The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-01-17


Paducah Railroad, lS5 miles in length,
has been opened for travel. IL pcnc-
trates the Western coal and iron fields Of
Kentucky, developing rich mines Of the
former the products Of which are finding
their way 10 market. The valuable beds
of iron ore along the route will doubtless
soon he developed. The Elizabethtown,
Lexington and Big Sandy Railroad has
been completed to Mt Sterling and dur
ing the current year will be pushed to
the mouth Of the Big Sandy to connect
with the Chesapeake and Ohio-thc lat
ter road, extending from Richmond, Va,
to Huntingdon on the Ohio river, dis
tance of more than 400 miles, isapproach-
ing completion and will he open for
travel in a few weeks. When the Eliz-
abeihtowu, Lexington and Big Sandy
road shall have been completed, we shall
have unbroken communication by rail
with the Eastern and Northern cities.
STATISTICAL BUREAU.
The governor recommends the cstab-
lishment of bureau for the collection
and preservation of vital, social, and
physical as well as political statistics.
The Importance Of such bureau is rec
ognized throughout the civilized world,
as only through it can the exact status
of any country be determined.
THE VIENNA EXPOSITION.
The great industrial exposition TO take
place in May in The city of Vienna, Aus
tria, is rece' ing the attention of all
civilized nations. 1t is recommended
that the General Assembly take such
steps as may be necessary TO secure n
representation of the products of Ken
lucky at that exposition.
THE CENTENNIAL.
As no scheme has been presented for
uniform action nor the terms stated up
on which we are invited to participate,
no recommendation il made concerning
the Centennial Anniversary Of the Dec
laration of Independence.
EDUCATION.
In the age in which we live, alike
distinguished for its achievements in sci
once and the arts and for the advance
ment Of learning and the general difiu
sion Of knowledge, the subject of educa
ton has almost of necessity not only be
come matter of deepest interest to socie,
~. but claims and receives the protec'
ton and fostering care of government.
When the aid Of the State was first in
vokcd there were found some strict theo-
rists, who believing that governments in
their proper sphere are limited 20 the
protection of material interests, and that
the support of education, like that of re-
ligion. should depend upon the voluntary
principle, felt grave doubts rs to the
propriety of its intervention.
But the magnitude of the interests in
volved in it as a practical question soor
silenced every voice of opposition, and
to-day there is no department OF STATE
administration more honored or appre'
ciatcd than that of public instruction
We begin to realize that the children OF
: the State are its most precious treasure
and that among the trusts committed Il
those in authority there are none higher
nor more sacred than that of providing
for the training of our youth in knowl
edge and virtue.
call your attention TO the very able
explicit, and satisfactory Report of tn
Superintendent of Public Instruction fol
the last school year. No friend of edu
cation will read that paper without feel
ing renewed interest in the subject. i
will he seen that the school attendance
has been increased by nearly clever
thousand children during the past year
and that but seventy-three of the 5,3s
school districts in the State failed to hav'
school taught under the law.
The steady increase of interest amoni
the people, as manifested from year t
year. and the indomitable energy whicl
the head of the department brings t.
! the work, inspire us with the fullest con
= idence that very soon every school dis
trict in the State will gather up its chil
dren and put itself ON record as part q
this great enterprise.
Ii is a matter of the highest momen
that the people of Kentucky shall, Will
, one accord, at once, determine upon hay
! ing and sustaining system of common
) schools.
Whatever political or other difference
p may obtain among us, this is one abou
which we can not afford TO differ. Ii Is
I and should be. the pride of the State +
; preserve her own schools, regulated am
! controlled in her own way, and to kee
= in her own hands the education of he
2 children. We have witnessed variou
! efforts that have been made to Undue
the Congress of the United States to SC
p up a system of "National Education,
: which, if done, would virtually tax
away from the State the control OF thl
: subject. 1t is al9rming to contemplat
r the success of such a scheme. It's dire'
? and inevitable tendency would be to de
+ stroy our identity rs States and as tn
people of separate States; to promote d
+. once the consolidation and centralizatio