The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII, Part 92

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 438

USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII > Part 92

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Cast iron wheels have been entirely excluded from the passage cars on the road. The axles have all been procured from Boorston, the most celebrated works in the country, at the exorbitant price of $125 per ton to ensure the quality of the iron. They are more than 50 per cent. stronger than those used for the passage cars of the Liverpool and Manchester road, and for still greater security, the ends were all welded down before they were turned .- Yet with all these precautions it ap- pears by an examination of the broken ax'e, that a la- tent defect existed in it which caused the accident. There was a flaw in it leaving not more than three- eighths of the strength of the iron to sustain the whole weight, but as the defect was in the journal, it was ef- fectually concealed. This was the primary cause of the calamity. But the breaking of the axle would have been harmless as none of the passengers in the car re- ceived the slightest injury. It remains only to account for the injury to the other car.

It has been supposed that the car was thrown from the track and upset by running over the wheel of the broken car. This is entirely an error. The axle broke in the journal, outside the wheel, so that both wheels remained attached to the axle, which at one end main- tained its proper position, but at the other, having no- thing to sustain it, dropped into the receiver, so that the spokes an.2 the hub, which are of wood, were brought into collision with the iron on the frame, and nearly half of them splintered to pieces by the revolutions of the wheel. It has been this which was mistaken by the passengers for the smoke of the axle.

An agent is always stationed at the brake of the bag- gage car to keep a constant watch upon all the other cars, and to apply the brake, and instantly apprise the engineer if any accident occurs. For the first time since the line has been in operation, a spark had alighted on the baggage car, and ignited a bundle of cotton. The agent discovered this, and was in the act of extinguish- ing it, when he discovered the breaking of the axle. Before he could recover his station and apply the brake,

the car was thrown from the track, and so far over as to be beyond recovery. There is no doubt but that the impetus from the after cars caused the overthrow of this car. It is evident that it must have been projected forward by them, and thrown on the front end, from the fact that of the twenty-four passengers in at the time, those in the back apartment were uninjured.

This would have been effectually prevented by the application of the brake, but for the unfortunate mis- chance which drew the agent from his post at that crit- ical juncture. 'No blame appears reasonably to be attached to the agent, as the train was then running on a portion of the line where there is a double track, and perfectly straight for nearly six miles, without even a turn out to guard against.

These are facts and conclusions arrived at after the most careful examination of this painful subject. Whilst the committee deeply deplore the event, and sympa- thise with the unfortunate sufferers and their friends, they have to console themselves with the conviction, that the company cannot justly, be chargeable with the censure of the public. It is believed that in no similar en- terprise, greater care has been taken to protect the passengers from injury, and that their intentions have been frustrated by an extraordinary combination of cir- cumstances, not to have been forsaken or prevented by human foresight.

J. H. SLOAN, Sec'y.

MAUCH CHUNK, November 9, 1833.

100 TON BOAT .- In walking along the wharf the other day, we were much pleased with the noble ap- pearance of a large new Canal Boat, bearing the name of JOSIAH WHITE, of Easton, built and owned by Peter S. Michler, of that place. The boat, we understand, is intended exclusively for the Lehigh Canal, to ply be- tween Mauch Chunk and Easton, being about 163 feet wide and capable of carrying 100 tons. She left this place with her first load in fine style, two days ago .- Mauch Chunk Courier.

EXPEDITIOUS WORK. - In order to convey a just idea abroad, of the capacity of the Cast Iron Foundry at this place, and of the despatch with which the enterprising proprietor of the establishment, Mr. John Fatzinger, is enabled to make to order, castings of almost any dimen- sions which may be wanted, we notice with pleasure the following instance of the facility of its operations, which occurred a few days since:

We understand that in consequence of the breaking of a shaft of one of the Stationary . Engines on the Car- bondale Rail Road, which caused a material interrup- tion to the coal operations at that place, the machinest, Mr. McAlpin, after an unsuccessful trial to cast a new one there, the Cupola of their Foundry being too small for so heavy a casting, came to Wilkesbarre, where he found the same difficulty to prevent the accomplish- ment of his objects, He then proceeded to this place where he arrived in the afternoon. A pattern was com- menced about three o'clock, and the shaft, weighing upwards of half a ton, was cast by Mr. Fatzinger, and all finished early on the following day. It was then despatched for Carbondale by a team sent for that pur- pose by the Superintendent of the Lehigh Coal & Navi- gation Company .- Mauch Chunk Courier.

