Burson Estate and the Dela
ware, Lackawanna &. Western R. R. Com
pany, was held at Mauch Chunk last week,
and resulted in a verdict ot &I57 oo ,ur
plaintirT, an increase cf seme 1,900 over
last verdict obtained.
- t ! n.n rr 1 1 & . I. I
Jonn luiuwiu, 0.1 i uesuay .am, too
possesion or me OFningion umei, nown
town, recently purchased by him of Wade
tir t? a. II - 1 l I
Clark. John has had experience in the bu-
sirens, is a capital good-fellow, and we think
will soon demonstrate to the public that he
" knows how to keep n Hotel," as a hotel
should be kept. Mr. Clark we understand
contemplates moving west.
JfcsyRy far the most disagreeable storm of
the season visited this locality on Monday
last, and continued throughout the day and
night. It was a fancy mixture of enow, hail,
rain and fleet, and was anything but agreea
ble to pedestrians. On Tuesday morning, all
the trees were thickly coated with ice, and pre
sented a most beautiful appearance, but we fear
received considerable damage from the break
ing of branches.
0C" We have received from the publisher,
Mr. James Vick'e, a copy of "Vick's Illus
trated Catalogue and Floral Guidp;e, for
1SG9." The work is a very neat affair, is
beautifully illustrated, and must be of incal-
culable value to any one desiring the choicest
flower and canler! ?eds. The Catalogue
and Guide is sent to all who desire it for struct ion of a railroad from any point in Car
ten rents. Address James Vicke. Rochester, bon or Luzerne counties, through thc counties
X. Y. Mr. V"s reputation as a seeds man,
stands without a blcmifh in the market.
At
a regular meeting ot rort adsworth,
No. 150, G.A.R., the following named per-
sons were duly elected officers to serve the
ensuing term, to wit :
('. J. W. Walker.
S. V. C, R. Huntsman.
J. V. C., II. B. Hitchcock.
Ajdt., D. S. Lee.
Q. M., John McCarty.
Surg'n., A II. Davis.
Chap., L. Smith.
S. M., C. P. Yetter.
Q. M.S., John Huntsman.
O. D., Samuel S. Lee.
O G., Wm. Rrouch.
The Teachers Institute.
Judging from the first two days proceeding,
the large attendance and the interest mani
fested, the Teachers Institute is a decided suc
cess. In this latter day there are s-o many new
ways and thorter ways to knowledge, that it Is
highly important that teachers should know
thc best way in order to teach correctly and
successfully . This want called Institutes and
Normal Schools into existence.
There are a number of Professors present,
chief, perhaps, among whom stands the good
humored sounding board, Prof. C. W. Sanders.
He is a very pleasant talker anel sound reasoncr,
whom every teacher present will not xoon for
get. Prof. S. L. Coflin is youngr, but it is plain
to bee that he has lived to study out the na
ture of things in general. Next week wcwill
try to give a general synopsis of the whole
proceedings.
The Governor's Message.
We have no apology to offer, for taking up
so much of this week's paper with the Govern
or's Message. It is an able State paper; and
if every one who has an interest in the interest
of good old glorious Pennsylvania reads it care
fully, he will find much to congratulate himself
over, in the statements and suggestions of our
honest, able and patriotic Chief Magistrate.
On the financial condition of the Common
wealth the Governor is particularly lucid ; and
the facts he details in this connection cannot
but be a source of congratulation to every tax
payer. He shows that whatever drains, neces
earily or otherwise, may have fallen upon the
Treasury, the eye of the Executive Department
has been steadily fixed upon the reduction of
the burden of our debt ; and that we have this
day f 4,417,463 C4 less mon which to pay in
terest and taxes than we had a year ago ; anel,
notwithstanding the hue and cry about extrav
agance indulged hy the Democracy, ever Mnce
the Republican party came into power, under
a wise financial policy, the latter has already,
in less than nine years, even after an extraor
dinary war addition of $3,000,000, p?rnianent
ly subtracted from the figures of our debt in
1SC0, some 12,000.000. The Governor thinks
thc work of reduction might be made to go on
still more rapidly, and wisely recommends the
"ttrictcst economy in respect to every expendi
ture and the utmost retrenchment in every
"department," to eccu re this end.
On all other matters of interest, the Gover
nor is equally explicit. He leaves nothing to
be inferred as to his views, but in plain, straight
forward language tells the representative of the
people what he conceives to be necessary for
the advancement of the prosperity und happi
ness of those who sent them to llarr'sburg, and
for the honor and glory of our noble old Com
monwealth. To everr one we would mv. read
h M''s-;igr,
A New Railroad Iioata.
There is nothing tends so much towards the
j building up of a new country, or to impart vi
tality to the decaying business energies of an
old settled country, as the traversing of both
with well built and well managed railroads.
Thw is the experience of all sections through
i which railroads now pass, and it will be the ex
perience of all sections through which these
"reat abettors of business and travel may yet
be built.
