The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1870-01-13
tcont..as.f Tor. Iss rags.l

GlsIHDs relating 10 the development and
growth OF the iesonr1es of the Common
wealth. It is impossible for any State off
ces TO report the actual or even the approx
innate amount Of any Of our great natural
resources, aud il cannot be ascerfained from
year to year the amount Of eoal mined, Pc
truleum produced, lumber cut or iron man
uiactured, without special reference tothose
wh1 have charge of the industries growing
oat # these produces At very little cost
and latOf statistics relating 70 all these ob
ic.s could he gathered and annually en-
breed in a report TO be made TO, and pub
h-hed by the Legislature. The value of
such information would be o. incalculable
iu p0Fg gance IN an official way. as well as IN
the general business Of the country. 1t
woaiS stimulate competition, exhibit the 10
exh4ustIble materials within our borders,
and give our people and others, more per-
feet idea Of our wealth and resources. The
recommendation made Ia t year for the rs
tataishment OF 4 disk ior the collection and
pFe-srvafjon Of statistics relative to exports
aud imports. agriculture, manulactures,
cfai, iron, all luHbeT, &c, aud for the col
lection Of meteorological and geological spec
linens, and oihef things that may be deem
Cd appropriate 20 such department, Is res
pectfaily renewed, with the suggestion that
the 4uies be attached 10 the Office OF the
Librarian an3 hi> Assistant, with reason
atle increase Of compensation, and au ap
pTonriatigD q str the same.
Prison Disoplme
Is accoTlsnee with law approved April
l3. 1867. Mahlon H. Dickinson, Esq, Of
paiIadtlphi4, vas appointed to visit, for
Uhi anthrophic purl oses, the prisons and
aH5shou.es Ia the various counties OF the
Commonwealth His second report which
j., herewith presented, embraces vast
amount oi useful information. and will be
fua5 highlv interesting aud worthy OF ma
ture con,i.elatj0n Ii viii be seen that
while some Of our county pTIsons have been
constructed aud are being conducted with
street gard 10 the proper objects OF pun
isbreDt, others are utterly unit Tor any
sgca purposes, and are disgrace and re-
preach 10 a civilized age and Christian
Deopla The Commissioner, in regard 10
saille Of these, describes them as being I'M
safe. where prisoners could not be held un-
less loaded with chains, where The sexes
Uers not separated, where there was no dis
cipiue, or any offoIt made towards the NOR
al or religious Improvement Of the inmates;
the buildings totally unfit for the purposes
Vi prison; and where the pm oners become
schooled in wee, aud even ualv graduated
some of the pris ms the cells are represented
As contracted dungeons, into which not
ray Of sunshine or draft o. pure air can
enter. aud in which a human being could
NOT possibly live through lengthy term OF
sentence. Aud iu still others, In conse-
aueaoe Of the want Of proper accommoda
tlUa>, ali classes OF criminals, from the most
hardened ana aged to the youth of tender
years, are permitted to cgDgTegate, and iu
duige IN card playing profanity, and almost
every species OF ium0raiity and crime. In
der -uch circumstances. reformation, which
j. The grand obi isct of divine, and should be
of AL human laws and puni-hments, Is rem
ier-d impossible; whilst hideOus lessons Of
vice are taught and learned, 10 De praeIic-d
when future opportunity occurs. This Is
ali wtoag, and a remedy for the evil should
bv ali nBsans be applied No community
has moral or legal night to nGiIct punish
meBt as mere retalatOry measure, or IN
such u manner as TO eud4nger the health
and lite OF the criminal, to deaden him TO
ali the better sensibilities Of his nature, aDd
to absolutely harden him TO the commission
Of crime.
The comm issicners appointed TO inquire
into the various Systems Of prison discipline,
As practiccd In other States and countries,
Penn-ylv4ni4 system, viii submit you
their report at All esrly day, from which
you viii learn that the capacity Of our
pens.ealaries Is at present competent for
the sale keeping aud proper punishment Of
all uFenders OF the higher grades, and that
work houses and houses of correction are
needed for those whose crimes are Oft more
trivial character. and whose reformation
and future usefulness may be accomplished
by humane system of discipline. such as
wiz be recOmne ended.
The Judiciary
Communication, have been received from
various parts of the State, representing hat
the present Judicial force Is inadequate for
the purposes designed Since the number
Of iudges was fxsd the business OF the
cousts has greatly increased, with our zap
idiy exHauding population, aud the mui-
i.lcation Of commercial and business op-
erali1ns VI our groSng Commonwealth.
How far relief should be afforded is well
worthy Of careful consideration
Ia une district Of the Supreme Court,
over seven hundred uew eases have been
dacseted within one year. Many Of these
involve very large amounts, aud important
lega, principles; and their proper eonsidera-
toe imposes upon the judges great labor
aud responsibility In the other districFs
Of this court the argument lists are also be-
cgmiog 50 crowded that It is impossible to
di,aose OF the business with that prompt
ue.- and intelligence demanded by the pub
lie interests; and especially, with one o! the
Judges, as now required by law, assigned 70
dury IN the court ot aisi oFitts at Phaladel-
mia. | therefore earnestly recommend an
additional Judge for this court, believing it
a public necessity, in justice to the many
suiturs and to the judges who have more
work than should be required of the pres
ent number OF men, let them be ever SO
laborious aud efficient
Boundary Line.
In obedience to AN act to settle, deter
mine aud locate the southern boundary line
of the Commonwealth approved March
20, lS69, | appointed James Worrall, E,q.
If Harrisburg and Strickland kneass,
ESD Of Philadel pbia, both civil engineers,
commissioners on the part Of Pennsylvania.
10 set in conjunction with Ike Commis-
sioners on the part Of the State of Della
ware
TIE Governor Of that State was prompt
Ii furnished with d copy of the act, and in
formed of the appointment of Commis
sioners under il. and bis cooperation 10
yited. But. 81 far as | am advised, no az
ton of any kind ha> been taken by Della
war on the subject; and consequently the
work contemplated by the act above re-
1arred to has nos been performed.
Your special aitenfionis invited TO the
reper; of our Commissioners. which is here
with communicated
In H,m9Iiam
4 - eminently proper that special notice
should be taken Of the decease of such per
soas as have occupied prominent positions
in. aud rendered distinguished services tC
the State CONSPICUOUS among these were