Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-01-30
Mr. Superintendent Paxton.

of Public Works 1t is document ,ui gen
eris We had been at loss to understand
what the duties Of the Superintendent
of road which had no existence and was not We
commenced. But this document reveals the secret
he is sort OF Superintendent of the Board. He adj
dresses their Lordships in a lofty and royal strain
and is gracously and condescendingy pleased sig
nifty his imperial appreciation Of certain portions o
their public conduct. In place he informs them
that at was properly deemed by you matter of III,
highest Importance &c.,"-in another 'there can l.,
80 question critic ,oisdom Of your course" &C. and il
the very outset presuming they ignorant o
what themselves had DONE he tells them what was
some OF the first questions presented for your consid-
GRAFTON at the commencement Of your official duties,
&c. These preliminary compliments dispatched, tn,
imperial commissioner proceeds to mark out to the
Legislature the line Of its duties without, however
condesccndng to make direct mention Of that honor
able body.
IL the subordnates Of this Board thus presume, in
the infancy Of their existence aud power and when
they have less than one million in hand, to dictate TO
the legislature and 10 harrass and annoy members
with their personal solicitations, what may we not
expect when this Board get in full blas-count their
funds by millions and their understrappers by thou
sands There will scarcely be ground within the
capitol square for honest TO rest the soes of
his feet We would earnestly invoke the Legislature
pause before it introduces this demoraizing system
into the State. Its baneful effects as exhibited in
the Northern States and at Washington, should ad-
monish them against it.
But to return to Mr.. Superintendent Paxton and
his unique message.
Never a little in such a swivet as he is.
He wonld have the whole road completed forthwith
"Without dslay'-"as speedily a, possible" is the
longest indulgence this energetic little man will allow
the Legislature "7rue policy (he says requires that
it should be done speedily possible"-as though
he knew any thing about true policy. "True policy
from his point of vew may be the very worst posi-
BILE policy in the view of the taxpayng people Of this
State. He and they have very conflicting interests
in regard to the matter. He is very impatient to
get hold Of their five millions and they very re-
luctant to part with it, if it must 60 wish to have
some guarantee that they shall hear of it again its
equivalent
Mr.. Paxton tells us:
THE of the work now under contract will not
be met by the present appropriation 1t considered
udcious 10 have fifty miles OF each end of the road IN
process Of construction relying upon the Legislature
provide the means for meeting the contracts"
That is he took upon himself the whole Iegisla-
tive power Of the State to commit the State to this
improvement He was in such hurry that the con-
tracts were made before it was determined which
route would be adopted The contractors went it
blind-Mr. Superintendent Paxton went it bnd-the
Board went it blind it did not matter, the State
had to pay and these contracts, whether good or bad
in themselves, would serve mighty lever upon
the Legislature.
MIR. Superintendent proceeds at much length to cx-
patiate upon the Importance of this great ork-to
demonstrate that il will pay six per cent and make
most Of the other improvements in the State do the
same. In this connection, his exhibit Of tonnage
rs so large that single track will be sufficient to
bear it, learn from those convcrsant with such
matters. This dssipates all the Superintendent
golden visions at once-and il also serves TO display
the crudeness and nconsidcrateness which mark the
gentlemen's conduct i'll respect to this road. Not
step which has been taken seems to have been duly
considered. The great and sole object appears be
70 get the State pledged for millions of dollar
Last winter, it determined to make the road up
on an Engineers estimate that it would only cost
millions. And this session, the very first move o.
the Board Of Public Works was to ask an Gppropria-
t'on OF millions, in bill of six lines, in addition 10
the million granted last year Now we are told il
will probably cost about ten millions, for single
track. No work. we believe, was ever yet complete,
for less than third more than the estimate
But If Mr.. Superintendent be correct as to tn,
amount Of his tonnage, and two tracks will b,
necessary to accommodate it, why In the nam,
OF common sense do they not begin their w0rl
with view TO double track? II will cost n
least third less to make the preparations now thar
TO build the second track hereafter And II the tun
nels are not adapted to double track from the start
they cannot be made subsergent to it in future
But these wise men, who fancy themselves adequate
10 the management Of all the interests Of the gtac
and aspire to get them all in their hands, seem neve
10 have thought Of this matter. The millions ap
preparation occupies all their thoughts
Wedoubt if the annals Of legislation can shoy
any parallel to this whole proceeding We throw
out OF view the delusOry estimate, by which the lie
gislaure was induced TO grant million in the frs
instance-and confne ourself 10 what has transpre,
the present winter Take the original bill itself -
Here II is:
10 prorde for The Conplriion nj Tie Coyinofon ami
Ohio Railroad Dec, Is, 1853 Read l to BE- real 2n
fDaf.
Be II enacted by The general assembly Of Virginia
shat the Board Of public works hereby authorized
borrow on the credit Of the commonwealth In the mod
prescribed by Law, the sum Of Eve millions Of dollars 4
De sPpeo 10 tue construction and equipment Of Gov
bngton and Ohio railroad, but more than two million
I'VE hundred dollars shall be expended in any on
year. "' y"
Q This act shall be in force from its passage.
without an estimate without report-withou
any knowledge Of the subjcct-the Legislature
called upon TO appropriate by seven shoi lines 6y
millions Of dollars, without any guarantee that on
cent Of it would be applied to the purpose and will
out any means Of redress in case Of failure n IN
State possessed all the gold in the mines Of Carotn
ii could scarcely be expected to scatter liz
with more prodigal and reckless hand. Here is III
aubsttute-now pending in the House
SUBSTITUTE.
70 biu No g. 10 Rrovid' for The compilation ofM, O.
L. Bel enacted by the general assembly, tia, IL
bordof public works be and they are hereby authorize
TO borrow tho credit Of the in to mo-
prescribed by existing laws the money necessary In en-
sunct and equip the Coyngton aud Ohio railroad but M
more than one million aud Eve hundred thousand dola
per snnuu are hereby appropriated for the purpose.
O. This act shallbe Ia force from IL passage.
One million and half ayear DntiIfd, ,sorL I, m,