Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-01-21

vened,to the enormous amount of $1079;
943 79a. And yet those same lands wei
recently assessed at the sum of SIT 1854
STA 90 showing aninc1ease in their value dl
ring the last twelve years of SIT ,26O, ,521, 81:
This remarkable and gratifying chang
in the value of these lands cannot be al
tributed, to any great eXtent,to benefits re
sulting from works of internal improve
ment; for thus far these Improvements hav
been chiefly confined to other sections c
the state. And IN vain will we look for
solution of this problem, unless we remem
Der that for several years past, the enter
prising citizens of this section of the Stat
have been devoting themselves with com
mendable zeal to the subject of agriculture
improvement; and by a proper application
of compost, mari and other manures, AM
the use of other means which knowledge
of this branch of education has placed a
their command, they have redeemed AM
made productive and valuable, lands here
tofore worn out by an improper mode o
cultivation and consequently abandoned by
the farmer as worthless and unfit for agri
cultural purposes.
The propriety of governmental action or
this subject has at different periods forcet
itself npon the attention of your predeces-
sors, but no general system has at any time
been devised for its promotion. In the ses
sion of 1889 and 40 'Board of Agricul
ture' was established, which failed OF sue
cess in consequence Of the fact that in ;
mistaken spirit of economy no means were
supplied to oefray its expenses. At the
last session of the General Assembly an ac
was passed authorizing the appo n men
of an an Agricultural commissioner ane
chemist, and assigning to hi n duties Of +;
most important and interesting character
From this, much practical benefit was an
ticipated by the friends of the measure
But the Legislature adjourned without c
lectirg a commissioner, and no other mode
was provided for his appointment. 1t is
known that the labors of your present ses
sion will be complicated and arduous; if
therefore, 1t should..be found improbable t'
devise and perfect any more general ant
permanent scheme for the advancement o
agricultural science, | would respectfully
recommend the election Of an agriculture
commissioner in pursuance of the act above
referred to, and suggest the propriety Of a
commissioner to establish agricultural soci
eties in such counties as he may visit il
the discharge Of his duties.
The subject Of primary and free schools
has for many years, more or less. occupied
the attention of the Legislature yet tht
practical operation of the present system
shows that it is inefficient and radically de
fective. These defects have been so fire.
quently pointed out, that it is unnecessary
to reterate them here but, in view OF tht
additional revenue that will accrue to the
educational fund under provision Of the
new constitution, it is believed that new
energy might be impaired to this branch O
our State policy, without detrlment to any
other interest. beg leave, therefore, tc
call your attention to this subject and asl
for il that consideration Its importance de
mands.
twill doubtless be gratifying to you t.
learn that the higher schools and college
through out the commonwealth are in
prosperous and improving condition.
transmit herewith the annual reports o
the rector and visitors of the University
and of the board Of visitors Of the Virgini
Military Institute, which represent thes
institutions to be in very hourisbing con
dision, and ask for them your respectful
consideration. Provision has heretofore
been made for the maintenance and edu.
cation, in each of these institutions, of on
Young man from each senatorial district il
the Slate. The number of districts havin!
been increased, it might be well to consid
er whether provision should not be made
for the accommodation, and the necessary
means provided for the support of proper
tionable increase in the number thus to b.
educated; and beg leave to call your EARL
est attention to the subject.
The annual reports of the board of visi
tors of the Deaf, Dumb and Bind lnstitu
ton, of the Eastern s. Western Lunatl
Asylums, ,& of the adjutant general, are here
withs ubmitted for your favorable notice.
The Bank returns herewith communica
ted exhibit a sound and healthy condition
of these institutions.
The annual report on the Penitcniary ex
hibits the manufacturing operations as prot
itabe to the State. The balance Cd manu-
featuring account was Sc, 076 n, and aftel
deducting the commissions Of the agent ant
expenses of the store, ($3,676 49, the NET
Balance was S2,399 81. The profits, how
ever, have fallen of, and the agent was abl'
only to pay $4,000 into the treasury. Tht
diminutior ofproft within the last two years
is attrbated to the changes made in th'
criminal law in 184S. Previous to the re
visal of that year persons were not oontlne'
in the pemtentiary for less than three years
and were consequently able to make thel
labor useful to the establishment. Unde
the new law 25 per cent. of the prisoners
are sentenced for one year, 80 per cent TO
less than three. The average number re
ceived in the last five years, under torme
laws, was Al annually, while under the
present code the number has run pto 9l
and the actual average to 90, being an IN
crease of thirty per cent. in three years.
1t is believed by the superintendent, from
these facts, that crime is increasing unde
the existing laws, that short imprisonment
are less effective, and the labor of the pris
oners less profitable. Examples are glver
of the increase of Imprisonment from 19l;
to 1928 of 100 per cent, while similar pun
ishments prevailed, and afterwards, wher
the policy was changed, imprisonments dl
minished Al per cent. up to 1847. 1t ap
pears, also, that in five and half years
from 1916 to 1921, the clear loss OIL man
ufacturing account amounted to $S,S43 81
per annum, while in five years. from 1884,
to 1849, the clear gain was $3.50 "A. Ii
the last two years under the new law, the