The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-01-11
BEDFORD. Pa, FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY Ii, 1851

tueiF pEeSeut CoEuitIOl, lne expectations con-
fdently entertained OF an early completion of
that most important improvement, have not
been realized. The work during the past year,
however, although greatly retarded, has been
continually progressing upwards OF one mir
hon OF dollars having been expended on the
line from November 1859, TO Novembe- 1860.
The whole length of the road, from the borough
OF SuEbnry 10 the harbor on the lake, at the
city OF Erie, is 28S miles of which 4S miles
are now finished and in operation, and ll5
miles Of the remaining portion OF the line are
graded leaving but twenty-five miles vet to
grade. Pennsylvania IS largely interested 10
the early COMPLETION and success of this gr-at
thoroughfaTe, not only because she is the cred-
itor Of the company to the amount of three and
a half millions of dollars, but for the additional,
and more cogeut reason, that the improvement,
when completed, wlll open one OF the most
important channels of trade between the Ciiy
of Philadelphia aud thr great lakes of the wes',
at The best harbor on Lake Erie, entirely within
the limits Of our own State, which has ever
been contemplated. II will, moreover, dAvel-
op the resources OF a large portion of Mort Il
Western Pennsylvania, aboundlng with the
richest minerals, and large lumber region of
hand OF the State has hitherto totall, neglected
By disposing OF her branch canals TO that com
pany, 10 exchange for its mortgage bonds, the
State has already largely aided in the construc-
ton Of this great work and it may be me-
cessary, to insure lis completion, that further
legislation should be had in order to render the
means OF The company available. Ii Is evident
that liberal policy, on the part OF the govern
ment, yvill promote alike the Interests OF the
Commonwealth and The railroad company
nevertheless, great care should De taken 20 pro-
teCt, as lar as possible, the debt now due from
the company to the State. II all propositions
which may be made for change in the secu-
rites now held by the Commonwealth, be care
fully considered by the Legislature, and no
more Welded than sound economy demands,
with proper provisions Tor the due application
OF whatever means may be- realized, it is be-
lleved, that sufficient relief can be granted 10
the company, to enable it promptly to 6nish
the road, while the security remaining will be
fully adequate to insure the ultimate payment
OF the principal and interest OF The bonds oithe
railroad company now held by the comtnoE-
wealth.
| commend this subject to the Legislature,
as one entitled 10 its most careful considerato4
as well on account OF its vast i;nporlanca4o
that potion of the State through whscisasse
raiftoeIE t,s.ssrs-2tc-te critics q e.
and Erle-and to the railroad comPauy-as 10
the Commonwealth herself Promising that
whatever policy II may be thought exYrdient
to pursue, should be adopted solely with refer
poce to the protection and flrtherauce OF the
pulc Interests.
~ T
yited to the subject Of general education. At
the present juncture it presents peculiar claims.
The experience OF quarter OF a century has
satisfied the proverOlally cautious people OF
Pennsylvania, OF the adaptedness OF the COM
mon scnool system to their wants and condition.
No less has the severe ordeal of the past three
years shown Its capabllIty 10 endure hose sud-
den reverses wbIch occasionally PROSTATE the
other interests OF the community. Involving
greater expenditure than the rest OF The depart
ments of governments, and that, too, mainly
drawn from direct taxation, it Is a proud fact,
that, while most of the enterprises OF society
have been seriously embarrassed, and some of
them suspended, by the pecunIary crisis OF
1887, our educational system mas not been re-
tarded in any apprecabIe degree. On the
contrary, its operations have been maintained,
TO an extent which plainly indicates that our
citizens fully appreciate lis value. Contrasting
its main results during the past year with those
Of 1857, we find that the whole number of
pupils now in the schools, Is 647 Ala, being an
increase Of A, ,422 these were taught in H.
577 schools, 62I more than IN 1857, during an
average term of five months and five and one
half days, at cost OF tiity-sIx cents per pupil,
per month, by l4,065 teachers, being 500
more than IN 1857 The entire expenditure
of the system, for the past year, including that
of the School Department, IS So, ,63S, $50 so.
These figures afford some idea OF the magnitude
of the operations Of the system; but neither
words nor figures can adequately express the
importance OF its influence upon the present, or
its relations to the future.
In contemplating the details of plan for the
due training of the youth of a community, its
large proportions and imposing array Of Statls-
tics do not display the point OF It's greatest I'M
portance. Pupils may be enrolled by hundreds
OF thousands school-houses the best structure
and most complete arrangement may be dotted
at convenient distances over the whole face OF
the land the most perfect order OF StldeS may
be adopted, and the best possible selection of
books made but what are all these, without
the learned and sklluI, the faithful, moral and
devoted teacher? Without this animatlug
spirit, all is barren and unfruttuI. In this vital
department, / am happy to announce that the
improvement ofthe common school teachers OF
the State shows more solid advancement, with
in the past three years, than any other branch
OF the system. THIS, therefore, being the point
whence all real progress in learning and cui-
ture must originate, is also the one 10 which
the fostering attention and caIe of the public
authorities should be mainly directed.
Our peculiar mode OF training teachers under
the normal act OF 1857, has now stood the test