The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-01-15

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needs, and thus prepare the way Tor the
exhaustion of our trade aud commerce.
NATIONAL GUARD.
The wisdom Of the new militia law is
already apparent in the increased eff
cheney OF the several commands, and the
enthusiastic spirit aroused among the
troops. Rigid inspection. have been con
ducled by the Adjutant General, and the
companies not meeting the requirements
Of the law have bnen promptly disbanded
Still more encouraging aud satisfactory
results may be expected from the opera
tion of the new system during the ensu
ing year, and | invoke the National
Guard to renewed efforts to increase its
efficiency and perfect its discipline, that
it may deserve the confidence aud support
the public are now willing to extend, and
be worthy of the great State whose safety
and honor in some future crisis may de
pend upon the character and valor
OF her citizen soldiery.
STATE ARSENAL
The State having purchased the pro
perties adjoinsng the Capitol grounds,
with a view to their extension, L recon
mend the removal of the arsenal, situate
thereon, and that an appropriation be
made TO purchase site and erect an
arsenal in some other locality. The ser
vice requires building of this kind, and
the cost of the repair of the present arse
nal woald probably be equal to the ex
pense of erecting a new one, while the
beauty and symmetry of the public park
will be grcatsly enhanced by the removal
of all buildings from that portion of the
grounds.
POWDER MAGAZINE.
Your attention is particularly directed
to that part of the report of the AnJut
ant General which refers to the sale o
the old and purchase of a new site for l
powder magazine in the city OF Phlladel
phia. with a suggestion that the new site
be sold, on account Of its unftness for thu
special uses designed, and the additional
reason that to build new magazine would
subject the State to an expense OF least
S25 900. The parties storing powder
under any proper restrictions imposed BY
the city authorities of Philadelphia, will
doubtless gladly avail themselves OF th'
privilege to erect store houses or maga
zines Of their own, and the State will
thus be relieved of charge which may
hereafter be the cause of the destruction
of property and consequent claim To-
damages.
LAND DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Surveyor Genera
gives detailed and very satisfactory ex
hibt of the business and condition of BIZ
Department Attention is called to tht
valuable suggestions made in reference
to granting warrants to survey lands anc
the enlargement of the right of pre- emp
ton. both being shown by experience t.
be necessary to the better protection o
those holding titles from the Common
wealth, aud as the subject is of import
ance to large class of our people, L earn
estly commend the same to your careful
consideration.
| GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
In my inaugural address mention wa!
made of the rich deposits OF mineral'
found in every part Of the Commonwealth
and a suggestion offered that it should bt
our earnest aim to determine the exteB
of these deposits and make them available
and productive. To provide the highes
possible knowledge of the character anc
| location of our valuable minerals WI
should first institute a thorough geologi
cal survey under the supervision of gen
tlemen whose scientific attainments vii
| be sufficient warrant that the work vii
be properly performed. To attain this
| desirable end, therefore, | earnestly re
commend that geological survey of the
State be made under the perintendsncs
of commission to be composed of ten
scientific or practical gentlemen represent
ing different interests and localities, who
understand the necessities for this survey
and under whose direction it shall b.
conducted, the commission to serve gra
tuitously and to have the selection of
seoIogist who shall receive such compen
sation as may be fixed by law.
This survey should be made to embrace
a chemical analysis of the different soil
and sub soils of the State, and simple
and intelligible classification and descrip
ton OF tine same, from which our farming
community may gather some easily com
pretended principles to guide them il
the cultivation of their land, so as to pre-
vent its impoverishment and increase it
productiveness.
COLONIAL RECORDS
The late Governor William I John
ston, in his annual message in January
1851, advised the selection and arrange
ment for publication of the large body o
original papers in the State Department
connected with our Colonial and Revolu
tionary history.
In accordance with his advice an &C
was passed, and during subsequent ad
ministrations supplementary acts wer,
passed which resulted eventually in tn,
publication of the invaluable repository