Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-04-13
For the Register.
Commissioaer OF the Board of Public
Works.


4 Mn. EDlroR:-Allow me the privilege OF
your columns to express my qualification
at finding among the names brought for
ward for Commissioner of the Board OF
Public Works in different parts of the Sd
district, that of John Bruce, Esq. of
Winchester Mr. B. has been called up
on by gentlemen residing on both sides of
THE valley, and more numerously by citi-
zens of the Valley itself. who best know
him.. He has not announced himself as a
candidate. preferring, presume. to leave
the selection TO the free decision of the
Democratic Convention, which is to meet
on the 28th inst.-butI understand lie will
accept the nomination if offered to him
and /, a democratic voter of the North
west speak for many. when say that a
better nominee could not be found.
1t is unnecessary TO urge that the Com
missioner ought to be a Democrat. staunch
and uudoubled. That point the Democ-
racy have already settled. There is no
steadier Democrat in the Tenth Legion, or
the old Tenth District than Mr.. Bruce
In the latter, his devotion to. and activity
in behalf of Republican principles are a
sort of proverb. and he has had a large
share in the increase of our strength.
which has lately turned every Wing coun-
ty in that quarter to the true faith, but
one.
Suffice it to remark that it was he who
first offered the name OF Gov. johnson,
in the Staunton Convention of 1851. He
is working-man of the party, no beggar
for advancement, and has always here
tofore declined nomination, accept as a
forlorn hope in time of party difficulty.
But his politics are the least of his qua
liications. For energy. business tact and
experience, do not know his superior
The Internal improvement system of the
State and the Union. has been his study
for more than twenty years, and he was
for many years practically connected with
it, He may with propriety be termed the |
Father ofthe Railroad system in Western !
Virginia, having been the main protector |
and supporter of the first Railroad (the
Winchester and Potomac) ever built
west of the Blue Ridge. At that time.
twenty-three years ago. the railroad was
almost as unknown and untried novel
ty as Erricson's Engine now. The Bal
iinore and Ohio Railroad was finished
but twelve miles, and was an object of
curiosity to visitors from all parts of the
Union. The daring and perseverance re-
quired under such circumstances for I'M
dertaking, and undertaking successfully.
the introduction of the iron horse beyond
the mountains may be conceived. 1t was
done, however, and difficulties not often
met now. in railroads. were grappled with.
and the road spoken of the famous rail
road. rs it has been called. its business
principally in the transportation
OF produce.) constructed, and for ten
years conducted under the presid. ncy of
Mr.. Bruce. He has always been promi-
nent in the support Of Improvements "
ing within :he scope OF his influe nee. and
has just succeeded. l learn. by his efforts
at Richmond. in conjunction with able re-
procuring, in the teeth
of extraordinary difficulties. not only a
charter. but an appropriation. for a rail
road passing by Winchester to the Coal
Mines of the Upper Potomac and the
North west-of the great project of join
ing the Ohio by direct railroad with the
seaports of Virginia. and the Federal and
Stale Capitals. he is one of the earliest
and most unwavering friends.
have described above in my hum
BILE judgment the very man we want.
A NORTH WESTERN VOTER.