The benefit accruing to this section, (and not
I to it alone, but to the point from whence it starts
and to the points where its gathered business
end, as well.) by the building of the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western Railroad, and its
dependencies, is a case in point, and can hard
j be estimated in dollars and cents. Many
tjme3 u cot would be no inducement to onr
pended in its construction could not coax its
stockholders ta tear up it rail3, leve l its era
bankments, fill up its cuts and abandon its di
yidends. And yet its beneficial influence Cows
upon our citizens only incidentally. "Nothing
comc3 on purpose ; and its aids to our business
arc onjy accidental eeintilations, involuntarily
jr0pped down upon us by a monopoly, 33 un
bending as the strict requirements of our laws
will permit it to be. Rv the shortness of the
1 , , .. .
route between its begin mug and end, it is ena
bled to "bull" the coal markets of the country;
and while it accidentally helps us, by the com-
parative monopoly of trade which it holds, it
cannot fail to make princely fortunes for its
stockholders ho long a the hills and vallicsof
the Lackawanna, and its tributaries in the Lu
Tprno Knstn rrut!nii ti v? tl tti "KIjkIc 1In-
, . . m,rvclou .,buRdaRCC. j;ut we
'
can easily strip the D. L. & V. Railroad of its
mon0polizing character, if we but half manage
our opportunities ; and we can, too, make it of
fiir more convenience to ourselves and to all
the country besides by means which will in
volve an outlay wholly insignifi.T.nt when com
pared with the end sure to be pained. Vc can
retain all iu advantages and gain independ
ence lrom its control, by himpiy securing the
opposition which would naturally grow out of
the building of another road, having independ
ent interests.
A few weeks ago, we mentioned the fact
that wc were, by other routes than that held
by the 1elaware, Laekwanna and Western
Railroad, within fifty miles of the Luzerne coal
field., and that the?e routes were perfectly
practical. We have since learned, what we
did not then know, that one of these routes had
been thoroughly examined, and its feasibility
placed beyond a perad venture. So well satis
fied were those who take inttre.-t in such mat
ters of the entire practicability of the route.
that at thc la5t flon of the iislatnre. thc
pa.ssnse of an act was procured, incoriioraiiiie
a company to be styled the Lehigh and Eastern
Railway Company, and authorising the con-
of Monroe and Pike, to the Delaware river.
The road is proposed to tart from llazlcton.
in Luzerne rorntv. and. rr.nninrr through Mon-
, p.. to ,trikc 1X);Rt on hc
tv,!- r;VPr. nW Busbkill. This route
L cvcry reou:site for the buildin-of a first
class locomotive road following streams of
gentle declivity nearly the whole distance, and
having a length of only about fifty-five miles.
At a short distance from llazlcton thc route
strikes Laurel run, and follows along its banks
to the Lehigh river, near Rock port; thence
up the Lehigh river to the mouth of Mud run,
and, along the same to Mount Poeono ; thence
down the South side of Mount Poeono to Ree
der's Run ; thence down Rcedcr's to Tocono
creek, and along the same to Rrodhead's creek;
thence, over a comparatively level country, to
the point designated above Btishkill, or to the
Delaware rive r at thc Water Gap, which would
shorten the distance considerably for this portion
of the road : for, be it understood, that the de
sign is a grand one, and contemplates neither
more nor less than a great chain of railway,
leading from the Coal Fields of Pennsylvania
to the New England States, Boston itself being
one of the termini ef the chain.
And whv hhould this route fail to engage thc
attention of capitalists, not only here, but, also,
everywhere along its route until its end i
reached in Boston, and there most of all. It
is easy and entirely practicable, and no better
time for its construction than now, while mo
ney is so plenty in the hands of capitalists,
will probably ever dawn upon this er any oth
er enterprise of like importance. Saying no
thing of the advantages w hich would accrue to
us from its construction, in the opening up of
our country, and furnishing facilities for trav
el and for the transportation to market of our
surplus produce, who can estimate the advan
tages which must accrue to the vast manufact
uring interests at the other end of the line
growing out of a direct connection with our
inexhaustable coal fields?
It is a fact freely conceded by all engaged in
the mining and transportation of coal, that the
demand for this article is far ahead of the trans
porting means of supply, and still rapidly in
creasing. Millions of tons are now annually
consumed, and as many millions of tons more
would find a ready market, were the means at
hand to get it there. In this connection con
sider the fact that New England's supply of
coal, both for manufacturing and domestic pur
poses, is now dependent upon the New York
and Philadelphia markets, from w hence it is
carried by the precarious route of the sea under
heavy insurance, and that, too, at just such pri
ces as third hand, speculative monopolists may
hold the article at, and some idea may be form
ed of the absidute necessity which exists for
the building of this road. As an investment
for dividends from tonnage alone there could
be none more safe, none more certain to pay
largely and promptly ; while as a matter of
convenience to those whose business requires
a continuous supply of coal, without interrup
tion from the heat of summer or the cold of
winter, who will pretend to estimate its value
in dollars and cents.
