The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-01-13
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Abstract of the
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


the gratifying announcement that, not
,rithstapuiug the troubles Of the year,
ne hu4uvc1 are in an excellent condition,
Ine Treasurer's receipts, up to Nov. 80,
',eing ST, ,l3G,77S,35. while the expendi-
ares were 81, 1885 ,06. leaving the ex-
SIS of S3j3.02l, 20. Of the pubic deDt
sere was paid Si2l ,494,33. 0n pubic
jnproyelpeIGs S24l .036, ,5S was expended
and S95.U7U.O6 received, leaving an ex-
ress Of expenditure Of S245, ,966,22. Al
ter cgediting these extraordinary e2pen-
ditures and dsducting extraordinary re-
eeipts from the Pennsylvania Railroad
COMPANY aud the Girard Bank, the true
balance for the fiscal year is $500, 2,36
The pnblic debt is 39,2GS, ,lll,l6, to
meet which the State owns well secured
bonds rece;yed from the sale Of the pub
liz works amounting to Sll,lSl ,0OU.-
The Governor thinks that, with the ex-
listing sources OF revenue, aud the ObServ-
ance Of strict economy, this sum may be
reduced, during the current year, at least
upc million of dollars, prudcntIy adding
that
The present would appear to be the
most app. opFiate time, when our nation
is at peace, aud when health and reason
able prosperity prevail! within orr bor-
ders, to reduce the public debt. We
have but to carefully husband our legltl-
,a ;e resource, av,i ling extrayae ait and
unnecessary appropriations, and prac-
tlcng a proper economy IN all the de-
p; rtnents OF Government, to reuder the
Gu ire extiGguishmept of our debt a fixed
fact within very brief period. To care
fully guar9 the public treasury at this
Interesting epoch IN our financial history
is 50 manifestly the duty Of the public
authorities. that cannot for one moment
believe that any other policy will be pro-
posed. If there be any who, rel ying Oh
the improved condition Of the fuances Of
the State, would encourage the adoption
Of new schemes for depicting the Treas
ury, or would cut off the sources of our
present revenue, and thus reduce it, let
al! such efforts, coming from whatever
quarter they may, be sternly resisted
Let Pennsylvania be just before she Is
generous"
Gov. Packer recites at some length the
circumstances connected with the sale OF
the State Canals to the SunbGry and Erie
Railroad Company, and congratulates the
people upon the encouraging prospect of
The early completion of that road, a
large amount Of work has been done on
the line of the road during the past sea
son, and at this time very considerable
portions of the road are graded and rap
idly approaching completion 1t is the
opinion Of the President of the Company
that within two years the work will re
Entirely finished, so that ears will be run
ming directly FROM the City of Philalel-
phia to the HarboV of Erie" He con-
sders 'that the public welfare will in
every respect be vastly promoted by the
traDsfer Of the management Of the public
works from the State to individual own
crs. The short experience that we have
had already proves conclusively that the
CommqEwealth is greatly the gamer, in
financial point of view, and it has been
equally demonstrated that the people at
large have been as well, if not better, ac-
commQdated by the change He recon-
mGnda the abolition of the Board of Ca
nal Commissioners. He ramarks that BY
the disposal of tho public lands aad pub
JIG works, Governmental action has Lo.
come greatly simplihed, and may be more
so, if the Legislature refuses its aid TO the
lobby adding that lit is as remarkable
ss it is propitious, that an era which has
thus relieved the State authorities Of bur
dcns that consisted either Of mere mate
rial interests or tha care Of local admins
tration---committlng the Que TO the local
sovereignty Of the peoplo, and the other
90 private or associated ntaFprlse-should
also present far consideration and promo
ton intellectual aud moral claims Of ps-
culiar Importance.
The system of public education Is re-
garded as "the first object OF sollctudc.
During tie year ending last June, 628,-
20l pupils were instructed in the public
schools at cost of 50 ,427 ,532,4l The
tiovernor recommends the organization of
a Department of Public Instruction., which
shall have IN charge the collection, ar.
rangement and practical deductions from
population and industrial statistics from
natural defects, such as deafness aud
dumbness, blindness and lunacy; from
crime in It's various forms and develop
ments, together with such control over
all the literary and scientific institutions
in the State as shall bring their full con-
Gitjon into view But there must also be
Teqqhers' Sckoo!s-the want of which is
grieyous, Of 1898 TEACHERS outside of
Philadelphia, only 4,O87 are reported as