PRODUCTS OF THE SEASON .- Mr. Joseph Mifflin left at our office a few days since, a Beet which weighed 7 lbs. 3 qrs. and measured 20 inches in length, and the same .in circumference.

A Beet was shown us on Thursday, by Mr. Philip Gossler, which weighed 12} lbs. and measured 32 in- ches and a half in circumference.

A Radish was sent to us last week by Mr. Jeremiah Brown, which was two feet four inches in length .- Co. lumbian Spy.

HAZARD'S

DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

VOI .. XIII .- NO. 21. PHILADELPHIA, NOVEMBER 23, 1833. NO. 30S.

SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF LAFAYETTE COLLEGE.

OCTOBER 7, 1833.

In the world of morals, power without responsibility, would be anomalous. If its Creator has formed the material universe, in all the vastness of its extent and in all the minuteness of its details, subject to certain fixed laws; and if the obedience of the whole and of each part to those laws, agreeably to the divine will, bespeaks the divine wisdom, shall it not be thus also in tbe orders of intellectual existence? If a single particle of matter could be supposed, for a moment, to lie with- out the range of Almighty power-beyond the general order which God has established for the government of matter, could it be otherwise than that this particle, by its motion or its rest, should disturb that which lay near- est to it, and this the next, and thus the entire system should be thrown into confusion? And would not such a result give mournful evidence that perfect wisdom dwells not in the builder of the skies?

But if one lawless particle of matter might thus ar- raign the wisdom of the great Creator, how much more one lawless particle of mind? . And this especially, when we consider that mind is necessarily active, and, by reason of its social nature, necessarily operative up- on mind. Før aught then that we can see, there does exist in the physical world and in the moral, an uncre- ated necessity for every atom in both being subject to law. For every talent he possesses, man is necessarily accountable, and though he often forgets this truth, the law does not. It stills holds him to his duties.

Besides, from our ideas of moral accountability, we can scarcely separate the notion of time and season. Limitation is essential to probation. There must be a season-a period when the talent will be called for- when an account must be given of the manuer in which power shall have been exercised.

In the application of moral principle by human ar- rangement, the designation of these times and seasons is matter of conventional agreement. Accordingly our laws, which prescribe duty and invest with power, ge- nerally fix some limit of accountability, defining the time and manner; or if they do not, they reserve the right so to do, whenever occasion may call for its ex- ercise.

out every good quality : repress every evil disposition: fit them by such evolution of intellect and heart, for the high and responsible stations recently occupied by their illustrious sires, and send them forth well endowed to manage their paternal inheritance and minister unalloy- ed con-olation to their surviving parent. May we not call this a sacred trust? And shall the trustees of such a charge not feel a deep and solemn responsibility? And, although our charter names,not the day of our ac- count, but only reserves to the legislature the right of recalling the powers granted, yet is there not a manifest propriety in our presenting annually to the people, an account of our doings for the past and designs for the future? Can any thing but rigid and punctilious ac- countability secure public confidence? And was ever that confidence withheld, where the trust was impor- tant and its execution faithful? Therefore do we step forward in this report, to lay before the public a state- ment of our doings and designs. Let our trusteeship be inspected.

La Fayette College is designed to bring the higher branches of education within the reach of youth in the humbler walks of life, even where indigence has tra- velled :- To elevate the standard of common school in- struction .- To secure health to the student .- To pro- mote the feeling of honourable independence. - And, to cement the extremes of society together, and so promote the permanent well being of the happiest na- tion in the world.

