The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-01-12

acaoemlcal studies, has been strongly Ill
e ged upon my attention. Such an inst
] tuition and system of education, it is be
+ leived, would at the same time improv
: the moral and physical condition of th
professional and mercantile classes, an
promote the social and intellectual attain
ments Of the agriculturist, mechanic an,
} laborer, in addition to the vast benefits j
would confer upon the pursuit of the far
mer. These. considerations, and other
which will doubles be presented by th
advocates of the proposed institution, viii
commend the subject to your favorabl,
consideration. 1t is believed that sucl
an institution can be successfully organ
lied under the auspices of the State anc
County societies :.
A highly useful institution has recent
ly been organized at Philadelphia under
the auspices of liberal and patriotic citi
zens OF that city and vicinity, in pursuance
of an act Of the last session, named "The
polytechnic College Of Pennsylvania" il
which the education of youth in prac-
teal knowledge of mining, manufacturing
and the mechanic arts is united with the
ordinary literary studies.-Surely, as
much can be done to impart a practical
understanding of the pursuit of the farm
! cr.
Within few years past the general
goyernme has expended large sum OF
money in the construction of dry dock
at the Philadelphia navy yard, with a
railway attached, to facilitate the opera
tion of raising and repairing vessels. A
survey Of the Delaware river has also
been made, which justifes the opinion that
there is sufficient depth of water in its
channel to admit vessels of large class
with entire safety. The location of this
yard, on the bank of the Delaware, in the
southern part of the county of Philad'a.
accessible from all points, surrounded by
a vigorous and aourishing population, and
blessed with healthy climate, gives to it
advantages not surpassed by those sur
rounding the navy-y yards of any other Sec
ton of the Union. There is, then, no
reason why it should not receive full
share of patronage from the government
Why it has not been so favored | shall
not, at this time, attempt to learn, but
that the fact has been the cause of regret
and complaint among the people of Phil
adelphia and other parts of the State, is
circumstance which cannot be disguised.
No considerations of public interests,
which I have have been able to discover,
would seem to demand this policy.
Nothing, in my opinion, is gained by it
in economy, efficiency or skill in the con-
struction of vessels. The materials for
this work can be as conveniently and
cheaply procured at Philadelphia as at
any other point in the country, and her
mechanics stand as high as any others
in point of skill and efficiency in all the
branches of this business, and pre-emi-
nent in the construction of steam ma
chinery. l feel justified, therefore, in en-
tertaining the hope that more equal dis
tribution of patronage shall hereafter dis
tinguish the action of the department at
Washington.
The consolidation of the city and coun-
ty of Philadelphia into one municipal
government, is subject that will be press
cd upon your consideration during the
present session. Without desiring to ex-
press an opinion in the policy of the
measure, l may say, that l regard it as
involving vast considerations connected
with the welfare of our metropolis, and
consequently to the State at large, and as
such it should, as l have no doubt it will,
command prompt and anxious considera
ton.
| have long believed that the loans of
the State should be consolidated into three
or four classes, and be under the direct
control of the treasury department at Har-
risburg. The books are now kept at the
Bank of Pennsylvania, where the loans
are transferred, reissued and cut up into
any shape to suit the wishes of the hol-
der for which service that institution is
claiming heavy yearly compensation
There would be no difficulty whatever, |
am confident, in exchanging new coupon
bonds for the certificates of loan now out
standing, without any average extension
of the maturity of the loans, at cost of
few thousand dollars. Indeed, on this
point am entirely certain that the ex-
change can be made source of profit to
the State above all expenses. This ac-
complished, and the interest can be paid
at the Treasury, and the whole business
of that department rendered the more
simple and safe.
The financial year commences and clo-
ses on the last day of November: and the
appropriation and school year on the first
of June. The effect of this arrangement
is to beget confusion in the business of the
several departments Of Government. In
deed, SO completely is this the case, that
it is quite impossible for a person not ia.
milar with the subject to comprehend
their operation. | suggest the proprlety
of commencing the fiscal year for all pur-
poses on the first of December. This
would bring the Canal, Treasury, School
and Auditing Departments into harmoni-
Gus action, and render their operations
concurrent and simple.
have never felt willing to see our fun
law chanrnd for lipht or doubt