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

| to the Sheriff of Dauphin county, and pro-
ceedings are now pending in the Supreme Court
Of this State, to determine whether the COM
monwealth can compel the payment of the
| judgments already recovered; before the 6nal
decision by the Supreme Court Of the United
States.
The Sudbury aud Erie Railroad Company
having failed to negotiate its mortgage bonds
in their present condition, .he expectations
confidently entertained of an early completion
of that most important Improvement, have rot
been realized. The work during the past year
however, although greatly retarded, has been
continually progressing; upwards of one million
of dollars having bsen expended on the line
from NoVember,s 1889, to November, 1S60.-
The whole length Of the road, from the borough
Of Sudbury to the harbor on the lake, at the
city of Erie, is 26S miles; OF which 14S miles
ares0ow finished and 10 operation, aud lis
miles of the remaining portion of the line are
graded leaving bat % miles get to grade
Pennsylvania ia largely Interested iu the early
completion sud success Of this great thorough
fare, not only because she is the creditor of
the company to the amount Of three aud half
millions Of dollars, but for the additional, aud
more cogent reason, that that the improvement,
when completed, will open one Of the most ln-
portant channels of trade between the city of
PhIla9elphis and the great lakes of the west,
at the best harbor on Lake Erie, entirely within
the limits Of our own State, which has ever
beer contemplated. 1t will, moreover, develop
the resources of large portion of North Wes-
tern Pennsylvania, abOunding with The richest
minerals, and lumber region OF unsurpassed
excellence, which the mani6cent hand of tho
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 con-
struc,ion Of this great work; snd it may De
Necessary, to insure its completion, that further
legislation should be had 10 order to fender the
means Of the company available. Il is evident
that liberal policy, on the part Of tue govern
ment, will promote ike the interests Of tbe
Commonwealth add tha railroad company; new
ertheless, great care should be taken to protest,
as far as possible, the debt new due ffo@ iss
company 70 the State. If all propositions which
may be made for change 10 the securities uow
held by the Commonwealth, be carefully con-
sidered By the Legislature, and no usore Weld
ed than sound economy demands, with proper
provision for the due application OF whatever
means may be realized, it is believed that suf-
to enable it promptly TO finish tac road, while
the security remaining will be fully adequate to
ins1re the ultimate payment Of the principal
and interest of the bonds Of the railroad COM
psDy now held by tho Commonwealth.
| commend this subject TO the Legislature,
one entitled to It's most careful considerations
as well on account Of its vast importance to
thai portion Of tne State through which the
4 IL.
and Erie-and TO the railroad company-as to
the Commonwealth herself. Promising that
whatever policy 1t may be thought expedieot to
pursue, should be adopted solely With reference
TO the protection and futherance Of the public
interests.
The attention Of the Legislature is again in
vited 70 she subject of general. .,education. At
the present. juucture is presents peculiar claims.
The experience Of quarter Of century has
satisfied the proverbi4lly cautious people Of
Penusylvania, of the adaptednass Of the com
mon school system to their wants aud condi-
ton. No less has the severe ordeal Of the past
three years shown It's oapsbility TO endure those
sudden reverses which occasionally PROSTATE
the other interests of the community. InvOIv-
ing greater expenditure tbao the rest of ths de-
Partments Of goveFDnent, and that. toe, mainly
drawn flom direGt taxatiou, ia 10 @ proad fast,
that, while most OF the enterprises Of society
hAv0 been seriously embarrassed, and some OF
them suspended, by the pecuGiary crisis Of
1857, our edurationsl system has not been re-
tArded iu any appreciable degree. On the
contrary, It's operations have been maintained,
to an extent which plainly indicates that our
citizens fslly sppreciats It's yalusI
Contrasting its main results during the past
year, With those of 1857, we fGd that the whole
number of pupils now in the schools, is 647, Ala,
being an increase OF A ,422; these we're taught
10 ii ,577 schools, 62l more than in 1857, du-
ring On average term Of i've months aud five
and ona-half days, at cost Of fifty-six cents
per pupil, per month, by Ia, ,065 teachers, being
529 more than in 1857. Ths entire expeuIi-
ture Of the system, for the P&st year, including
that of the School Department, is $685.
500 80. These figures afford some idea of the
magnitude of the operations Of the system; but
neither words nor figures can adequately sx-
press the importance of It's influence npcn the
present, or its relations TO The future.
In contemplating the details of plan for
che due traiuing of she youth of a community,
iM large proportions and imposing array of
statistics do not display the points Of its great
est importance. Pupils may be enrolled by
hundreds Of thousands; school houses OF the
best structure and most complete arrangement
NAV be dotted as convenient distances over the
! whole face Of the land; the most perfect order
Of studies may be adopted and the best posi-
bic selection Of books made; but what are all
these, without toe learned and skIlfal, the faith
i full, moral aad devoted teacherf Without this
animating spirit, ell is barren and unfruisful.-
In this vital department. am happy to au-
nounce that the improvement Of the common
school teachers of Ghe State ah0ws more sold
! advancenant. within the past three years. than