The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-01-14

properties adjoining the Capiio
grounds, with a view 70 their exten
sion. recommend the removal Of ;bt
arsenal situate thereon, and that q;
appropriation be made 10 purchase
site and erect an arsenal In some ost,
or locality The service requires /
building Of this kind, and the cost O
the repair of the present arscua
would probably bc equal 10 the ex
peDac Of erecting new one. while
the beauty and symmetry Of the pub.
lie park viii be greatly enhanced bf
the removal Of all buldings f..h
that portion OF the grounds.
POWDER MAGAZINE
Your attention IS particularly d.
rected to that part oflhe report oftbC
Adjutaut General which refers io tbe
sale Of the Old and purchase or uew
site for a powder magazine in The
lily 0l Phaadeipbia, with a sugges
tiou that the new site be sold, on ac-
count Ofits unitness for the special use
designed, and the additional reason
that to build Il new magazine would
subject the State 10 an expense Of at
least $25.00O. The parties storing
powder, under angproper restrictions
by the city authorities OF Philadcl-
phia, will doubtless gladly avail them
selves Of the privilege 10 erect store
houses or magazines Of their own.
and the State will thus be relieved Of
a charge which may hereafter De the
cause Of the destruction of property
and a consequent claim for damages.
LAND DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Surveyor Gencr-
al gives detailed and very satislac-
tory exhibit Of the business and con
dition Of his department. Attention
is called 10 the valuable sugge lions
made in reference to granting war
rants to survey lands and the cHlarg-
ment Of the right ofpre-empti5a. both
being shown by experience to De nee
cssary to The better protection Of those
holding titles from the Common
wealth, and as the subject is Of inn
p0rtance to q large class Of our peo-
pie, ! earnestly commend the same to
your careful consideration.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
In my inaugural address mention
was made Of the rich deposits Of
found IN every part o' the
Commonwealth. and a. suggestion
offered that it should b. our earnest
aim TO detcrmin the extent Of these
deposits and make them available and
productive. 70 provide the highest
possible knowledge Of the character
and location Of oar valuable minerals,
Wc shoI.d .ir-t institute a thorough
geographical survey under she super
vision Of gentlemen Whose scientific
atja.umruts VIII be q sufficient uar-
rant that The work VIII br properly
performed. 70 aliuiu ih;- desirable
eud. therefore. earnestly rcce5m-
e. geological survey Of the
: S.ats be made uudef ihe -upcr.u.esd-
ence IF commission 90 be- composed
Of ten scientific orpfacjic4i gentlemen
representing different interests aaI
localities. who understand The uccc--
sites for this survey agd under whose
direction it >bai' hc conducted. the
commission TO serve ggatuij.u-lv AMI
TO have the selection of "a ge5.1gi~,
who shall receive such compensation
as may DE fixed by law.
This survey should bemade to en-
brace chemical analysis Of The dif-
fercnt soils and sub-sOiis Of the State,
and simple and intelligent cIassi.i-
cation and description Of the same.
from which our farming community
may gather some easily comprehend-
ed principles to guide them in the
Of their land and -, pre-
vent its impJrcci-hment aad increase
Is pcodactivcness.
COLONIAL RECORDS.
The late Governor William T.
Johnston, in his annual message IN
January, 1851, advised the selection
lnd arrangement; for publication Of
be large body Of original papers in
he State Department connected with
Jur Colonial and Revolutionary histJ-
y.
In accordance with his advice an
.ct was passed, and during subsc-
lUent administrations supplementary
icis were passed which resulted even
ually in the publication of the iuyalu-
ible repository of Pennsylvania his
ory known a. the Colonial records"
md Pennsylvania Archives The
minutes oftne Board Of War and Navy
Board could not attLaJ date be found.
md have only been recovered since
he commencement OF my official
erm. They cover au Important Pc
.iod uf car Revolutionary history.
lnd are accompanied by vouchers a.d
correspondence; including mu>tcrrolls
# soldiers and the names of officers.
marines and vessels ofthe Pcnn-ylva-
lia Colonial navy.
Is these minutes aad CccJmpauy-
ng documents are valuable in an
historical point Of view. and The +
colonial Records and Archives i'm
.ompIcte withpgt them. | respectfully +.
all the attention q. the Assembly, to +
be propr'cty Of publishing and pre-
crying them
AMERICAN STEAMSHIP Co'iPANI. /
The American Steams ip C,maa-.
y, an enterprise in which our c1m-
lercjal and Industrial Interests are
o largely concerned. may now 6c
oasIdeFed an assured success. The
eautifGl and capacious steamers IF.
he company have been making tie
assage of Tie ocean IN the same time
$ those of the old and established
mes, and ,he number of passengers /
nd the freight carried are steadily
II The increase PL..adriphiai IS now
a drectcommJalcation with Europe.
lrgFsh the ni"l.unofa q iino uf sp.gn-
ID steamers ui her owu. and this
me new impulse VIII be given 70
er commence that will Lc frit ia cv-
~ channel Of trade throughout he
tate
pABOOSS.