The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-01-21

devolyes on the present Legislature to
create sinking fund TO include the net
annual product of the public works owned
by the State, the income and proceeds of
all stoct.,s owned by the State, with such
other resources as may be provided by
law. sufficient to pay the interest and an
nual!y to reduce the principal by at least
the sum of a quarter of million annu-
ally,
While the public debt mas thus been
diminished, the State tax has been redlic-
! ed from three to two and half mills on
the dollar. - ......
The successful sale Of the main line of
tht public works has given new impulse
to the policy cf disposing in like manner
of the remainder The history of the
construction and management Of those
works fully proves the policy of Sc carat
ing the State from all such concerns. =
They have failed to be source of rcve-
nue., and if retained by the State will re-
quire an expenditure in their cost and
management largely exceeding any reve-
nue. that can be reasonably expected Of
them. The Delaware division, though
better managed than any other public
work, aud showing net income for the
year of Sl74,0 900, vet falls short by S90,-
900 of the net income of last year, while
! it has required $4,000 of extraordinary
expenses for enlargements and improve
ments. The decrease is ascribed TO the
completion of competing railroads and
other causes which, it is to be feared, will
continue to operate.
! The North Branch Extension, though
a useful and valuable work seems doomed
to disaster Though completed in the
| Fall OF 1886 so as to be navig; Die for
coal boats, two successive breaks in the
Horse race Dam" occasioned by fresh
cts, but the fruits of former mismanage-
ment and fraud in the construction Of the
canal, have rendered it, most Of the time
since, useless, and heavy expense Is
still necessary for repairs.
The Governor recommends the repeal
Of the tax of three mills per tun per mile
on freight passing over the Pennsylvania
Railroad, originally intended as COM
pensation for any loss to the revenue Of
the Union Line in consequence of the
construction of the railroad. That line
having been sold to the railroad, this rea-
son no longer exists, and the operation
of the tax is to drive freight to the COM
peting lines of other States.
While advising caution in amending
the banking system, tie Governor ex-
presses his preference for system Of free
banking, based on undoubted public Sc
curities, and coin in such proportion to
the circulation and deposits as may be
deemed necesSary-in fact, something
much like the New Y ork system.
Occasion is taken from the present
depression of industry to urge warmly
return to the tariff policy of 1912. the
Abandonment of which was resisted By
Pennsylvania with unanimity almost
unparalleled in her history.
The establishment of an Agricultural
Bureau is urged, aud the Farmers High
School, recently established under an
act of the Legislature, is strongly recon-
Wehucd 10 puoilc pdtTohaSc
The recent separation of the school su-
perintendency from the State Department
and its organization by itself promises
excellent results TIE unity superin-
tendency works we'll but to reap good
from it, it must be committed to the
hands of competent men. The normal
schools lately provided for are considered
a great boon by the friends of education,
and liberal sums ofmOney have been sub
scribed to carry out the scheme.
The militia laws, as in SO many other
States, are out of joint and need revision.
The publication of Prof Rogers's Geo
logical Report is going on rapidly, and is
nearly finished
The Governor, now about to retire,
feels no delicacy in recommending the
erection, at the seat of Government, of a
house for the use of the Governor of the
State.
He still adheres to and be=s to be con-
sidered as reiteratin. the sentiments ex-
pressed in former messages as to the pres
ervation Of the purity OF elections by the
enactment OF a judclous registry law; as
to the rights Of the General Government
to prevent the extension of Slavery into
the Territories Of the Union; and as to
the wrongs OF Kansas, as exhibited in the
violation of the doctrine of popular sove-
reignty by the General Government in its
attempts by the military power of the
country and otherwise TO defeat the will
Of the majority in that Territory wrong,
still existing and aggravated by recent
outrages on the rights and privileges of
that people, and approved BY high Ma
tional Executive authority. ...
! RUNAWAY MATCHEs-nABOR LOST,
The Kentucky Legislature are debat-
1 IL