Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-04-23
For fbs Eu1uirer,

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Tie time will soon conc when the three Commissioners,
who arc 10 constitute Board of Public Works under The
ne,c dspenSlo be chosen by the voters OF The three
divisions into which The State is be laid off by the Le
usIature The Piedmont region Of the State will form
of these divisions and il is now high Time we were casting
about for suitable commissioner 10 represent us IN that
Board UPON which will be devOlved duties OF the graves
importance in the general direction and OF
all internal improvements Of the State or hereafter to
authorized Considering the present reckless demand Tor
internal improvements il cannot be doubted that upon the
character OF that Board depends in great measure the sal
walton of the State and the successful completion OF the
great works Of internal Improvement now, or 10 be UNDER
taken Since then duties involving the dearest interests oil
the Commonwealth 10 be committed TO these commits
sloners composing the Board Of Public Works, 1t be-
hooves ns 10 weigh well the qualifications oil each aspran
for that Important position Several persona have been re-
commented through your columns cminenty qualified 10
discharge the duties pertaining 10 this olhce II Is not
nv purpose To attack these gentlemen in way i'm
puyn their character for integrity, patotisn talents and
learning but simply to state what regard as an essential
qualification for this Office The asprant should combine
with sound Judgment grca practical skill and enrrgy-hc
should possess enlarged acquaintance win Inc pracca
details of works of and internal improvement he
should only know how they should be executed but also
how 10 execute them. In word, he ought TO DO prac
and surely many such may be found In the bosom
Of the State. =,
The successful and economical prosecution of public
works depend entirely upon these entrusted with their d.
recon and supervision. With Board combining energy
of character with thorough and Intimate knowledge OF Inc
practical details of works of nrt and internal improvements
il is obvious that those which now in process OF con.
srruc,ion or hereafter commenced will be prosecuted
with much greater Dispatch and with much less wasteul
expenditure of public money for the manifest reason
that they will be better understood and consequently better
and more economically managed Why is II that we near
the daily complaint, that although an enormous amount OF
money been appropriated by the Legislature and the
State involved in serious debt, the various public WORKS
advance towards completion with slow pacei Inc True
reason may be found in the fact that the public mind in
Virginia has abored under strange mistake IN supposne
thai men who are distinguished for legal political or era-
~ requirements alone TO be entrusted with mo public
interests with the supervision and control OF works oil
ar, and internal improvement: matters OF which they pos
scss little or no practical knowledge and which ought to be
committed those whose time and energies have been de-
voted particular department OF business An meal
cuubie OF public money has been wasted on many
of the public works of Virginia. simply because they were
not practically Understood by those who were entrusted
with their management.
These considerations have led to look about for some
one good and extensive acquaintance with the
various kinds Of public Improvements, derived from long
experience practical OPERATOR recommend him 10 the ia
yoabe notice of his fellow citizens OF those whose qua
lifcations have examined present stronger Claims
than Joseph c. Wright, Esq, of Albemarle.
MIR. Wright is well and favoraby known in many parts of
the State his energy Of character and excellence of udg
important improvements in the Stae and from such
ton has derived fund Of useful and practical know
ledge which, when employed in tho direction and supern
trndence works of internal improvement would soon be
felt and seen increased vgor with which those improve
mcnts would be throughout the Commonwealth
PIEDMONT.