The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-10-24


In respect to the intimate expenditur
that may be needed for the purchase of di.
: tricl school Libraries, and chemical an,
philosophical apparatus and globes, 10
making provision in the colleges and a
cademleS, or in separate institutions, 70
the teaching OF instructors, and for aid il
the repairs and constr uctioR of schoo
houscs-wc may hope that we shall at II,
distant day, possess ample means, in ou
dIstrlhntory share Of the proceeds Of The
sales Of the public lands. 1t would be a,
, appropriation worthy the noble inheritance
OF freedom which, with large portion o
those lands, was beQueaihed to US by ON
revolutionary fathers. 1t was, indeed ,
benevolent and fitting arrangement, in the
order oiProvidcnce that the same severance
from the parent country which gave us in
dependence, gave us, also, Il grca, domain
capable Of dispensing so widely the bless
lngs OF education, and of rendering thi.
nation n model of virtue, intelligence, and
good government for the world.
| have dwelt longer on the subject Of
education than may, perhaps, be deemed
appropriate tor an executive message; but
It's very great Importance must be my apol-
osy. is, in my Judgment, Of more i'm.
portancc than any other subject that can
possibly engage the attention Of the lcgis.
la,ure.
a consideration Of the means of devel-
oplng the mind Of the State naturally sug-
gests the idea of Developing the riches Of
It's minerals and its soils, My predeces
sors have frequently recommended geo.
logical survey of the State, in which fully
concur; and invite to the subject our spe.
cal attention, If We would dcvelopc mind
and apply it to lis great purposes, we study
and anIIlze 1t, that we may understand its
capacities and powers. Thus should we
90 with the soil we nhabt. Here we are
in It's daily cultivation, drawing from ii our
support aud shall we remain ignorant of
It's defects and the means Of supplying
them, only as tardy experience shall dis
close them to us? We want scientific,
thorough, universal examination of the va.
rious soils the state, involving com
pIete analysis and classification of TIE whole
and such an exploration as shall reach I'll
possible, all tie fcrtlizng substances
which can be made available for the ame-
Iteration of our soils, aud the stimulating
them 10 Il cir highest prac, cable power Of
production. There are localities where
the discovery OF bed Of limestone would
be more valuable than mine of gold
The same may be said Of mari, gypsum,
peat and other substances, appropriate, eth
or singI or in combination, to supply de-
ficieut elements in unproductiye soils.
II is hardly necessary to speak Of the
probable Development ofmncral resources
ot which we have an earnest in our iron
coppcras, copper, manganese, and other
mineral treasures,
1t is needless to say that such results
will not be brought nut except under ex-
effected by legislative authority,
md at public expense. Such examinations
layc been made by other States; and the
results are before the world. ! mean the
results; Tor the great practical
'esults are yet to come forth in mingled
mass of benefits, spreading themselves over
he surface OF our country, while there is
Toll TO yield its fruits to the laburs Of man.
BY enquiries made two years ago,
earned, that, at that time, Gcogical surveys
lad been authorized in every State in the
Union excepting Vermont, Alabama Mis-
issippl, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Illinois
The lone position Of Vermont in this
Justification, is somewhat striking ,
/ is for you to say whether we shall re-
main in this position any longer s
This subject derives great additional
Importance from a consideration ofthc en-
grafton which has, at some periods, rap !
dly, aud sill does TO considerable eS. /
cnt, drain the population of our State. lfIc
re would retain our people at home, let J
= show them what Vermont is, and what I
/ is capable Of becoming, as an agricul- {
ural Stale. t
1.-THE people could fully perceive the /
Importance OF a geological survey, doubt t
ot, they would esteem it privilege to I
C taxed at once, to nm amount sufficient i
0 complete the work. The whole ex- t
ensc of completing, and publishing a ,
urvcy, would not, probably, involve =
urdcn exceeding three cents upon each {
Individual in the state; which might be c
prcad over two or more years should il
&c deemed cxpcdient. e
This subject is invested with still fu,th- I,
Importance from the fact, that railroads q
re approaching our State--at no distant t
ay. we may hope, to pass through Il 5
which will greatly enhance the value Of t
ur agricultural, ~ well US our mineral
Let NJ prepare to throw into a
hesc improved channels of communica- c
ion with the great markets Of the world,
he productions Of soil, quickened by c
he application If agricultural science, to
doubling Of its present power, aud cnl- I
waited with the augmented energy which {
ABILITIES cannot fail 20 excite. z
In the exercise Of that care which re-
,ards the interests Of all, you may not
leem il inappropriate or unnecessary, TO
consider. whether additional legislation is
ioi required for protection against the ex-
,ciion of unlawful Unrest.