Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-09

government to enforce them, as in Prussia,
have produced excellent results. But in this
country, where the execution of the laws de-
pends so much on public opinion, there must
be more earnest and general public discus
sion of the subject, before we shall reap much
benefit from such legislation. The right OF
the State to have every child educated suffi-
Ciently to intelligently discharge his duties as
citizen, and shield him against the dangers
Of ignorance, is necessary to its own safety.
The child has the right to such an education.
The parent, indeed, has rights, but he has du-
ties also; and the enforcement of the duties
which every parent owes his child, cannot be
an invasion of his rights. Defensible, and
even important as is legal enforcement of
the parents duty to educate his child, yet such
statute can press only as a complement to
sound views, wrought into the popular mind
and heart. The most important work in this
direction at present must be done by earnest
personal appeals to parents, and by making
the school-room attractive to the child.
No subject claiming your attention as leg
islators, demands more thoughtful and earn
est consideration than that of our public
schools. A free government like ours can
exist only where the people are educated; !;
and there can be no general education with
out an effective common school system. To
impair the efficiency, or sap the foundations
OF this system, is to strike at the life of the
State and the Nation. More than this, it is
to overthrow an institution which is doing so
much to improve social life, promote private
virtue, comfort and thrift, and secure general
prosperity.
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC
ARTS.
The reports of the Trustees, President and
Treasurer of the College of Agriculture and
Mechanic Arts, present unmistakablc evil
dence of the prosperity and progress Of this
institution. Only five years have elapsed
since the college opened with twelve students;
and now one hundred names appear on the
roll of Undergraduates increase of twen-
ty-nine since the last report. The friends of
this institution have thus far been disappoint-
ed in the asonable expectation that private
donations would 60 far to provide the means
necessary for the erection of suitable build
ings. This would have left the State mainly
to make such appropriations as might have
been needed to supplement the annual income
OF the national endowment, (Which is but lit
tie more than $4,000 and maintain the in
sttution in the highest degree of efficiency.
Notw outstanding the State has already made
large appropriations for building purposes, as
well as smaller sums to meet the annual de-
feiences, yet the college is still greatly in
need of additional means in the same dlrec-
tons 1t is to be hoped that an institution so
well calculated ''to promote the liberal and
practical education of the industrial classes in
the several pursuits and professions of life"
will receive that popular sympathy and sup
port which it SO well deserves.
THE LAND DEPARTMENT.
The Land Agent reports that the affairs of
his office are being so rapidly closed up, that
within two years, at least, such inconsiderable
State interests as remain may be transferred to
the care of the Secretary of State and State
Treasurer, and the once important land de-
partment of the State government be discon-
tinued. This will necesstate legislation au
the Land Agent to select and re-
serve such portion of the 700 acres set
apart for settlement as may be suitable for
that purpose, and to sell the remainder; and
also to dispose of the 81. $50 acres of school
land and the timber on the ten townships re-
served in the grant to the European and North
American Railroad. This railroad grant in
cluded not far from 7O0,0 900 acres, valued at
more than 100000, and is nearly all still
held by the road, although mortgaged to Sc
cure the payment of their bonds. 1t is Of the
highest Importance to the State, that so much
of these lands as well as of other immense tracts
of land within the State now held by proprie-
tors, as is suitable for settlement, should be
placed within the reach of settlers on the most
favorable terms. 1t is too late now to correct
the wastetul policy under which the magnfi-
cent domain which the State possessed halfa
century since, has disappeared, yet much
may be done to remedy evils that arise from
the locking up of large tracts of settling lands
which would otherwise be improved.
Decisions favorable to the State have been
had in two of the cases where the European
and North American Railroad made certain
claims on the State; but the most important
case, involving claim on their part
of that corporation to nearly all the
lands held by the State, al
though argued last July, is still held by the
court for adyisement. Your attention is
called to several important recommendations
made by the Land Agent, and particularly to
the Importance Of taking measures to "quet'
certain claims of settlers which arose from
the settlement of our northeastern boundary.
SWEDISH IMMIGRATION.
The report of the Commissioner of Immi-
grafton presents detailed account ofthe in
ception and progress of the enterprise of
founding a Swedish colony in Aroostook
and announces that in September last all
State aid TO the Swedes ceased, and that the
colony of 600 persons is now self sustaining.
The colony owes the State balance Of SIG,
292, lG, on supplies, advance, d to them, which
is to be paid IN work On highways as wanted
There are at present no American citizens
and consequently no municipal organization
in New Sweden, and can be none for two
years, at the expiration of which time hun
dred and thirty three Swedes who have
already taken the necessary preliminary steps
will become American citizens. The Com
missioner is confident that the colony will
not only prosper, but also that 1t will attract
a still larger immigration from Sweden; and
the results fully justify the State expendi
ture now closed. He recommends that the
care of the public property in New Swe-
den, as well as of the road labor due the State,
be transferred to the Land Agent; and that
the act establishing the office of Commission
er of immigration, be repealed.
The FISHERY COMMISSION.
The annual report of the Commissioners of
Fisheries gives an interesting account of the
progress of their work, in connection with
that of United States Commissioner Baird, in
introducing and disseminating valuable species
of fish into the streams and lakes of this State.
The experiment of Restocking our fresh wa