The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-02-01


I veIopempnt, viudicatAd its own importance, AM
. assumed, N public esteem, the honorable posi-
ton TO which ii is so Justly entitled. Consitu
ting, as il does, the substratum Of our great me
chanical, manufacturing, and commercial inte
rests, It should ever be regarded as the chic
source Of state and national prosperity. Firs
IN necessity, it is the highest in usefulness of al
the departments OF labor, sustaining and promo
ting, IL their varied and multiplied relatious
all the other industrial interests OF the country
Our financial and commercial prosperity, i.
largely dependent upon the success Of agricnl-
tural industry.
An interest so important should receive the
encouragement Of all classes OF citizens. Nc
longer mere ait, an exprtion OF physical
sir''ngth, 1t has reached the dignity Of science:
and to lis progress and Improvement the people
and their representatives. should cheeriuIy con-
tribute. State aud county agricultural sociptirs
have done much to promote this cause, and by
their agency much valuable information has
been collected and dfused. Much yet remains
1 to be done. More information is demanded
More efficiency in the collection and diffusion
/ ol useful knowledge is required. To secure
/ this result, the establishment of an agricultural
bureau, in connection with some Of the depart
ments OF state, would largely contribute The
importance of such bureau, properly organ;z-
ed, as an aid TO the advancement of agricultural
knowledge and the success OF agricultural in
doStry, cannot eaSily bp over-pstiuated. The
subject is earnestly commended TO your atten-
tion.
BY an act of the last session, an institution
designated as the ':Farmprs High School OF
Pennsylvania" was Incorporated. The char
ter was accepted by the trustees, and The insti-
tuition daiy organized An eligible site for the
college has hrrn secured IN Centre county, and
200 acres of valuable land donated to The trns-
tees. for toe ust Of the institution, BY Gen. JAS
Irwin OF that county. The citizens Of the coun-
y, with liberaIity highly comnendable, have
pledged and secured to the trustees, for the use
the college, ten thousand dollars in addition
20 the land donated. This liberality shows that
the farmers of Pennsylvania fully appreciate
the Importance Of such an institution, and will
support and sustain 1t. The course Of instruc-
ton viii be thorough and practical. Scientific
and praclca agriculture, with the usual bran
ches of academic education, will be- taught, and
the effort will be 10 make good farmers, good
scholars, and good citizens.
Whilst Individual iberaity and energy have
done much and will do more for this institu-
ton, an appropriation BY the State, in such sum
as the legislature may deem proper, would not
only aid and encourage this Iaudablp enterprIze
but would be an honorable and Just recognition
Of the important interests involved.
The laws now in operation regulating manu-
featuring and other improvement companies,
are in some Of their provisions too severely re-
StIictivr, and should be modified. Legislation
on these subjects has heretofore tended to res /
train the investment of Captal-check industry
and curb the energy Of the people in the prose
cutlon of those enterprises that aid the develop |
mrnt of our immense resources, and contribute |
50 largely TO the wealth and prosperity of the /
state. Liberal and udcous legisaton-en- |
Couraging individual entprprize- inviting the |
investment Of capital and stimulating the vari- |
onS departments of manufacturing and mechan-
zeal industry. would greatly promote the inter
ests of the people--increaSe our revenues, and 1
give 10 The commonwealth the prominence and I
position, in the siSterhood of states, to which .
the character Of her citizens and her illimita-
bic natural resources Justly pntite her To
this subject your attention is invited.
The report OF the superintendent of Common
Schools will exhibit to you their condition and
the general operations Of the system through
out the commonwealth, during the past VEAL
To the valuable and useful suggestions of the
report, ] would earnestly ask the attention Of
the Legislature.
The operation and results O. the system as de-
tailed are highly interesting. Our educational
system is slowly bat surely conquring thr preju-
diceS and gaining the confidence of the people
| norr the fostering care OF liberal and rnight-
ened legislation lis ultimate triumph is certain.
When the system was first introduced, ii was
supposed that II could be perfected and enforced
INTO general and vigorous operation by the mere
will of the Legislature. Experencs has prov
en that 10 this, as in every other great social
and moral reform, time and that consent which
arises from radical change In the popular
mind, WIRE required. This slow process OF the
accllmatton OF the new system to cur social and
moral atmosphere, has been in operation for
nearly twenty years; and it is now evident that
The period for another effective ihterpositon Of
aid and authority in favor of our no.
Die system fcommon schools, has arrived, In
form this obviously proper and neces-
'ary nterpositon may present itself, il cacula-
ed to promote the great purpose in view, il
ha receive my cheerful support.
After careful examination of the subject il
S my clear conviction that the system is now
prepared for and requires increased efficiency
n its general uprrvision-increaspd quakfca-
ION in its teachers, and increased means OF sup +,
port.
The experiment ofthe county Superintendent
" wherever faithfully carried out, has not dis
ppointed the expectations of the advocates of
hat measure. The improved condition of the
chools, and the greater efficiency ofthe system,
;learly establish the propriety and utility of I
uch supervision. The official visits of an Of
icer the school department to some of the ,