Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-09-06
.e.ne by the general government.
,Tur BOARD OF PUBLIC WORK:

Under the Constitution, the guardianship oil the
works Internal Improvement, In which the State is IN
teesed is placed in The hands OF Board OF Comnsslon
ers eIecled by the people Under The old CONSTITUTIONS the
same Interests conded the superintendent OF Ger.
tan officers Of government constituted oco
the Board nf Public Works The new system has been IN
operation Just months, long enough, one would
suppose 10 test its merits Nevertheless understand
that that brief experience made developments that
very far The wisdom that dictated the change Al
this Joced not because o any PARTICULAR objection
that we The old organization, but simply because
valuable improvement has been effected in that important de-
partment OF The machinery. For fear of mis-
apprehension emphacaly disavow all ntenllon
direct and indirect of rejecting upon The gentlemen who
c0mposed the Board of Public Works previous to the rs,
of July last On the contrary we believe they are entitled
10 much credit for the manner In which they discharged
their &C oco duties But they had for the urger pnrl OF
the year. fully enough attend TO in their respective Offices
and therefore, could be expected that with divided
energies their abs would he successful those of others
entirely Invested such elnba Each OF those
officers hud fr,quenlIy to be called away from the
labors Of his particular department, matter how
important pressing attend other duties pettaiuing
10 State interest," probably equally important and press
ng and under such circumstances the wonder 10 us s
that they did much and well results have demon.
sa,ed Bsdcs from the nature of their peculiar position
and duties Governor Treasurer, AUDITOR Second Audi
Tor and Register with the exception OF from three to
weeks in the they compelled TO be in the city
Of Richmond and deprived Of The privilege Of person.
ally inspecting The various public works under their cono
all their respecting those works. large aud small
mainly and necessarily based upon nIuma ton derived from
others.
The Commissioners constituting the new Board of Public
Works elected by the people, and are not permitted TO
hold auy other office They reside IN tho respective dis
trcls which they represent and they compelled TO hold
their meetings in Richmond, least every month";
Ia goi and from the several meetings OF Tho Board each
Commss is obliged 10 travel portion OF the
State rayersed by important improvements and, there
FORE uness he be in the condition of those who "harng
eyes, NOT he mus personally, inspect work, of
greater less magnitude monthly Ia this way, they bring
with then euch meeting, information based upon
knowledge Of what they have actually AID heard aud
examined aud ure consequently much better prepared for
n,eigen, deberation and useful action The
for observation inspection being various and
dant, and the time for reflection and consultation ample
would be strange indeed if the organ. lion
efficient than the old Nothing less than downright
stupidity unwurruntube negligence la the newly elected
commissioners could under such circumstances make
less efficient. But, when regard The character
aud capacity aud business habits OF those gentle.
men, surprised TO learn that they have
tuiy met the wishes and the expectations oil those
who suggested and urged this particular reform; that
impetus has been given 10 Virginia improvements;
and that the whistle the engine is verify waking
up mountains and making villages glad nut the
present. Board Of Public Works possessed large de-
gee energy industry aud prompnessn fact that they
just what they ought BE-, intelligent business
msy be gathered from the fact that their last meeting
they entirely through large docke, of important husi
ness and that they bonl upon doing their duty even
The expense of Inconvenience and sacrifice may
be inferred from the further fact that since their last dourn
nent each has been almost constantly travelling in the
central or portions OF the Commonwealth, and
has gone az far as the Ohio and Big Sandy rivers the ex
.cu,ion of orders passed at that meeting. When they meet
again on Monday the 6h insl they will doubtless bring
with them much new aud valuable information for their
sdea,ion which will result sincerely trust in the de
seopment Of sill further good aud prosperity TO
The Ola Dominion