Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-04-17
The covington aua Ohio Railroad.


The Covington aua Ohio Railroad.
The kanawha Republican raises the
question, whether or not the Board Of
Public Works have the power to use the
credit Of the State TO provide means for
the prosecution of the Covington and Ohio
Road, and concludes that they have, from
the plain reading of the law authorizing
TIE construction of the work The Rich
nond Penny Post is of the same opinion,
aud wonders at its stupidity III not discoy-
ering the fact bef-re. That paper gives
the act in full, and from which we copy.
T his may or may not be an important dis
coyery. There is but one opinion as to
the vital relation this work sustains TO the
great leading lines Of improvement now
in progress of construction in the State
but it is matter upon which opinions
differ as to the propriietyT .. sing piena,
nv powers to the State Commissioners &c
use the credit of the State to raise unimi-
ted sums of money to supply a deficiency
which the Legislature has seer. fit to
create. We have the utmost confidence
IN the present Board, but, nevertheless. it
would be bad precedent to transfer pow
ers legitimately belonging to the peoples
representatives to that body. 1t would be
comforting powers not contemplated in the
creation Of that office, if our contemporaries
of the Republican and Post have given a
legitimate construction. The Legislature
should designate the amount to be raised,
and then authorize the Board TO use the
credit of the State TO procure the loan.-
To say the least it is bad policy for the
State to undertake, on her own account,
improvements of this kind, because, ex-
perience teaches that States have to pay
<lcarer for, and construct with less speed,
their Improvements than those prosecuted
by individual enterprise. But as this work
has been undertaken by the State, let it
be com leted--and, also, at the same time
let the State throw around the Treasury
as many safe guards as is consistent with
Justice to her public officers, and authorize
her credit to be used with the utmost econ
omy and precaution-and not with in.
definite extravaganza. We fully agree
with the Richmond Examiner that the
sooner the State cuts loose from all corpora
tons the better; because it is demonstra-
BILE that such connection is generative OF
favoritism, corruption and immortality
But here is the act TO which allusion is
made:
1. Be it enacted by the General Assem-
bly, that for the purpose hereinafter named,
the Board of Public Works be, and they
are hereby incorporated and made body
polite, under the name of ''The Coving
ton and OHIO Railroad Company. with
all the powers conferred by the Code OF
Virginia upon the Board OF Public Works
when they are required to cause works ef
internal improvement TO be constructed on
State account, and with such additional
powers and privileges; and subject TO
such restrictions as are set forth in said
@Vue III ienpStt " soN' F"iiieo iheo' poi"'s"
10 construct Railroads.
2. That said company shall cause 10 be
constructed and equipped Railroad with
a heavy rail from some point at or neai
Covington or Clifton Forge i'll the county
OF Allegheny, BY the best practicable route,
to some point on the Ohio River not be-
low the mouth of Big Sandy river her
above the town of Point Pleasant.
5. That in the construction OF this Rail-
road the Board of Public Works shall conf
mence and continue the construction o.
said road from its lVestern terminus Fast,
at'the same time they are extending the
said road from its Eastern terminus Vest.
4. That the Board Of Public Works are
hereby authorized to borrow OH the credit
of the Commonwealth, in the mode pre-
scribed by existing laws, the money neces-
sary 10 construct and equip said road. but
not more than one million of dollars are
hereby appropriated for the purposes OF
this act.
6. This act shall be in force from its pas
sage.
I,ecfure in Union Hall