Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-01-09

The work during the past year, however.
greatly retarded, has been con-
tnually progressing; upwards of one mils
lion o. dollars having been expended on
the line from November, 1859, TO Noyem,
Der, 1860. The whole length ofthe road.
from tho borough of Sunbury to the har-
Dor on the lake, at the city Of Erie; is 288
miles of which l4S miles arc now finish
ed and IN operation, and lis miles of the
remaining portion Of the line are graded;
leaving but twenty-five miles yet to grade.
Pennsylvania is largely interested in the
early completion and success Of this great
thoroughiaro, not only because she is the
creditor Of the company to the amount of
three and half millions of dollars, but
for the additional, and more cogent rea-
son, that the improvement, when comple
ted, will open one OF the most important
channels Of trade between the city Of Phil
adelphia and the great lakes of the west,
at the best harder on Lake Erie, entirely
within the limits Of our own State, which
has ever been contemplated. 1t will,
moreover, develope the rescu oss Of
large portion OF Northwestern Pennsyl-
yania, abourding with the richest miner
als, and lumber region Of unsurpassed
excellence, which the muniicent hand
OF the State has hitherto totally neglected
BY disposing Of her branch canals to that
company, in exchange for its mortgage
bonds, the State has already largely aided
IN the construction of this great work;
and 1t may be necessary, to insure its COM
pletlon, that further legislation should be
had in order to render the means of the
company available. 1t is evident that
n liberal nnliev Tho 80 Ilo
ernment, Will promote alike the interests
OF the commonwealth and the railroad
company; nevertheless, great care should
0e taken 10 protect, as FAR as possible, the
debt new due from the company to the
State. If all propositions which may be
made for change in the securities now
held by the Commonwealth, be carefully
considered by the Legislature and no
moro yielded than sound economy de-
mands, with proper provision for the due
Application OF whatever means may be
realized, it is believed that sufficient re-
lief can be granted to the company, to
enable 1T promptly to finish the road,
while the security remaining will be fully
adequate to insure the ultimate payment
OF the principal and interest of the bonds
OF the railroad company now held by the
Commonwealth.
l commend this subject to the Legisla-
ture as one entitled to its most careful
consideration, as well on account of its
vast importance to that portion of the
State through which the railroad passes
to the cities Of Philadelphia and Erie
and to the railroad company-a as TO the
Commonwealth herself. Promising that
whatever policy 1t may be thought expe-
dient to pursue, should be adopted solely
with reference to the protection and
furtherance Of the public interests.
The attention Of the Legislature is again
invited to the subject of general eduoa-
ton. At the present juncture it presents
peculiar claims. The experience of a.
quarter of century has satisfied the pro-
verbally cautious people OF Pennsylvania,
OF the adaptedness Of the common school
system to their wants and condition. No
less has the severe ordeal of the past three
years shown its capabiity to endure those
sudden reverses which occasionally pros
trate the other interests Of the communi-
ty. Involving greater expenditure than
the rest of the departments of govern
ment, and that, too, mainly drawn from
direct taxation, it is a proud fact, that.
while most { the enterprises of society
have been seriously embarrassed. and
spme of them suspended, by the pecunia-
ry crisis of 1857 our educational system
has not been retarded in any appreciable
degree. On the contrary, its operations
nave been maintained, to an extent which
plainly indicates that our citizens fully
appreciate Its value. Contrasting its main
results during the past year, with those Of
1891, we lind that the whole numoer of
pupils now in the schools, is 647 Ala. be-
ing an increase of 44,422; these were
taught in II, ,577 schools, 62l more than
in 1851, during an average term OF five
months and five and one half days. al
5G cents per pupil, per month, by l4,065
teachers, being 529 more than in 1857.
The entire expenditure of the system, for
the past year, including that of The School
is 1888, $50 80, These fig.
ures afford some idea of the magnitude Of
the operations of the system bat neither
words nor figures can adequately express
the Importance ofits influence upon the
present, or its relations 20 the future
In contemplating the details of plan
for the due training of the youth of COM
munity, its large proportions and impos>
ing array Of statistics do not display the
points Of its greatest Importance. Pupils
may be enrolled by hundreds of thou
sands; school houses OF the best struc-
ture and most convenient arrangements
may be dotted at convenient distances
over the whole face Of the land the most
perfect order Of studies may be adopted,
aud the best possible selection of books
be made but what are all these without
the learned and skillful, the faithful, NOR
al and devoted teacher? Without this
spirit, all is barren and un>
fruitful. In this vital department, am
happy to announce that the improvement
of the common school teachers of tho
State shows more solid advancement,
within the past three years than any 9TH
or branch of the system. This, therefore,
being the point whence all real progress
in learning and culture must originate, is
also the ono to which the fostering atten-
ton and care Of the public authorities
should be mainly directed.
Our peculiar mode of training teachers