The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-01-12


Its earnings, in the shape Of fixed ta,
upon the freight carried over the road, i,
Questioned by the cowpsny, and that, too
after the grant has taken effect and while
the corporation is in the full enjoy n emf
of all the benefits conferred upon it -
its character. The question it is true, is
legal one, and its decision, therefore,
rests with the judicial department. Of the
government; but, have not the igbt-
est doubt, that the decision, when had,
will entirely vindicate the right of the
government to impose the tax, and to
compel corporations of it's own creation
to obey the law from which they derive
their existence. When it is rememb berod,
that the tax vas originally imposed, in
order to indemnify the State, to some ex-
tent. for losses which she was sure to ,us
tain from competition, which was in-
evitable, between the railroad authorized,
and her main line of public works; and
that this competition did, not only serious
ly affect the revenues of the Common
wealth, derived from her public improve
ments, but ultimately induced the sale of
the main line to the railroad company
itself, at price many millions Of dollars
below what it would have produced 10
the absence of such competition. it ia GER
tainly not to be presumed that the Com.
monwealtb will willingly yield her de-
mand for revenue from this source, until
she is. at least, fully Unidentified for the
peounisry injury sustained in the depre-
citation of her own property, By her liber
ality extended to the company which now
denies her power to enforce contract,
Voluntarily entered into, upon a consider
alton entirely adequate.
The annual report of the Superintend-
ent of Common Schools, with the tables
and documents accompanying it, will ex-
hibit the condition of the vast engine Of
social Improvement TO which it relates
The number of pupils, in all the public
schools of the State, is 634 ,65l--of
schools, /, ASS and of teachers, l4,O7l.
The schools have been in operation, on
an average over the whole State, FIVE
months and nine days The average sal
ary of male teachers, is $24 36. and of
female teachers SIT 10, and the cost of
instruction. per pupil, fifty three cents per
month. The average tax for tuition, &c,
is about five and a half mills, and for
building purposes, about three and one
sixth mills, on the dollar. Including the
city of Philadelpbia, the entire cost of
tuition, &C., was 81 2,047 ,66l %; the bull.
ding expenses s53l .4i3 IS; and the whole
expense of the system. in the State, for
the year, s2,579,O75 II.
Though the school year ending on the
first Monday of June last, was one of un-
usual difficulty in money affairs. yet the
system manifests an encouraging activity
in ails its departments, while the rate of
taxation, both for tuition and buildings,
would appear, from the official report, to
have somewhat decreased. But, it ia by
contrast Of the present condition of the
system, with that of 1851, when tue agen-
cies now operating SO benefcially, were
created, that results are "a o., plainly seen.
Within that period, the whole number of
pupils has been increased nearly one
seventb-of teachers, one thirteenth and
the salary of teachers, the best index of
improvement, oDe-sixth for males, and
one fourth for females. These results,
with the others which the official report
will exhibit, unerringly point to the duty,
as well rs necessity, of the utmost care
and. attention, on the part of all public
agents to this primary social institution
primary In importance, no less than in
the career OF each citizen. To stregthen,
to retain pure, and to properly direct,
this fountain head of social influence, is,
ii seems to me, the great duty of the law
N maker, in bis highest and most response
bic capacity, as the framer of the future
Of the State
The attention Of the General Assembly
was called, somewhat at length, to the
existing condition and further require
meuts of our school system. in the annu-
al message of last year. 1t is not, there
fore, necessary to repeat the suggestions
and conclusions then presented. They
are again, however, commended to your
favorable consideration; the events and
experience of the intervening period, hav-
ing increased the conviction of their pro-
priety This is especially the case, in
regard to the plan devised by the act of
goth of May, 1887, for the due training
Of teachers for common schools Of the
State. A full supply of competent sesch-
ers, is admitted by all, to bo the great
need Of the system, nud the first want to
be provided for. Unerring Indications,
in every quarter, not only establish this
fact, but point to the general adoption of
the proposed means, at no distant day
The efforts of the teachers, themselves,
for professional improvement, encouraged
and sustained by all who duly estim ate
the value and influence of the teachers
Office, not only foreteIl this, but the strong
public setiment in favor of institutions for
the purpose in question, confirms the pro
bability of this result. In every quarter,
indications of this kind are perceived
more or less strong in proportion to the
force Of local circumstances. In the