Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-01-31

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
The Board OF Public Works beg leave to call the
attention of the legislature respectfully 10 the views
embraced in the following Report:
The delicate and multiiaritus duties devoved upon
this Board by recent legislation, and the eminent I'M
portsuce of the ia,erests committed 10 lis care require
of al this time, more extended and detailed re-
port than hiss heretofore been customary II Is highly
important, too the credit OF the State, In tue mar.
kets of the world. that authentic and official ex-
position of the character OF those public works In
VIII she is engaged, and upon Inc success and pro-
ductve of which her fnaoelal prosperity chiefly
cepen Is. should be given 10 the public
Probably no Stale in the Union has IN few years
radically changed its policy upon the subject OF in.
terna Improvement as Virginia. Inc Ievoluuen IN
public opinion has been almost complete. Scarcely a
section of our widely extended Commonwealth, IS
not awake the OF the sub
jeo;. The natural and deep rooted pIeladices which
were formerly generally entertained by the people
against taxation for any out the most necessary pub
lie purposes, rapidly giving way Not only are
The OF the people IN .e legislature o,
10 public works. but the people are also tne Vo'
ting directly for liberal subscriptions to tho same pur-
poses by counties cities and towns IN every quarter
Of the Commonwealth 1t will be gratifying to those
who are IN The habit of believing our State still siot-
tu and blind to her true interests upon this SUBJECT TO
know that Virginia contains now nearly seven nun
drec miles of completed railway, that she has nearly
hundred additional miles Ia progress and under
contract. together with some three huaareo OF Sill
additional miles protected and subscribed tor. Be-
sidss tnese railroads, she has abouto72 miles III length
OF the most caraciaus and substantially constructed
canals In the Union, and turnpike ROADS, large por-
ton of ihe o. the first order OF grade and construc
ton, measuring about 5000 miles in length; all Of
which last, if not financially remuneratve to the STATE
Treasury, are nsstmaby valuable to the agricultural
and indstri II interests of the State. In addition 10
the works already mentloned large subscriptions have
recently been mac e towards plank roads-a species OF
Improvement second in value and usefulness TO none
other-sorne of which are partially completed, and
considerable distances OF which in rapid logress
This entire system Of works, when completed as tar
as subscribed tor will have produced puolic lndeb-
edness OF onlv about twenty millions OF dollars,
large portion Of which cost, will have been produc
tive long before this aggregate will have
borrowed CAPITAL leaves the Commonwealth, not pros
trate in Reputation, after the examples OF 80 many
States thai have been her pioneers IN IKE undertake
ings, but with her bonds commanding hlgh premiums
in the markets at home and abroad, and with her
credit ranking avorably with that OF the wealthiest
The annexed table presents condensed view Of rail
progress in the State together with the interest
of the State in their capital stock: