Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-01-11

|,
such is The humiliatiny fact.
IL was certainly most praisewor,by in tbs
General Assembly that originated il, 10 pros
Ject the plan providing for the education of
the poor: The portion OF the income of the
Literary fund applied TO their education tor
the year ending the goth OF Sep,ember. 1897.
amounted 10 SS4, III, SIS. This is now more
IMAM can he prudently applied 10 that single
onJeCt WI hat then ought TO be done with
The increasing revenue Of that fund. The
question, ] humbly submit, may be prompt.
and satisfactorily answered. Apply the
surPlusi0 the endvw meBts ofcommon schools
throughout the whole State, for the educa-
( ton Of the children OF the great body OF the
people, and oiall classes. These schools have
been very appropriately called the academ mics
and colleges "fthe people. BY endowing g.
promoting them, every citizen is provided in
ms neIghbourhood, or al his door, with a
school for the education of his cbildren-a
school where that class Of children NAV be
educated, Ia whom in a few years; the desti-
mes OF the country are 10 be committed.
MANY OF our most respectable citizens, 81
not few OF these who direct our public coun-
CHS, obtained their education, not within the
halls of college, but in schools of muci.
humber preIensions. Their means beinp
inadequate TO the expenses Of a college. thew
acquired at The common schools the elements
OF solid education, and by their suhseorcn,
well directed efforts, have nobly qualified
themselves for all the duties of public end
private lite. To me il seems oil impor,ant
that effective measures shold be taken to
place the system of common schools upon n
footing commensurate with the wants Of thu
public and The obligations of the government
and respectfully submit it 10 your en-.
lightened and friendly consideration.
a -
est, are our works of Internal Improvement,
as well on account of the large sums of mon
ey which we are expending in their coustrucS
ton, as tie great advantages which we ex-
pect 10 derive from them when completed
Those who achieved their country's indie
pendence, had no sooner rested from their
Iabors than they turned their attention 10 ma
ny important improvements, some Of which
at this late day, We are engaged in eXecut-
! ing.
| AS early as 1888 an act passed for impros
wing the navigation OF James River, and an.
other tor improving The Roanoke. In 1854
the James River company was incorporated.
aud the object declared 10 be, ",he CLEARING
Gnd extending the navigation from tide wa
Ter upwards To The highBst parts practicable
on the main branch" In the same yeur the
Potomac company WAS incorporated for i'm.
proving that river. Ia 1877 the act passed
Tor incorporating the Dismal Swamp Canal
Company, for cutting n canal 'from the wa.
ters OF Elizabeth River TO the waters of Pas.
quoIank in North Carolina' In The same
year an act passed for improving the rpo.
matioX, and in 1893, the Rappabanbock
company was incorporated" for opening and
clearing the nsvis alton of that river-so tina,
In len years plans were laid and conpaniei
were forming for improving oil the PRINCIPAL
eli a.
eastwardly from the mountains.
Ii will give pleasure, am very cure I'd
upper virginia, 10 see all these improvements
completed and the people Of that region ex-
pect, and have no reason To doubt. that low
er Virginia views " lh equal sa,istsctJon tbs
prospect OF seeing the upper country iuier-
.ected IN all directions with rail and Macad.
nmlzed roads, adapted TO their local situations
and The necessities OF their commerce.
! desired, and intended to have laid betora
! you, general view OF all the public works
! completed, and IN course Of completion,
and such as are in conIe mpiaion and recret
| That am not prepared TO make such com
munIcation. / venture TO offer some suc-
gestlons, which consider Of grea, impori-
ance, IN the further prosecution of this branch
OF our labors.
As member of the Board of Public
~ rms, nave diIehol R.u sufuCIPnt eXpe-
rience, 10 convince me that the organization
OF The Engineer Corps is very defective.
WI hen public Improvement is proposed tho
State Engineer is generally Called upon and
very properly, 10 examine and report upon
iis practicabiIity, and then, when the WORT
is about 10 be executed, his agency ceases AZ
The very time when his opinions and his ms.
! slstance would be most useful
The execution is committed 10 bDnds ovor
which The Engineer has no control, and in
this way very jnlle benefit is derived iron,
The superior abilities to which it was certain
Iy the intention Of the Legislature TO confde
The office.
The corps Of Engineers should exercise
general controlling influence over all The
works in which the Stale is interested. Thin
con be accomplished only by an entire new
organization.
Many unconncCted regulations have soc-
cesSlvciy been adopted, leaving the whole
system imperfect
would recommend rsmodelling of The
system upon plan Of hiuh the following
are The outlines. Tbe Board of Public
works onghi, as al present, 10 APPOINT n
PF'nclpai Engineer, " hose duties should be-
extended and made more efficient. He should
be authorised TO select his own assistants.
SUBJECT TO the approval of The Beard, and the
Board have power TO hx The salaries and COM
penSaion Of both principal auG assistants. IL
- impossible lbat The system can I've perfect
unless the Engineers ale made 10 be dement,
ent On Tue Board, aud from The attenIio.,
hn MI