As to the first of these objects, viz: opening the halls of science to those in the middle and lower walks of life; we propose to accomplish it, not by an agrarian law, not by a poor-rate system, not by lowering the standard of education, but simply by affording to the industrious and talented youth an opportunity by the labor of his hands, at some productive branch of business, to become the maker of his own fortune, and the promoter of his country's honor and prosperity. The time and force expended usually in play for need- ful exercise, thus becomes available for his partial sup- port. This thows open the door of competition in the learned professions to many who could not otherwise engage in literary pursuits and scientific labours,

Our success in this matter will be seen by a careful inspection of the appendix to this report. In the in- spection, let the reader, however, recollect that our very limited resources as to capital to supply work and shoproom, have prevented us from employing in many cases, the full term of three hours, the time allotted by our rules to labour. And this deficiency has had a re- flex operation upon the spirit of diligence. Some be- ing unemployed, through a necessity growing out of our poverty, has operated a bad influence upon others, so that this year we have met with difficulty in several instances, in bringing up the student to the rule of labour. The cause of this difficulty, we trust the public will enable us forever to remove, by furnish- ing the means of erecting shops sufficiently large for the accommodation of all. Meanwhile, to enable the pub- lic rightly to estimate the results of a fair trial of the system, we have added a column in the statistical table, shewing the amount actually earned; and another, what would have been earned by each student, provided lie

Now fellow citizens, we, "The Board of Trustees of La Fayette College," have a trust committed to our hand-a power delegated by the people of Pennsylva- nia. We desire to remember, that this power is not absolute-this trust is not irresponsible. Such an ano- maly our laws cannot endure, so long as moral virtue is the basis of our constitution. We desire to feel also, that this trust is not one of trivial concern. In the char- ter of our existence, we would hear this great common- wealth, as the voice of a tender widowed parent. deep- ly solicitous for the reputation, usefulness and blessed- ness of her beloved offspring, thus address us-Take these, my orphan boys, sons of n ble sires, though not born to princely fortunes-take them under your care: I constitute you their guardians: into your hands I commit the sacred trust of their physical, intellectual, moral and religious education. They possess, I trust. powers worth cultivating: develope these powers: draw | had worked the full period of three hours per day.

VOL. XII.

322

SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LA FAYETTE COLLEGE.

[NOVEMBER

From this table it appears that the whole amount charged within the year, for boarding and lodging, tui- tion and shop room, to fifty-two students, making an average of thirty five for the whole year; is $3825 37; that the whole amount actually earned and credited, is $926 01, or nearly one-fourth of the charge; and that had full opportunity been afforded and embraced of working the full term, even at the low rates of our present disadvantages, the amount earned would have been $1419 05, or nearly four-tenths of the whole charge.

2. As to elevating the standard of common school instruction, we propose to effect it by training teachers to that business as a profession, This is all important to our country and its free institutions. Virtue in the mass of the people, is the basis of our political system, intelligence and religion the basis of virtue. Let the foundations be destroyed, and the superstructure must fall. Let religion, intelligence and virtue pass away from the body of the people, and the walls of the tem- ple of our freedom, though cemented by the blood of our fathers, must crumble to the ground. But let com- mon schools disseminate the light of intelligence, and the love of virtue over the whole land, and the glorious structure will rise higher, in beauty and grandeur, commanding the admiration and love of all the friends of freedom, and exciting the envy and terror of its foes.

Now it is universally conceded that our common schools are not in a prosperous and profitable condition. Incompetent teachers, very frequently, receive inade- quate support; and the inadequacy of the support se- cures and perpetuates the incompetency of the teachers. The labourer is rewarded, small as is the reward, be- yond the value of his labour, and the employers are not qualified to detect the imposition. And how is this crying evil to be remedied? Not surely by any general school system, unless it embrace as a fundamental object, the training of teachers But let teachers be well edu- cated, that is, let them be taught thoroughly the branches which they will be called upon to teach, and, which is the principal thing, the art of communicating instruction and governing a school; and let their service be secured permanently in that business, by adequate pay, (say from the State School Fund for a time, ) and then, but not we apprehend until then, will the virtue and intelligence of the community sustain a general sys- tem-then and not until then, will the means be procur. ed of securing all that is dear to us as freemen, and as Pennsylvanians.

