Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-12-06
L.CNATlC ASYLCMS.

for n liberal appropriation to complete il. Tho
amount required will he seen by the report
The reports of the Eastern and Wester" Asy-
lumS are herewith submitted, and AK the
Legislature to have them thoroughly examined
int, from time 10 time, ut irregular periods,
without notice 10 them, by competent phySl-
clans and other persons, t. he appointed at the
discretion of the Executive. They need re-
form. Reduce their Boards ii Directors to
three in number.
commend to YOUR patronage the institution
for the deaf. dumb and blind. II suffered from
fire, and, | fear, by ornitting to guard the build.
inrs. The buildings Of all our institutions, in
this day of inccndiarism, ought to be allowed
appropriations for sufficient guards.
rrNIrENrIAEY.
Since the last General Assembly, the late
SUPERINTENDENT died. Every respect was due
and was paid TO his memory for long and faith
rul services. | appointed his successor, whom
have found efficient and faithful, and | ask
that his appointment shall be confirmed.
have found the aw Of the last session en-
towering the Executive to commute sentence
Of transportation into labor on public works,
most beneficial. 1t has operated well, beyond
nv expectations. 1t has relieved the prison Of
y crowd, and the hands on the works are 70.
sarded as the best, worked under the regula.
tons which have been careful 10 prepare. |
now recommend that the system for all minor
offences be extended to the white Is well as
black criminals. Contractors are beginning TO
bid full prices for their labor, and the lesser
rates they may give will only reduce the cos,
Of works. | recommend that the turnpikes cs-
p~eciallv hc ordered to hc constructed by the
criminals Of the counties where they arr To-
Gated.
Let no criminals be sent to the pcnitcntiary
under five years. In Il less time they can
learn no trade, md are i dead cost. On the
public works they will he sufficiently pun.
iShed, and will not hc utterly crushed. IT is
polite and nlcrritul for the lighter offenders 10
lie so punished. Il i. better tlnn i work
house.
But above all, | recommend the cilangy Of
the site of the pcnitontiary. The present old
structure is too small, and is on Il bad plan,
anu it is costly to guard it, and it ohstrnctS the
growth OF the city Of Richmond towards lis
most beautiful and eligible sites for private
residences. Locate the penitentiary on one of
the Islands Of James river. The river will turn
all its machinery, and supply it from top to
bottom with water, which il needs, and the
river will best guard il too. Connected with
this, make II bridge across the river, 10y tie
pcnitentiary, and make its tolls contribute 10
pay the cost, and 10 relieve the soiitl! side
people of James river from the hurlhen Of The
present bridge monopoly.
The sale of the present site would 90 far to
compensate for the cost, il not entirely pay II.
! recommend the cessation oi attcmptin: the
finer fabrics Of manufactures in The prison,
such as WOODEN cloths, &c; it is best 10 con
fine the operations TO the cOarSer articles, such
* axes aud wagons, &C, the blacksmith, 'ar-
pentrr, tailor and shoemaker trades.
LAND OFFICE
repeat Tn" recommendations vi my last
message respecting this office. stop the fur
Their issuing ot warrants until actual surveys
shall report the land, Waste aud ;!nappI0riia-
ted. I have refused to sign patents Tor any
locations on the waters "f the Atlantic ocean.
OF Chesapeake bay, OF on shores at rivers and
creeks emptying therein, for reason, that they
have not been subject To entry sincc lISI, II
not granted hy prior governments, under the
act of "commons.' And there are n number
Of locations and entries made since then and
1902, which are not good, and L number Of lots
and lands unappropriatcd east vi the Blue
Ridge, belonging to the State, which ought TO
he sold. jamestown, the site Of the first capt.
tai, embracing originally fifty acres Of valuable
land, belongs, am confident, to the State
1t ought to be taken Under the charge Vi the
Executive, and be made "a place of STAT shrine.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The capitol needs repair; but recommend
repairs only. The house is not worth cNien-.
sion.
| have taken a pride in Improving thc Capitol
Square; and the grading by peniten;iary hands
is continued. | hope it mny be continued un-
til the Governors house is graded To the base.
rnen;. Then surround that house bv an iron
veranla!l ami cover il with tin. .Add 10 its
south end a comfortable and i.eat kitchen, aud
build Il new carriage-hou-c, and contract the
private grounds 10 the present b'ich walls OF
the yard, and opcn tie square To Governor
street, and there have y carriage way.
have repurcha>cd the site of tn" ,aw build
ings for $4,000, subject TO your approval, to
be added to the Sluarr, and recommend, il
practicable, the purchase Of the Wing building.
ask that the purchase made may bc imiuedl-
ately confirmed, for the convenience %! the
work Of grading.
STATE rot NnhHI LINES.
The last General Assembly made 10 aplro-
%priations for running the lines Of Virginia with
North Carolina, Tennessee and Maryland, but
the lines to lie rut. [ have proceeded
to run them bv commissioners under the laws,
and paid the expense eIt al the civil contin-
gent fund" This hts exhausted that fund, so
leave 4 deficiency III the fund before the LIST
October last, which was supplied by the first
under my request. mention this for
tho reason Of recolnmendln. that works Of this
.z-. III ,,,, -, C,k,,o 30 ,trnuru al, thu ron-
tingent fund. The progress made in the bonn-
diaries is reported by the commissioners, who
have acted on the Maryland aud Tennessee
lines, very ably and faithfully, and no progress
has been made on the North Carolina line
The line with the latter State will have to hc
run entire before the true line with tennessee
can be started. | recommend An amendment
of the laws in that respect.
MAP OF TIE STATE
In connection with boundaries, inform you,
that | have caused Tanners large maj, 20 he
| have acted under Il resolution OF
the General Assembly. See Scss. Acts lS32-1%.
D. 35S. BY consultation with Professor Baci'e,
of the coast survey, who has lent me every IN
cil;tv, | have had the old plates corrected by
the SURVEYS of the coast, and by tracing the
new county lines AMI by adding the lines Of
Improvement. these maps VIII he the
best ever made Of the State, and by some 300
nr i0n observations in the interior, wlicii w:li
COS, only some $s,0oo, a perfectly correct map
NAV be- obtained, which | earnestly urge "n
Your attention.
gorxry LAND. Ana OTHER REVOLUTIONARY
CLAWS.
| be. leave to call your attention to the ac-
conpanyin; correspondence with the Attorney
General of the United States and the Secretary
of the Interior, touching claims 70 bounty anu
pension by the heirs Of the revolutionary Off
GERS Of Virginia. refer to tfic Barron claim
and others, and 10 sundry memorials in relation
TO them generally. ! must say Chat have
found great error aud confusion in the offices
at Washington OH this subject. Onc error and
missta;cInent touching my official action here,
has been most unsraciouSiy conceded, and yet
gave me unnecessary troublct to corrcctit though
49, -... Dn-..