The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-01-08
NEW YORK.

The population of the state is now 3,627,-
1 SIG; an increase of 36l. .602 over the num-l
Der in 1855, or 1O.43 per cent. in ten
years. The increase is almost wholly in
the commercial and ndmanufacturing districts.
The agricultural counties are nearly sta
tionarg, and seven of them show dimi-
mutton of population.
The native citizens number 6764 per
cent. of the whole population. The voters
are S24,973, an increase of l7O,55l, or 26
pei. cent, mostly naturaiized citizens. The
negro population is steadily diminishing,
while the number Of Indians is on the in
crease. The latter are now, be says, nearly
ready to receive their lands as individual
property.
Our manufacturing capital is s227673,-
Il87, an increase of thirty-one per cent. in
five years: While the increase Of products is
twenty-lwo per cent. As three fourths of
the people are engaged in agriculture, it Is
gratifying to learn Of marked advance in
the rural branches of that industry.
The sum now raised by the state for
schools is 81 l,4o6,o80; by the school dis
tricts, S4,550,lll; by rates and other
sources, 81, ,422,6e7; total Of 81 ,376 ,97o,
Of which S4,566,2l1 was expended in
teachers salaries Children between i've
and twentv-one years number 1,354,967;
of whom 9l9,O33, or more than two-thirds,
"haye attended the public schools during
some portion Of the year" There are II,
! 552 schoolhouses; and %, ,4Sl teachers have
been employed, of whom 2l,45o are
women.
The attention Of the legislature IS very
properly called to the large number Of
chillren who neglect the opportunities for
education. Impediments should be re-
moved by liberal and stringent legislation
The two normal schools heretofore in exist
ence have been highly useful in furnishing
qualified teachers The Commissioners
appointed to locate four new normal schools
have named Potsdam, Cortlandt, Brock
port and Fredonia as their sites, and have
urged the establishment Of six more normal
schools to meet the urgent wants Of the
system.
If it is not presumptioua IN this connec-
ton, we venture to advise a more compul-
sorry enforcement of the maintenance Of adj
eqnate schools in every district, and such
provision for the suppression of truancy as
will secure the actual education of all the
! children in the state. ...... ...-..
The Governor discusses the canal inter
ests and policy Of the state at some length.
We have only space to-day to make a note
of his chief conclusions. The amount OF
the Canal Fund on the 3Gth of September
last WAS $4,884,634 2I. The revenues
during the last fiscal year amounted to
s+,3U9,7+6 2;tle expenses were Sl.434,
900 73, leaving a surplus revenue Of
=, $2,S74,856 80, which has been transferred
i to the Sinking Fund, as directed by the
Constitution.
= The net canal debt on the 30th Of Sep
e tember last amounted TO SIS. .6O2,976
). By 1872 it is expected that the old cana
a debt and general fund debt will be entirely
n ubliteyaled.
n The aubject Of transportation Of freight
5. much discussed in the northwestern states
a makes the capacity of our public works ano
! the cheapness of transit Of great interest
e The Erie Canal, with tonnage capacity
e t four an half millions Of tons in eact
e direction for seven and a half months, ha
II never been useu beyond seyenty-five pc
n cent OF that capacity. But the slow move
n ment Of loaded boats propelled only b,
Ie horse power, at a rate not exceeding from
b one and half to two miles an hour, is th
n, cause in part of the demand for increase,
b capacity. The high prices paid for boats
IN wages oflabor and cost of towage have com
ar bined % make transportation dear.
as Governor Frntou proposes the construc
is ton of an enlarge.t fier Of locks on the en-
tire line Of the Erie and Oswego canal
which would admit the passage of stean
+. vessels Of from FIVE to six hundred tons bun
a. then. Tbs he asserts would increase tn
= capacity Of our canals to over eleven millio
tons AMI reduce the cost of transportation
= fifty per cent The Governor estimates th
cost of this enlargement at ten millions {
Fe dollars.
It. The proposition 10 pa5 the cost by a
an annual tax of s5,O0O,U0O for two year
-e when tie aggregate annual taxation Of til
m state for state and local purposes is abou
&c fifty millions already, Governor Fenton rt
n jecls He is also disposed against the CT,
m alton ola new debt to be paid by diret
'p taxation,
z Governor Fenton recommends the pas
+ age of the Constitutional Amendment
: calls the attention of the legislature I
an measures needed for calling together
!" State Constitutional ConveI ton; recon
70 mends that the number of delegates BE il
az creased by thirty, to be chosen at large
70 which we thiak very useful; auL arg
{" such reform of our higher Judiciary s.