Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-03
For the Register.

CpFuetl 1907 j
i,lMR. EDrToR .-The last report Of the
Board of Public works in Virginia, pre-;
sents a subject and IA series Of facts and
argument worthy the profound consideras
ton of every Yrginian. 1t is one of,the
abIest, boldest and most original docu-
ments that has ever animated from that
chairs Its authoris said to DO ex-Gov-
ernor Jno. B. Floyd !; and the paper be1
fore us add new honors to his already dis
tinguished abilities. ThatiY Virginia does
occupy a high and prominent position
among the States oil, the Union Is certain
" no longer a debatable question. Her
central and commanding position--her
vast mineral productions+-he fine rivers.
and her medicinal Springs, together with
her rich soil and salubrious climate, emf
nently entities her to occupy the place OF
one of the first States of the Union. The
report Celebrates with great ability the
cereal productions of the Ohio and Missis-
sippi Y ALLEY, and the greatlosses incurred.
by water transportation to- market. and
urge with great force the speedy compile.
ton of our connecting lines of railroads,
and proves beyond mathematical de-
monstration the immense wealth which by
their completion, must necessarily How.
into Virginia from the Great West. Af-
ter a most profound disquisition of the
various subjects treated of in the report,
the writer concludes by showing what he
conceives to have been the -onerous duties
of the present BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS,
and what must necessarily be the duties
of the netC, under its new organization.
N ~ of hn old a
back, treated that branch of their Office as
a secondary matter, and but little atten-
ton was paid to the subject discussed in
the report. But since the State has
shown Willingness to change her inter.
nal improvement policy, and to provide
for the developement of her vast natural
resources, the duties, labors and respon-
sibilities consequent on the new Board of
Public Works in Virginia, are not secon-
Diary in importance to any in either branch
of our State Government. s>H
The new Board, when organized, will
hold the future destiny of Virginia in its
hands The prosperity of every State
must depend in great measure, upon
its internal improvement policy and if a
false step is taken at the eide" Virgil
MAS future, " will be bound down in shall
lows and IN miSeries The sagest political
writers have reprobated the policy that
the present generation should make
debt, the payment OF which is to entail up
on the future Our present State debt is
but fraction Of t,eelre millions Of dollars,
and with this heavy debt hanging over
us, the State is 10 commence its nep policy
Of internal improvements. The work
must go on and the payment provided
for! To meet the exigences of the un-
dertaking, tho wisest and most practical
man in the State should be selected to
pilot the voyage and take charge of the
GREAT WORK. The debt to be incurred
must necessarily be equal to the under
taking, and the duty Of providing for its
payment must in great measure de-
volye upon the new Board of Public
Works. twill not be sufficient in the ex-
ccution of the work, for the Board TO
make debts and provide no means for
their timely payment. The dividends or
| per centum rising from monies invested
IN future, should be made to pay off the
internal improvement debt; and it should
be the study of the Board so to lay her
plans and direct her works as to provide
for their contingency. 1t will be a suici-
DIAL policy to involve the State in ruinous
debt, the present generation will be un-
able to pay {: and it would be radically
wrong to make debt to Visa upon our
Posterity. 1t may be argued BY some
that the legislature is corrective from
any mistaken policy of the Board of Pub
lie Works but where VIC consider the fact
that the Legislature is composed chiefly of
''eTPcr'e"ced youths and visionary abstrac.
t!onlsts, who are daily making PROPOSE
lions either unconstitutional or offering to
make neV laws that are stale upon the
statute book, and ready to rush head long
INTO the most extravagant schemes of the
widest mailman, it must be. admitted,
that that body, is very unsafe correc
tive. The question then arises as to
whom the people ought to select to CON
StlLute the New Board of Public Works {?
II VIII never do to cntrust so deep and
important matter to unskilful hands.
VIC must have experienced statesmen
men practical in their views, and Says
clous IN their movements. Three Com
missioners TO be elected by the people are
TO constitute the new Board of Public
Works in Virginia. To apportton the
State with view TO the wants and nc
cessllies OF !he improvements now 81 i,,o.
Stess. one OF the Commissioners should
DC chosen from West of the Allegheny.
=; ana to point to an individual whom we be.
lleVe competent to take charge of the
great work, we very cordially endorse the
recommendation of Col. JOSIAH D. VIII.
SON OF Harrison, published in the Reg
iSter' OF the 10th inst, and also in yery
aoIe communication from Parkersbure.
put LIS in the Richmond Enquirer 81 Of
Coz. WILsOS has for many years been