3. The preservation of health. All experience has shewn the correctness of the adage, " Much study is a weariness to the flesh." Health is often sacrificed at the altar of science. 'To be pale-faced, emaciated and feeble, is an important item in a student's college cre- dentials. And under this absurd idea, many a noble youth has been educated at colleges, just to graduate and die. Or, if death should not prove to be the seal of his diploma, he draws out a miserable existence, suffering sometimes in a single day more than the pains of mere animal death. The cholera, fearful a scourge as it is, brings not in its train so large and fearful a ca- talogue of miseries as arc experienced by that numerous and unhappy class, who have sold health for learning.

Besides, the actual loss of money to the community, incurred by the premature death of its educated men, is an immense tax. Each young man who dies at the thresh- hold of professional life, must have expended something like $2,000 on his education. The statisticsare not collect- ed, but the number in the United States probably ex- Agricultural Department. ceeds one hundred per year. That is, we throw away, besides the life which cannot be valued, $200,000 a year in educating men for the grave. Now the system we advocate largely forestalls this evil. Another year's experience confirms our confidence in the sovereign ef- ficiency of this prophylatic remedy. Regular, daily, systematic exercise secures health of body, and by neces- sity health of mind. Sedentary disease is unknown in | trunks, and other articles manufactured,

our institution; unless indeed it be. imported, and ever then it is neither infectious nor contagious.

4. To promote a feeling of honorable independence: It is obvious that the provisions of our laws, relative to "the education of the poor gratis," operate a most un. happy influence upon this feeling. It wounds some- thing which we are reluctant to denominate pride. Let this feeling be often wounded, and it will die; and with it will die the independence of our country. For if the people lose individually that high sense of honor, which prompts to vigorous effort for self support and self ed- ucation-if they learn to lean on resources entirely fo- reign to themselves, they must soon lose it in a national point of view and become willing to lean on a foreign arm. But if a youth prosecuting study, acquires also a trade, by which, if providentially called to it, as was the great Apostle to the Gentiles, hecan maintain him- self; and if he at the same time, contributes materially to his own maintenance, it is evident he must acquire a consolidation-a solidity of character which must ren- der him a valuable member of society.

5. With these views of the bearings of our plan, it is. easy to see how it must operate in cementing the ex- tremes of society together. The sons of the indigent and of the wealthy meet together in the duties of the field, the garden and the shop, and also in the labors of the study, and the recitation rooms. There is a perfect equality. All labor, and all study. They learn to es- teem and love each other. They form intimacies which pass down through life, with recollections, sweet "as the memory of joys that are past." They meet, per- haps after years of separation, in the higher fields of professional labor; in the halls of legislation, or the sa- cred assembly.

Another way in which this influence is operated, is, by the school teacher's acquiring his professional at- tainments, in the college classes; and forming his ac- quaintances and attachments there. He thus constitutes a connecting link between the School and College, and promotes the interests of both, whilst he furnishes pu- pils for the one and teachers for the other.

Still a third mode in which this system tends to union is by breaking down the aristocratical notion that man- ual labor is inconsistent with high literary attainment and refinement of manners. The feeling undoubtedly has existed, and to some extent does it now exist, that to be able to handle the farmer's implements or the mecha- nic's tools, is derogatory to professional dignity and de- grading to classic purity. Nor is this feeling confined to those who have been immured within the walls of a college. Many engaged in mechanical pursuits, enter- tain the same opinion; and accordingly regard the vota- ries of learning and science with feelings of envy and jealousy. Now there can hardly be conceived a more effectual method of suppressing such feelings, than the one we propose. Let literary men pursue this rational mode of exercise for the security of health, and they will at the same time create a fraternal feeling in the minds of those whose occupations they thus practically honor, and break down the barriers which must other- wise exist to the prejudice of the social body.

How all these things have their influence in promot- ing the lasting interests of the country, we need not delay to point out. Let this course be pursued, and the aristocracy of money and learning can never become dangerous, for it never can be hereditary and exclusive, where the high road to learning and to wealth lies open to all.

