Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-10-18

subject in the report tf the AdjuIant and
Inspector General. Some portion Of the
public property in possession Of the mill
tia is reported in bad condition, and with
out more vitality in our militia system, it
would seem necessary that this property
should be collected and placed in safe
keeping under the care of proper officer.
The signs of the times indicate that we,
as prudent men, should not wholly lay
aside our arms, but rather emulate the ex-
ample Of the old Bay State in 1861, and
be prepared for any emergency.
EDUCATION.
Under the act of the last annual session
normal schools have been established in
each of the congressional districts. They
cannot but Prove useful in providing our
common schools better educated class of
teachers, thus raising the general standard
of education among the people. which is
one of the first duties of the State. /
commend this subject to your liberal con-
sideration.
BANK COMMISSIONER.
The duties of the Bank Commissioner
during the past year have been almost
nominal. recommend that the office be
abolished. and that some other State Off
eer be authorized to perform such acts as
may hereafar be required in this depart
ment.
STATE PRISON.
Until within few years our State Pris-
on has been seli-snstaining, blu, owing to
the high prices of clothing and provisions,
with no corresponding increase of income,
it has become necessary to draw upon the
treasury considerable suns TO meet the
deficiency. During the past year, ten
thousand four hundred and twenty-seven
dollars and FIVE cents have been required
for that purpose. Turning to the neigh
boring States ! find that their prisons are
a source of income, and il behooves us 10
/
inquire what can be done to place our
prison on paying basis. The enactment
of law has been suggested, requiring the
directors to advertise for proposals for new
contracts at least six months before the ex-
piration of existing contracts for the labor
of the inmates. 1t has been thought that
| this, with the adoption of better system
of discipline, would bring about tie desired
results. The Superintendent is of the
opinion, in which concur, that additional
provision should be made for the female
ccnvicts. At present it is almost impossi-
BILE to maintain any discipline in this de-
partment for want of proper accommoda-
tons.
REFORM SCHOOL.
The establishment of school for the
reformation of juvenile offenders having
become our policy, provision for its neces-
sites the coming year should be made a.
this session. ~
1t is my belief that great good is being
done in eleyating our hayward youth, and
preparing them for useful and honorable
lives, and | am convinced that a familiari-
" with the operations of the Vermont
Reform School would commend it to YOUR
sympathy and support. For information
on this subject. you are referred 10 the in
teresting reports of the Trustees and SUI
perintendent.
RESOURCES OF THE STATE.
The resources Of the State, as developed
in its agriculture, its manufactures, Its
quarries and its miaes, merit, and should
receive, your careful attention. The leg
islation on these subjects should be such as
to secure to our people the greatest advan-
tages from these sources, by inducing the
influx of capital for their development, and
inviting investments, without hampering
them by unnecessary conditions and re-
slrctions, for extending our manufactures,
~fNpo anu winning our qudTTleS ana
mines, and increasing our railroad facili-
ties.
In most particulars, our laws compare
favorably with those of other States in
these respects. In some of their provis-
ions, however, shall have occasions 10 in
dictate reforms which seem TO me to be
needed.
Vermont is pre- eminently an agricultu
raj State, having thirteen-tweniie,hs. of its
tour millions of acres under Improvement,
and we have cause of gratitude to the Civ
er of all things for the abundant harvests
that have awarded the labors Of our hus. |
oandmen during the year. The increased
value of the real and personal estate in
Vermont, from 1850 to 1860, as given in
the census, was a little over thirty millions
OF dollars, and this upon gold basis. OIL
this sum twenty-eight millions was in the
increased value Of the real estate. Had
we statistics to the present time, they would