Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-01-11

people from their homes and pursuits.
Meanwhile arrangements have been made
with the authorities at Washington for arm
/ ing, clothing, subsisting and supplying the
corps at the expense of the United States,
and an order has been given by the autfori-
! ties Of the United States to turlough such
volunteers in the corps as may be drafted by
the United States The corps so privileged
not to exceed 5000 men. 1t is my inten-
| ion to-raise 5000 men during the winter,
! and | have already adopted measures to that
end There may occur Interruptions OF Ir-
regular bodies Of the rebels, and 1t Is well to
be provided against them. The number
proposed to be so raised and put into actual
service, will, in my Judgment be sufficient,
and regard to due economy requires that
no more than are sufficient should be placed
on pay The remaining 10000 will be or
ganzed and ready for service in case OF ne
cessity | invite your immediate attention
to the very able report of the Inspector Gen
eral. which sets forth the defects i'll the law
which he has discovered in his preparation
for carrying it into practical effect.
| The State agencies at Washington and in
! TIE Southwest, are in active and successful
operation. | communicate herewith the re-
| ports Of Col. Jordan at Washington, and
| Col. Chamberlain, agent for the South West.
| The provisions of the law requiring the a
| gents to collect moneys due by the United
States to soldiers, have been beneh-
cient. A reference to their reports will
show the magnitude and usefulness of this
branch of their service | desire to invite
the attention of all our volunteers, officers,
soldiers and their families TO the fact that
the State agents will collect all their claims
on the Government, gratult0uSly- as / have
reason to believe that many are still ignorant
Of that fact. and are greatly imposed upon
! by the exorbitant commissions charged by
| private claim agents.
| Under the act Of the 9Th OF May, 1864,
| appointed Hon. Thomas H. Burrows to
take charge of the arrangements for the ed
ucation of the orphans of soldiers. | COM
municate herewith a copy Of his report on
| the subject He has discharged his duties
! with c0mmendable zeal, fidelity and eficien-
| cy. ! earnestly recommend that peTma-
| nent and liberal appropriation be made 20
support this Just and worthy scheme of he
nefcence.
recommend that an appropriation be
made for pensions to the volunteer militia
| men. Tor their famiies) who were killed or
! hurt in the service in the years 1862 and
| 1868. Is soldiers sometimes arrive here
| who are insane, and who should be protect
| ed and cared for, Recommend that provs-
| ion be made for their being placed in the
| State Asylum for the Insane, at this place,
| and kept until notice can be given TO the
authorities Of their respective counties, who
! should be required to remove and care for
| them.
| | feel it to be nay duty to invite your Sc
| riOus attention to the evils growing out of
| system oi passing acts Of INCORPORATION, Tor
purposes which are provided for by general
| laws. We have passed acts authorizing
| charters to be obtained without specla! legls-
lation. These acts have been generally pre-
| pared with some care, and contain the pro-
| visions which the Legislature thought ne
! cessary to protect the Commonwealth and
| her citizens Ii these general laws are not
found TO answer such purposes, they should
| be amended and perfected. Il any compa-
| ny desires to be incorporated with greater
| privileges than are conferred, or to be relleV-
| ed from any of the conditions imposed by
| these acts, it appears to me that II should
| be required first to obtain a charter under
| the general laws, and then apply to the lie
| gislature for an act making the changes
| which are desired The attention Of the Le-
| gisature will thus be drawn to the specific
| object, and a judgment can be formed OF ITS
propriety. | would also observe that great
| evil results from the habit Of granting priv
| ileges to a corporation by mere reference
to some former private act relating to other
| corporations, sometimes without even q
| ing the date of these acts. All these prac-
| tices are bad and although they may some
| times be pursued by parties having no bad
| intention, yet they certainly originated IN
the design of surprising the Commonwealth
into grants of privileges which it was known
could not be obtained if their extent were
understood, and they are often followed now
for the same fraudulent purpose
strongly recommend the repeal Of the
act passed the 18th day Of July, A. D. 1868,
entitled An act relating to corporations for
mechanical, manufacturing, mining, and
| quarrylng purposes.
Its provisions are found to be practically so
inconsistent with the due protection of the
citizens and with the Just policy of the Com
monwealth, that it ought not to be allowed
to stand longer on our statute book. L ap-
proved the act in question with great reuct-
ance, and subsequent reflection and obserVa-
ton have satisfied me of its mischlevous
character.
I also recommend the repeal of an act
passed the 22d day of July, A. d. 1868, entl-
tied "A further supplement to an act to en-
able ioint tenants and tenants IN common,
and adjoining owners of mineral lands In
this Commonwealth, TO manage and develop
the same.
This act allows foreign corporations to
hold three hundred acres OF lard III tins
State for mining purposes 1t was passed,
it is believed. for the purpose OF enabling
companies near our border engaged IN the
manufacture. of iron. to hold land as ore
banks. But under the idea that the sinking
of an oil well is mining, 1t Is beleyed that
companies have already been organized I'M
der the laws of other States and that more
will he. for the purpose of holding lands and