Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-01-11

the one 10 which the fostering attention anC
care Of the public authorities should be mainly
directed.
Our peculiar mode of training teachers M.
der the normal act Of 1857, has now stood ths
lest of practical experience; and against the
most adverse circumstances, has produced re-
suits decisive of It's success. Already it ha:
placed one institution in full operation in the
southeastern part Of the State, equal in stand
ing and extent to any in the Union. Another,
with all the requirements of the law, has just
applied for State recognition in the extreme
north west. commend these noble, and pc
eallaTiy Pennsylvania schools, to your favor.
aid 10 them will be the best investment that
can be made for tbs rising generation. Good
instruction for our children, is the strongest
earthly guarantee, that, Whatever else We be-
4nsath them, their Inheritance will be bles-
sing aud not curse; and, if nothing more is
Eeft, in the we'll cultured minds, the willing
bands, and the trust 10 God. OF freemen, they
will have ali that is essential.
Nearly eleven thousand of our fellow citi-
zens are now devoting their efforts TO the i'm
rrovement Of the common schools as directors.
Inan this there Is no more meritorIous body Of
men. An increase of the annual state appro-
priation would not only be material relief to
the districts, at tbs tine, but would, TO some
extent, disembarrass directors 10 their local op-
srations.
Il Is not, however, the common school sys-
tam, vast and honorable to the State as il is,
shst claims your entire attention, in reference
% education. Pennsylvania also boasts her
collegiate, aeademical, scientific. professional
and pEllanthrOpic Institutions, and numerous
private schools OF every grade. In this respect
she Is seeoud to no member of the confedsracy;
but from nero want of attention to the proper
ssatistics, she has thus far been ranked far be-
lev her just standard. The present is not the
proper time to rsaew grants TO institutions Of
tnsss classes which heretofore received State
sld, 1t it were, the public authorities do not
possess Ehe requisite data for a safe aud Just
extension OF ii5erallty. The period will arrive
waen al public educational agencies must be
laaaaded II ono great system for the elevation
Oh aIiad sHe morals; aad when the State ~ill
10 doubt, PairOnze every proper effort 10 the
good work.
For the details of the system, during the last
school Jssr, Tie attention of the Legislature is
respectfully referred TO the aonual report of
the Common School Department, herewith sub
mil,ed
desire again, specially, to call the attention
OF the General Assembly to the Farmers' High
School OF Pennsylvania, as institution which
proposes TO accomplish an object which has
neVeF been a,tained in this country-the sup
ply OF want which has ever been felt by the
agricultural community; the edueation Of sheir
sous, at once, TO scientific knowledge, habitua
industry, and practical skill, to it them for the
associations 1f rural life, aud the occupation
chosen tor them oy their fathers. The gains
OF the farmer, however, certain, are small
The education Of hts sons should, therefore, be
measured By the nss1re of bis business. There
seems 20 be no practical mode of cbespenIng
education, but BY combining an amount Of ex-
pendIture, within the ability Of farmer, with
the daily labor Of the student, as to make
the institution so nearly self-sustainiug as to
bring it within the reach OF that class who oon-
stitate so important branch Of the industry Of
our people.
The original design OF this school embraced
tie accommodation Of four hundred students,
naEnber essential to the economical working
Of the systenl; and, although the applications
for admission are numberless, the utmost eff
forts Of the trustees have Dot enabled them to
oowplete more than one third Of the building,
or 10 accommodate more than o corresponding
number Of students. Many Individuals thro'-
out the State, convinced of the merit OF an in
stitution which promises so much good, nave
contributed literally to what has already been
done; and the board Of trustees have labored
with zeal which cannot fail TO commend itself
TO the kind leslIOg Of all our citizens. Sci
enii6e edvcation has advanced the interests of
every avocation of lifs-agrioulture far less
than auy other-and for the manifest reason
that il has not reached it TO TIE SAND extent,
aud never will reach it, unless the body be
educated to the plow, as we'll as tho mind to
the philosophical principles which the ploW's
york developes.
/ have always looked upoa the Farmers
High School with peculiar favor, as we'll be-
cause of my own convictions of its promised
usefulness, rs she favor which has hitherto
been shown TO is BY the Representatives of
toe people. Its charter requires an annual
exhibition Of It's receipts, expenditures acd op-
erstions generally, and these will doubtless De
laid before you.
By .he act passed BY the last Legislature,
estapisnlng sJstsiu W Aoo pspAsnS az e"u
syIy4nia, and securing she public against loss
fr5n insolyent banks, radical changes were
made in the banking laws of this State. To-
stead of corporations created by special laws,
voluntary associations are authorized TO trans
act the busizesa Of banking, without further
legislation, and as an indispensable Prsreqai-
site to the issuing OF bank notes for circula-
tion as money, ample security mus. be deposit
ted With the Auditor General for their prompt
redemption. TIE law makes provision, nos
only for the Incorporation Of new banking as
sociations, but enables banking institutions al
ready in existence, 70 continne their business
for twenty years after the expiration Of their
present charters, upon complying With ila pro-
visions, BY Withdrawing their old circulation,