The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-01-15

No calculations can furnish an esti-
mate of the benefits that are constant
ly flowing from these institutions.
Thousands oforphan children are en-
joying their parental care, moral cul-
ture, and educational training, who
would have otherwise suffered poverty
and want, and been left to grow up
in idleness ansl.neglect. Many Wild
ow's heart has been gladdened by the
protecting comfort and religious solic-
itude extended to her fatherless off
spring, and thousands are the prayers
devotedly uttered for those who have
not been unmindfull of them in the
time oftheir afiliction. lnmaking the
generous dispositioni it has done for these
destitute and helpless orphans, the
Legislature deserve and receives the
hearty thanks of every good citizen, all
of whom will cordially approve con-
tinuance of that benifcencc. In
shielding, protecting and educating
the children of our dead soldiers the
Legislature is nobly performing its
duty. Those. children are not the
mere objects of our charity or pension
ers upon our bounty; but the wards
ofthc Commonwealth, and have Just
claims earned by the blood of their
fathers, upon its supportand guardian
ship, which can only be withheld at
the sacrifice of philanthropy, honor,
patriotism, State pride, and every
principal of humanity.
Concerning the Agricultural Col
legc he states that the commissioners
appointed by the Legislature to sell
the land scrip have completed the sales
which amount to $429,1S ,S9. In ac-
cordance with the act of Assembly, the
the onc-tcnth of the proceeds has been
applied to the purchase Of sites for
"Model Experimental Farms" and the
residue invested as follows: $126,00C
in United States 500 bonds; $4,000
in Pennsylvania war loan, and $685.
600 in the Pennsylvania bonds ot
1867.
The college has been thoroughly
rcorganizcd in order to make it fully
respond to objects and requirements Of
the act of Congress, and to the educa-
tional interest of industrial classes, and
to meet these ends it now gives courses
ofinstruction in general science agri-
culture, mechanical and civil engineer
ing, mctallurgy and mining, ancient
and modern languages, and military
tactics, employing faculty compris-
ing six professors and two instructors
in the college department, and three
instructors in the grammar school
This important educational enterprise
in the interest Of agriculture and the
mechanical arts deserves favorable
consideration.
The volunteer militia should be in
creased. The law of 1864, though ex-
cellent in many respects, does not
meet the requirements Of the times,
and alterations and amendments are
needed before it can accomplish all the
contemplated and desired objects.
The minimum of men necessary to
form a company is entirely too high
and in many places where smaller
companies would be formed. it is i'm
possible to raise them in accordance
with the ratio established by the act.
From the report Of the Adjutant Gen
eral, it will be seen that there are now
but thirty-eight uniformed compa-
nies in the State, comprising ouly about
three thousand men, whilst the sug-
gestcd amendments, which should be
made as carly as possible, would in
crease the organizations TO any desr-
able extent, and tend to renew and
keep alive in our soldiers the memories
Of the service, and to preserve the mil
itary ardor born of our recent strug-
giles for national existence.
The statement is made that the hos
pitals in the State afford accommodation
for only two thousand Hence there
aroiilteen hundred for whom no pro-
vision is made, and many of them arc
languishing in the county prisons and
alms-houses.
Progress is reported in the revision
of the civil code of laws on the follow
ing points:
First-Thc correction of the iedun-
dancics, omissions, repetitions and in
consistencies of the existing statutes.
Second-The framing of general
laws as substitutes for the innumerable
local statutes, which for many years
have comprised the bulk of the acts Of
Assembly and occupied the attention
of the Legislature to the deteriment of
general legislation.
Third-The comforting upon the
courts many powers now exercised by
the Legislature, and which, it is be-
lieved, will greatly relieve that body
by decreasing the demand for special
legislation and allowing ampler oppor-
tunity for the consideration Of the
public interests.
The gentlemen comprising the COM
mission have prepared a large number
of bills, most of which will be laid
before you at an early day: The mos
important of these, which should re.
ceive early and favorable action of til,
Legislature, are those relating to cor
porations,thc poor, public highways
evidence and interest.
The Auditor General, Secretary'oi
the Commonwealth and State Treas
urer, appointed by the Legislature at
its last session to revise and digest the