Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-12-10

es,ern mart Of our State is entitled TO an improve
ment adequate to its own intrinsic Importance, arc
20 The superior advantages il possesses as the near
est route OF trade and travel from our sea board 10
Tennessee and to the States beyond 1t. Inc h'ch
r,opd Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad com
pany are making vigorous efforts TO complete theF
line between the RdPpahdHnock and Po'onioc'
which will add yeiy much TO their income, ana 10
he r,,blic accommodation. The north western
,urnnio Il an enterprise in every respect worthy Of
he Stais Ii stretches from the termination of the
Winchester and Potomac railroad 10 PdTkers6eTg
on the Ohio through country formerly almost IN
accessible but now increasing RAPIDLY ~ population
and wealth II is becoming productive work, end
i,s usefulness would be greatly Increased by being
eappea at some points With stone D ne James
River ard kanawha company are urging FORWARD
their great work. and the canal having been openea
nearly TO LgHchbarg, are warranted IN the am
tci,ation that ihe tolls will disembarrass the
company and contribute very much to AID the iu-
lure operetions Of the State. large amount o.
the scrip issued by this company has been converted
into bonds TO which the treasurer has ahixed the
guaranty of the State pursuant to he act OF 2Jd OF
March, 1899; and as Of thsse bonds have been
sold in the market under par, it e perhaps due 10
the company as well as the State. that The precise
extent OF the commonwealth liability should be
more clearly known.
/ would recommend thorough examination into
the afars of all our principal internal improvement
companies, particularly into ihcir hscai concerns.
Their relations 10 the State render it proper, ia my
estimation, that they should be looked into with
more precision than can generally be done through
their annual reports.
have visited our lunatic asyums, and was gra-
tiied 10 find them in good order and urder an adj
mirable system Of management IL IS tob regret
ted that so many of the unfortunate class for whose
benefit they are designed should be confined ~ JaIls
so long as TO Incur great expense 10 the State ana
to render their cure more doubtful when they are
admitted 20 the hospitals. The commonwealth
sustalus a considerable loss for want OF means 70
ensure collections from the estates OF unatcs IN the
hands of committees feel bound TO acknowledge
the gratitude which is dae the physicians and d.
rectors Of these institutions, for the assiduous at
teption and improved modes of treatment which
they are introducing.
Oar urinary schools nre undergoing gradual
Improvement, and their effects are beginning to be
extensively felt throughout the STATE This is one
of those operations of government which is so silent
and slow that the casual observer, or the impatient
philanthropist is scarcely sensible OF its advantages
II has bee n too much The fashion deride our com
mon schools without examining them The friend
less orphan aud the INDECENT child are not apt to
attract attention when surrounded by more con-
spicuous objects, and the benevolent designs OF
government which, to them, stands IN the relation
Of a parent can be fulfilled only by seeking them
out from obscurty and watching over their humble
progress Experience has shewn that the State
scholars. when properly attended, will compare ia
vourably with the OILERS, and the number OF them
who have attained to usefulness and high dlstinc-
lion has more than compensated their country for
the cost of fostering them. The system may be, and
should be rendered much more useful thanitlsi but
this cannot be done by complaints Otis real or ina
enea defects but by active and persevering Efforts
TO secure the appointment OF proper agents In It's
administration. The extent its usefulness depends
chiefly on the school commissioners and if we can
secure general and faithful execution of the laws
in their irue spirit, it is ncaIculable The public
are already greatly indebted to those commissioners
who have regarded their stations as they really are
as practically among the most important undei our
Government and who have devoted proper atten-
ton 10 service involving some trouble and no pc
cunary profit. think it important that tho coun-
~ courts should attend more strictly to these ap-
pointnants. and would recommend, that the pow
ere of school commissioners should be enlarged,
ne 10 authorize them to select annually, from pre-
scribed districts a certain number OF poor boys OF
extraordinary promise who shall receive more
complete education at the expense of the Literary
fund and who shall be required in turn to reimburse
the State by serving for limited time IN tho ca
paciiy of teachers in the primary schools. tmnk
il important also that the books for these schools
now in use are designed create Preludices in the
minds of our youth against our own Institutions.
II is desirable that correct information should be
possessed b, each OF he States to the Institutions
and laws of the others; and with a view TO this,
would suggest the propriety ot inviting more gen
eral interchange with the other States of those doc
uments which will make mutually better acquan-
ed The most ludcrous and extravagsnt ex gger-
atoms Of our CONDITION, and of the bad effects of our
!. l.,,a ha,,, ,fI-fof
other States by persons whose ignorance would
scarcely excuse such gross injustice from the press
Of the most distant nations Of the earth. In 3ll9
schools, we have now 26732 poor children, at an
average annual expense OF 81 "a, While IN 1877 on
w 1928 Were educated al an average OF 81 o.
which show That as the number of children deriving
the benefits OF the systsm has increased, the expense
Of their education has greatly diminished. he
district schools which have succeeded so well else
where aud are so admirably adapted to a dense
population. require large contributions and appro-
priations from the State. Where one dollar is ex-
pc uded on this plan itom the means of the State. il
has been found necessary TO raise several dollars
from private sources and local taxation. 1t never
theless furnishes example worthy Of our attentive
confederation and perhaps the best means OF secuf-
ing It's ultimate adoption will be the extension OF our
present plan until the necessity ct education IS more
generally felt, and private efforts shall cooperate
with the public means TO establish schools in every
nee hborhood which will be accessible to all
Our university and colleges continue to maintain
their high reputation for learning, and TO dispense
the blessings of scientific education only to our
own youth, but to those Of many other States.
/ he university and the great interests OF educa-
ton, however, have sustained very serious and
melancholy loss in the deaths Of Professors Bonny
castle and Davis The latter gentleman has met N
uui,nely and tragical end, which has deprived his
State Of a most useful and valued citizen, and soce-
~ Of a generous and valued friend Suitable
Engagements about to be made, it is believed, by
the visitors for conducting the regular exercises in
the classes left vacant by these sad dispenssons.
The number of our academies for the instruction
of both sexes is increasing and the standard of edu