The charter obtained last winter for the
Pennsylvania end of the line, is most liberal in
all its provisions. Our statute books elo not
contain a railroad charter so admirably calcu
lated, in every respect, to protect the interests
of those who secure to themse lves the owner
ship of its franediises ; and we are satified that
it needs but to he properly represented to those
w hose Ink reel He "o ovcrwhrlnilnjlv in the
' fc-'- -'- -j-jMW i Till tVi
building of the road the Eastern manuf;iclur
ing men to at once cnlint their active nympa
thy and their active, material aid in its ppeedy
completion. We arc pleased to observe that
considerable interest is beginning to be awa
kened in the new road, among our people here
at home ; and we feel eafc in saying that i'.s
commencement M ould be hailed with the warm
est friendship and support of all the property
holders along the line, and, indeed, cf our
whole community. If we but make this mani
fest bv active movement in the right direction,
wc are satisfiend that "another railroad" will
not long remain among our pressing wants.
Who will shove on the ball here set in mo
tion?
"The Triumph."
Root t Cady, of Chicago, have appointed
L. B. Powell, 116 Pcnn Avenue, Scranton,
Pa., as one of their Who'esale Agent3in the
East for the sale of their new Church Music
Book, "The Triumph," and other publica--tions.
Dealers can bay ot hitn as cheap as
in Chicago, and save freight. Mr. Powell
is furnishing the Triumph to Chcirs afv?
Singing Schools at 13 50 per dozen.
-
Weicoma! Old Prices.
L. B. Powell, 110 Penn Avenue, Scran
ton, Pa , is 8ellin; an Organ for $125 in
Greenbacks lhat cost befbre the war S13(V
in Gold. He will send full descriptive cir
culars upon application.
Q3r A farmer near Bloomington, III., re
cently lost three children in a most remark
able manner. He started with his family to
ride to Bloomington, 8 miles, in a wagon.
The three children were put down in th
bottom of the wagon, carefully wrapped up
in straw and a bo Halo robe. The father and
moiher occupied the front seat, thinking their
little ones very comfortable. On raisin? the
robe at the end cf the journey all were found
frozen to death. They had remained per
fectly quiet and undoubtedly died without
pain.
OCT Forty -five thousand dolLrs worth of
carriages were made in the Maine Penitet
tiary last year.
07" Gen. Lovell H. Rous?eau, commander
of the Texis and Louisinua md'tsry district,
died at New Orleans on Friday last, of in
flammation of the bow els.
The Scientific American warns its rea
ders and the public geuerally to beware
of benzine, which though a household
nccescity is a dangerous servaut. It says:
Bein one of the most volatile and inflam
iiiable products resulting from thc distil
lation of petruleutn, it vaporizes with
great rapidity, 50 that the contents cf a
four-ounce vial, if overturned, would rea
der the air of a moderate sized room high
ly explosive. The greatest care should
be exercised in handling the substance iu
proximity to fire, and it is important to
remember that the vapor escaping from
an uncorked bottle will cause a fiame to
leap over a space of several feet
The Hill Murder.
The trial of Twitchell, charged with thj
murder of Mrs. Hill, his mother is law,
at Philadelphia, was broughf tt a elose
on Friday, January )sJ. The ju-ry went
out about nine o'clock ?a the eveuing,
and returned in twenty fiv sii-nafes with
a verdict of guilty of murder f!te first
degree. The prisoner is said to Lave
"received the verdict by throwiug up fnV
hands in a deprecating ruauner."
We are told that Mr. Xathan Cope, an
enterprising farmer of Columbiana coun
ty, Ohio, has sold one thousand barrel
of apples from his orchard the past season,
at three dollars per barrel, and has prob
bly another thousand on hand. His or
chard contains about eight acres rather
a valuable yield from a small piece of
"round.
A Minnesota postmaster, who wished
to retain his ofhee, on being asked by
Postmaster Geueral Randall whether he
had not opposed 31r Johusou's policy,"
replied: 'No siree, and I want you ti
understand that 1 can change uiy polities
as fast as you, and when I cau't keep up,
I'll resign.'
The wool crop of New York State is
about 17,000,000 pounds, which is prin
cipally grown in Washington, Uensalaer,
Genessec, Livingston, Ontario, and Steu
ben counties the first named leading off
with 700,000 pounds.
A white oak tree was lately cut near
Ilcney's llridge, on the Urandywine and
Reading Railroad. It was two hundred
and twenty five years old and six feeV
across the stump, and coutained seven
cords of wood.
Klias liowman, aged CO years, died at
Lampeter, Lancaster county, Thursday
last. He weighed uearly 400 pounds.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Galveston is the only place ia Tca
where greenbacks pasi cut rent.
S7.000 is thc profit to the State of thet
Ohio penitentiaries.
lilair county pays about 0300 a year
for fox scalps.
Twelvo men and two women arc uow.
awaiting trial ior murder iu Massachusetts.
A "crow roost," with 100,000 popula
tion, has been discovered in Lancaster
couuty, Ivy.
A Uoston physician reperts the death
of three childred lrom catiui; the skius cf
raisins.
The whole uumber of Engines oa tha
Erie Railway is 370. The life cf aa eu
gine is placed at 15 years.
An American gentleman vritca from
Loudou that common American corn cobs"
aro sold iu the streets of ' that city as
"patent fire lighters riht fur a pciiuy.'.