For information on this subject, we refer to the sta- tistics in the Appendix.

In the Mechanical Department we have recently pro- cured a horse power machine to facilitate sawing. We have also commenced the manufacture of Ploughs on an improved plan: for the number we refer to the Ap- pendix; as also for the number and description of boxes,

323

INGRAHAM'S ADDRESS BEFORE THE LAW ACADEMY.

1833. ]

Permanent Location.

In our first Annual Report, we alluded to the neces- sity of a permanent endowment, in order to a fair expo. sition of the system and its resources. We mentioned also that a contract had been entered into for land. We have now the pleasure to record that this contract has been confirmed and extended so as to secure eleven acres in an elevated and very beautiful situation. For the payment of the purchase money and the erection of the proper buildings, application was made to the Legislature during its last session. A bill passed the Senate prosperously, appropriating $5,000, and $1,000 a year for six years. It was diminished in amount and finally lost in the house by a majority of six votes. By this very unexpected result, the Board were thrown upon the only remaining resource, and one which never fails in a good cause-the public spirit of the communi- ty. Subscriptions were opened in Easton, and in a few days, $2,935 were subscribed. Encouraged by this token of public favor, the Board could not hesitate to move onward. Contracts were made for materials and work. The first spadefull of earth was removed from the site on the 4th day of June; the first stone was laid on the 27th day of June, and the corner stone with appropriate ceremonies, on the 4th day of July. The building is 112 feet by 44, with a recess of 17 by 49 feet. The basement, the floor of which is two and a half feet below the surface of the exterior earth, is of limestone, and hammered for pointing; the first and second stories are of the same stone, rough laid, and the third story of brick. The three stories above the base- ment are intended to be plastered in imitation of gra- nite, The entire structure, besides the entries, will afford two rooms 34 by 46 feet; two 19 by 34 feet; two 22 by 34 feet; fifty 15} by 17 feet, and two a little larger-in all sixty. The roof frame which is already raised, will be covered with slate, and the whole crown- ed with a modest but tasteful dome and spire.

Whilst the work has been thus rapidly progressing, the subscriptions have also been advanced in this vicini- ty and in Philadelphia, to the amount of nearly $5,000. 'The Board had cherished the purpose of publishing in an appendix to this report, as the most satisfactory mode of accounting to the public for the funds entrusted to their care, an entire list of their benefactors and their benefactions. But as several of the sums promised are not paid, and as many-others are confidently expected, we have finally concluded not now to present an ac- count, which must necessarily be very imperfect; but to defer a full and perfect statement of all our receipts and expenditures until our third annual report shall appear.

Our prospects for the future are not discouraging, although we have before us a heavy expenditure, with slender means at command. The public, however, whom we serve, are rich, and a great public object can- not fail for want of money. Permit us then to offer our drafts at the counter of public opinion. Thus stands the account: Besides the college edifice, we need a shop and a barn; we have the rent of the pre- mises now occupied to pay, and the lands purchased to enclose in good fences; and we must have the nucleus of a library and apparatus. Estimates of cost:

College building and land, $12,000

Shop,

2,000

Barn,

1,000

Rent and fencing, 1,000

Library and apparatus. 4,000

$20,000

Thus it appears that an expenditure of $20,000 will afford opportunity to one hundred young men of acquir- ing a good collegiate education and of carrying into the active duties of life such bodily health and productive habits as cannot fail to render them highly profitable to

the best interests of their country. And these one hundred young men may earn on an average, each $40 per annum. This ratio is less than has ever been allow- ed in this institution. It can undoubtedly be increas- ed as the facilities for work are perfected. But even at this, the product is $4,000 per annum; that is twenty per cent. on the entire expenditure.

Now this, as we have said, is clear gain to the stu- dents, that is, to the community-for the community must educate its own sons that serve it. And, counting the first cost of the establishment as an investment of five per cent, the product of labor saved, operating as a sinking fund, will annihilate the debt in less than six years.

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The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII, Part 92

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1828 Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ; Number of Pages: 438

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 438