Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-10-16

preservation of virtue and prevention OF
vice, and in promoting, in many ways,
the general peace, prosperity and happi-
ness of the people; and since it is uni
versally conceded that, in order to be Ell
fectual, it must be general among the
people, and be disseminated among all
classes by the most efficient agency for
that purpose-our free common schools
and that to perfect the system of educa-
tion the higher institutions of learning
are also indispensable, all tending mutu-
ally to sustain and support each other ;
that all are of public interest and con-
cern, and to be cared for accordingly by
appropriate legislation. On this subject
Board of Education may be regarded
as part of the settled policy of the
State. 1t has done much to further the
cause of education by arousing more
general interest on the subject, and 9TH
erwise.
lam not aware that any further gen.
eral legislation is necessary, or called
for, in connection with the operations OF
the Board of Education if SO, it will,
probably, be suggested in their report, to
which / have not had access, and will,
without doubt, receive such considera-
tion ON your part as it deserves.
Notwithstanding the commendable
liberality exhibited by the people of the
state in the support of schools, in my
view we are deficient in one of the best,
and which, ultimately, might be made
one of the most economical agencies OF
education that is, public town libraries
accessible to all. In an economical view
: an expenditure for such purposes is not,
, like most expenditures for educational
} purposes, consumed by the use, and to
be repeated annually, but it is perma-
nent and serviceable for succession OF
generations. 1t would furnish means Of
intellectual enjoyment in families, and
thereby make home more attractive.
The tendency of such well.selected Ii
brary, circulating among the youth OF
the town, would be to direct the tastes
and habits of the young to substantial
solid and useful reading, and enable
them to treasure up knowledge valuable
in after life. 1t would furnish class Of
reading consisting more of fact and les:
of fiction, and productive of a higher
5 moral and intellectual culture than much
2 of the reading that now attracts the
attention of the young, which dissipatei
4 rather than cultivates and improves thu
g mind. The gradual accumulation 0
II such library in town would scarcely b,
felt by the inhabitants, except by it
wholesome influence and lasting benefit
= : to the old as well as the young. / thinl
it is to be regretted that towns do no
avail themselves of the enabling act au
thorizing them to establish such libraries
8 Whether any further legislation on thi
5 subject is advisable at this time sub
y nit for your deliberate consideration.
j: Irejoice to see that the interest of az
2 riculture, which has always been regard
4 ed as second to none in the state; an in
! terest intimately identified with the pros
perlty of the state, and which must, a
least for long time to come, be tn
business and employment of the create
portion of our people, is enlisting increas
Z ed interest and attention, not only anon
the people, but on the part of the Legis
lature. Our state is also rich in minera
wealth yet to be developed, and in waite
power, affording abundant facilities fo
10 manufacturing purposes, not yet utilized
= These interests have pot been and shoul
not be overlooked. The Board of Agri
culture, Manufactures and Mining, re
Gently established by the Legislature,
So is hoped will do much by the applies
5 ton of science to practical experience
D. and by other means to promote and dt
;: velop these important industrial interest
and in this l trust the Board will
9s aided by all just and proper Legislation
90 refer you to the reyort of the Tru
tees of the Reform School, and to th
report of the Superintendent, for the hi
tory and operations of the school for th
W past two years, and for information {
90 to its present condition. 1t is evider
As from these reports, and from other source
of information, that the school is in
prosperous condition, and that under
90 excellent management, it is fully answe
= ing the purpose of its creation as T
% formatory institution, and as an efiecti'
. agency in the police of the state. 1t
We stated in the report of the trustees tn
since the establishment of the schoc
several boys have been sent there co
oo yicted of minor and often trihing offenst
la that are so feeble minded and idiotic
of to be, in their opinion, incapable of col
of mitting crime, and incapable of recei
in ing benefit by continuing there; al
Il ,h.t ao tba tyusfaes have no power