The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-01-10

MA institution Tor Instruction a
Deaf and Dumb, at Pittsburg. At
the best, the State undertakes 10
provide for only very insignificant
proportion of our fellow citizens
stricken with these disabilities. II
Will scarcely occur Ia us that anv
consideration should weaken the
human impulses under which We
have hitherto lent aid to cherries
lives. Some thousands of dollars
were also appropriated TO purely
private hospitals, in which were no
state patients, in the different cities
OF the State-Pittsburg, Williams
port, Wilkesbarre, Scranton, York
and Harrisburg.
PUBLIC BOARDS.
Among the most important agen-
cies OF the State is the Board of Pub
he Charities. 1t is their duty at all
times 10 look into and examine the
condition Of all charitable, reforma-
tory, or correctional institutions
within the State. financially and
otherwise, to inquire and to exam
Inc into their methods of instruc-
uon. the government and manage
ment OF their inmates, the official
conduct of trustees, directors and
other officers and employees of the
same, the condition of the build
ings, grounds and other property
connected Herewith, and into an
other matters pertaining to their
useful and good management. They
are the eyes and ears of the people
who, themselves, really venture into
torbiddlng precincts or behind pris-
on bolts. These are very important
functions. They are to be perform
ed without pay. So far as is pos
sible with the means placed at their
dl>pusal, they have been done with
fuil measure OF diligence. thor
uushbe>s aud intelligence. This is
evidenced hy their reports. from
time 10 time, laid before YOU. At
tue last session of Congress an act
was passed levying a tax of fifty
cents on each person not a citizen Of
the United States, who shall come
from any foreign port to any port
within the United States. The
money thus collected constitutes a
fund, to be used under the direction
OF the Secretary of the Treasury, in
deiraylng the expenses of the relief
OF Immigrants arriving in distress,
and provides for the maintenance
of any lunatic, pauper or other per-
son unable TO take care of himself
without becoming public charge.
The act also provides that all for
eign convicts, except those charged
wite political offenses, shall, upon
be sent back to the nation
to which they belong. At my rec
ommendatIon on the State Board of
Charities was designated by the Sec
retary of the Treasury to execute
the provisions OF the act. Valuable
relief will come TO our prisons and
almshouses by an effective discharge
of this duty.
The State Board of Agriculture is
quietly doing a work which might
deservedly attract more public in
terest and attention. 1t is a medium
through which much information
to, the farmer, the fruit
grower, and the stock raiser can be
As there has been
occasion to say before, the papers
read before its meetings are worthy
Of permanent record, and some
means for wider and more appro-
pirate distribution should be devils
ed.
The agent appointed to execute
he act of May l, 1879, ito prevent
he spread of contagious or infec-
ious pleuro-pneumonia among cat
lie in this State" has effectually
the disease in the State,
md at much less expense than a
Ike work has been done, in any of
he neighboring States.
The Board of Commissioners of
he Second Geological Survey make
eport of their work and their esti-
mates for the futnre. The snfinish-
d survey is mainly confined to the
coal regions. Reasons
re assigned for the delay and in
.reased cost of this portion of the
work, and the letter press and maps
it. They say: But
uch work cannot be done within
he time ncr for the money named
n our former estimate. 1t will re-
Iulre at least three more years and
$4,000 Whether the legislature
viii he willing to expend that amount
Or the benefit of an interest, the
most important in the State-in
act, the most important of The kind
n the known world, and which has
ontributed to the State Treasury,
irectly and indirectly, millions of
ollars in taxation-is not for this
'oard to say. If not, the work will
e wound up rs well as possible,
eaving about two-thirds of the an
hracite region unsurveyed." When
is reflected that the commercial
esults of this survey have been to
ring into this State millions upon
billions Of money for investment in
nthracite and bituminous coal, iron
re and other minerals, and in rela-
I'd railroad and transportation en-
erprises. and that this effect came
-om confidence in the scientific ac-
uracy of the work of this board, |
-ust you will see reasons to provide
,r the completion of this great and
lteresting undertaking.
Thus, gentlemen, you have, at
ngle view. history, in its entirety,
{ the educational, penal, charitable
nd economical work carried on by
le State.
To this work was appropriated,
y the Legislature in 1881, for an
ual expenditure, sums as follows:
liza ID
mai oostleo -
laritable- -------.--------.-.--.-..- o'l'ost %
S,5l2,6I7 Is
With the exception of the Legis-
tive. Executive and judicial De-
and the interest on the
ublic debt. these institutions en-
-aee all the prjncipal objects upon