Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-02-22

MeNuuIH' MalolleS IOloen1 pass, ana
Hancock of Wythe-one from each Con-
gresSional district of the STATE.
Report Of the Board Of Public Works.
The annual Report of the Board of
Public Works was not submitted 10 the
. Legislature until within a few days past
"a delay in nowisc attributable to neg
lect on the part of the Board. We have
read the Report with unusual satisfaction.
1t is written with grace and ncatness of
style very uncommon in such matter Of
fact documents, and it presents concise
and lucid statement of the present condi-
ton Of the internal improvement system
OF the State. We propose to reproduce
some Of the more important and interes-
ting facts presented in the Report. e..
The report gives a comprehensive clas-
siicaton of the putics of the Board in the
following paragraph
The duties required of the Board of
Public Works by the laws now in force
are Of a three fold nature. First, they
arc required to supervise the construction
Of those works OF internal Improvement Of
which Tie State is the sole patron and pro-
prietor in those works Of internal improve.
ment in which the State is Interested with
other stockholders and, lastly. by iu-
dicious disposition Of the bonds of the
commonwealth TO raise the means to en-.
able her to meet the liabilities incurred by
reason of the two species of improvements
in which she has wisely and literally en-
gagged"
The Report frs! makes an exposition
of the Board in regard to works of which
the state is sole proprietor. The most
important OF this class Of works. and that
which seems TO have engaged the parti-
cular care Of the Board, is the Covington
AMI OHIO Railroad. We are informed
that fifty miles of this road. between the
mouth of the Big Sandy river and the
mouth of Scary creek. have been let to
contractors on reasonable terms. In con-
sequence Of a conflict of opinion in re-
gard 10 the most eligible route from Co.
Nington, and other obstacles, no portion
Of RE Eastern division Of the road has
been put under construction. In order to
obtain satisfactory solution of the diff
cutics respecting the eastern terminus
and the proper Inc OF location for the road,
the Board engaged Mr. Chas. B. Fisk, an
engineer Of skill and distinction, to max e
careful surveys Of the rival routes and to
report their comparative advantages an d
obstacles. The report of Mr.. Fisk has
just been put in the possession Of the
Board, but hey propose " early in Feb
ruCry' 10 decide i'll regard to the route
and TO direct Il location of the road. The
difficulties attending the construction
of work of such magnitude, satisfiedth the
Board OF the necessity of some special
superintendent Of The road, and according
ly they appointed Mr.. James G. Paxton 10
discharge this function. Mr. Paxton
makes an Interesting report in regard tC
the work. The Board presents a cogcnt
argument TO the Legislature in favor q
the vigorous prosecution of the COvington
and Ohio road, and they announce their
purpose to forward its construction with all
possible energy. Already have the con-
tractors on the Western division made
commendabIe progress. and very soon the
entire distance between Big Sandy and
Scary creek will be in process of construc,
tun.
Next in Importance, as a State work, is
the Blue Ridge r abroad. This work was
begun in 1919, and, according to the cal
culatiOns of the engineer, will be compile
ted in 1857. Ten miles Of the road on
the eastern side of the mountain have
miles on the western side will be finished
There are four tunnels on this road, tho
Greenwood tunnel, 500 feet in length, is
completed the second tunnel $50 feet
long, is in process Of construction tho
third tunnel, 100 feet in length, is through
solid rock, and is nearly completed, thr
fourth and main tunnel is 4,348 feet L, =,
length, of which 2,4OO feet are completed
The engineer estimates that an additiona
appropriation of $3.50, 600 will be neces
sary to put the entire road in condition
in which it may be transferred to The Cen
trail Railroad Company. The Report pre-
Sen!s generally favorable account Of thu
various tUmpkes of which the State il
proprietor. For the completion Of some
o. 'neSe' the report recommends add
uonal appropriations.
vi the various improvements conducted
on the joint stock principle, the BOARD re-.
gard the James River and Kanawho On.
nal as the most important. Still tbov 10,
vote but little of their report to Tie c~r.
Sideratlon Of its interests. They infnrn,
JAS that the canal will be soon be cnr,,I'
ted TO CIaig's creek when there will bc ,
continuous line Of canal from RichmorJ
20 point thirty miles this side Of Coyinr
ton. The Board recommend the cxtc9
sion Of the canal to Covington, and n,
o further for the present. For more FIJI
and minute information in regard to tn,
public works of the State, the Board 70
fer to the statements Of the various con,
Panies submitted with their report.
If we had space we would present HI
reader with the general view which tn
s 0oard '"ke of the internal improvement