Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-09-06
Tbe Board of Public works.

Under the new Constitution, the guardianship
of the works Of internal improvement, in which
the State IS interested, is placed in the hands oil
Board of Commissioners elected by the people
Under the old Constitution, the same interests
were confded to the superintendent oil certain
officers of government, who were constituted eT
eGIciO, the BOaTl of Public Works. The new system
has been in operation Just two months not long
enough, one would suppose, TO test its merts.-
Nevertheless, understand that that brIei exPe-
rience has made developments that go very lar to
attest the wisdom that dictated the change. At.
this we are reioiced; not because OF any partlcu-
LAT obiectionthut we had TO the old organization,
but simply because valuable Improvement mas
been effected in that important department ofthe
government machinery. For fear OF mlSappre-
henSon, we at once emphatcally diSavow all IN
tenton, direct or indirect, of rejecting upon the
gentlemen who composed tie Board OF Public
worSs previous 10 the first of July last On the
contrary, we beliye they are entitled 10 mucn
credit for the manner IN which they alSchaIgeu
their er p6feio duties. But they had LOT the lar
ger part of the year, fully enough TO attend to IN
their respective Offices, and, therefore, II could not
be expected that, with divided energies, then Ia
boFs would be successful as those Of others en-
tireIy piyested of such endorsements. Each OF
those officers had frequently TO be called away
from the laboTs Of his particular department no
matter how important or pressing, 10 attend 70
other duties pertaining to Slate interest," ProoaOIy
equally important and pressing; and, under sucn
circumstances, the wonder 10 us is that they uld
90 much az so we'll us results have demonstrated.
Besides, from the nature Of their peculiar position
and duties, as Governor, Auditor, Second AUDITOR
Treasurer and Register, with the exception oil
from three to six weeks IN the summer, they were
compelled 10 be in the city of Richmond; and,
thus deprived of the privilege OF personally IN
spectng the various public works under their con-
troll, all their action respecting those works. large
and small, was mainly and necessarily based upon
information derived from Others.
The Commissioners constituting the new Board
of Public Works are elected by the people, and
are not permitted to hold any other othce. Ihey
reside in the respective districts which they repre-
sent, and they compelled to hold thes meetings
in Richmond, at least once every month. IN
going to and from the several meetings oil the
Board, each CommiS Toner is Obliged 10 travel over
portion of the State traversed by our important
improvements, and, therefore, unless he be III me
condition of those who, "haylng eyes, see not
he must, personally, inspect some work, OF greater
OF less magnitude, monthly. In this way, they
bring with them, to each meeting, information
basel upOn a knowledge of what they have actu-
ally seen and heard and examined, anu are, conSe-
ouently, much better prepared for intelligent de-
liberation and useful action. The opportunities
for observation and inspection being so various
and abundant, and the lime or reflection aud con-
sultntion so ample, it would be strange indeed II
the new organization were not more efficient than
tile old. Nothing less than downright stupidity or
unwaTrantable negligence in the newly elected
commissioners could, under such circumstances,
make it less efficient. But, when we regard the
Character anu CdpdCly OuoluGSS udDlLS Vi
those gentlemen we are not surprised 10 learn that
they lave fully met the wishes and the expec-
taions Of those who suggested and urged this par
ticulaT reform that new impetus has been given
TO Virginia in pIovements; and that the whistle of
the steam engine is verify waking W. our noun
tains and making our villages glad. That the
present Board Of Public Works are possessed Of
large degree of energy, industry and promptneSs-
in fact, that they are just what they ought to be,
intelligent, business men-may be gathered from
the fact that, al their last meeting they went en-
tirely through large docket of important business;
and, that they are "a Lent" upon doing their duty
even at the expense of personal inconvenience
and sacrifice, may be inferred from the further fact
that, since their last adjournment, each has been
almost constantly travelling in the central or re-
more portions Of the Commonwealth, and one has
gone as far as the Ohio and Big Sandy rivers, in
ihe execution of orders passed at that meeting.
When they meet aguin, on Monday the 9th inst,
th will, doubtless, bring with them much new
and valuable information for their consideration,
hch will result, we sincerely trust, in the deEel-
opinent of still further permanent good and pros
peTity 10 the Old Dominion Richmond Enquirer.
MEDic.L.-The American Pharmaceutical Asso-