Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-03
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Tie report OF the Sinking Fund Board
herewith transmitted, aud the report OF tht
Second Auditor, will furnish much valuable
interesting and important information com
mend them TO your consideration.
The report of the 6Ht auditor is a document
of very great ability. 1t embodles a vas
amount of valuable instruction and important
information on subjects of interest to every
citizen Of tho State. The statistical! lnlorma-
tion which it presents is extremely valuable
and is presented in the best shape tor ready
reference. The industry, skill and Judgment
which the tabl S exhibit in their preparation
AMI the we'll known reputation OF the audito'
Tor accuracy, will cause this report to be hlgh,
ly appreciated by intelligent men. omneh
tho report most cordially to your careful eS'
animation.
The report OF the attentive and lndetatiga.
bic superintendent of public buildings acc
grounds, and the recommendations and sug-
g~estions which j. makes, arc worthy oil aaop-
ton, especially those relating to the rcnoVa-
tlon and repair Of the ca pitOl building.
A portion Of the buildings at he penlten'
tiary, including the axe factory and the weaV'
ing establishment, we're destroyed by fire on
the first day Of July last So soon rs heard
the buildings were On fire, / repaired to The
ueuitculiary, and remained there until the lire
vas subdIcd. On the next day directed the
superintendent; to institute en- investigation 70
ascertain, il possible, the origin Of The lire.
The fire was, beyond all question:, the work Of
IN incendiary; but although tine investigation
aas been prosecuted, we nave not been able TO
.. $50, ,x,,;tt,, r.r., ,r OarfJag Tho
buildings have kecn re, Constructed, and nearly
Ill the machinery in the axe factory has oecn
replaced, and in a few days work in that branch
Of operations will be resumed. The machinery
IN the weaving department, regret to say, We
have no. been able TO supply, and | lear some
considerable time must intervene before TINS
branch Of m ,nafactrrr can b." resumed. We
have found It impossible 10 procure carding
and picking machines and lspms, rs we have
no manufacturer Of cards, picks and Icons IN
the Southern Confrderacy that l aui aware o..
The loss to the State IS between ten ana
twelve thousand dol srs, from the best inioF-
ulatiun | have been able IL obtain. lni6 less
aus seriously embarrassed the operations 81
tnu perit-a'iary, and rs the manufacture o!
ay.s vas loorc profitable than any other branch
If industry carried on al the establishment,
ns- greatly reduced our receipts for the last
half year.
In my last message | made saTcral recon-
ncndations in connection with this institution,
which I regarded ss important, bu, meme Of
win: CD, l regret 10 say, were acted upon. Those
recommendations | now renew, and earnestly
hope the present General Assembly will con.
slider ard act upon them.
urge earnestly out respectfully that the
committees OF tho " Houses, appointed on
the Pcnitentiary, will make q careful and the
rough examination OF the institution, its man
ssement, its accounts, the modes Of furnishing
supplies uf raI material, the character OF toat
material, and Of the articles manufactured, The
management of The Pcnitantlary S:cre, and
indeed OF every thing connected with the eS-
tablishtuent. Committees heretofore have
gwen very little attention to this institution
lar less than it should have received at their
hands. 1t has always appeared to me that Ii
tals institution were systematically and eEer.
ge;ically mausged-n .n4ged with that system
and energy that a business MN would bcstow
upon any pursuit In which he was engaged
It ought 10 yield q profit instead Of ouing e
drain upoa tie Treasury. Il has never yielded
q prvit SO far; bu, it does not follow, therefore,
that it cannot be made to WELD n prof.. See
ing, since | hare been in Office, that it has boon
d burden upon the Treasury, | have been in.
cliued ~ think that it would be better 70 rent
out the establishment to the highest bidder,
under such regulations as the wisdom OF the
General Assembly may suggest. Whatever
may be your conclusions on the subject, il is
certain that something must be dcns 10 secure
uore rrosnpti.ude than has been heretofore
exhibited 10 its administration. The fiscal
year terminated M the S0th Of September last,
and up 10 tkiis moment | have received 40 re.
ports Snoring that its transactions have haen
settled up to that date. The interval between
this and the 6ay Of the meeting Of the General
Assembly is only three days. Why this is so,
| sIn not able TO determine. | recommend
that you pass q lsw'requi"ing the accounts for
each quarter to be settled up aud closed within
len DAYS after the quarter has expired.
Communicate. herewith. reports from the
directors OF the EASTERN and Western lunatic
asyluns. They were received at 50 late a day
thai | have had 10 opportunity to examine
them. No report has as yet been received
from the dii ec.ors Of the Trans Allegheny
iunatic asylum. | suppose no progress has
been made with the buildings, as PiarPont
seized and carried way all the money to the
credit Of tho State in the bank at Weston,
shortly after the passage Of tho ordinance OF
secession.
Il is expected that the Military Institute
will be again open for the reception o. cadets,
early in the north OF January next. In n
crisis like this, l consider It q matter Of the
hrst Importance to keep that institution il
operation. In the pass six months we have
mad abundant reason 10 appreciate its value 20
the Stale. The ~srr7ices which have been rem.
dered by the professors ard cadets have been
invaluable, and It is difficult to see how they
could have been dispensed with without serious
detriment to the Commonwealth and the South
ern Cause This institution deserves 10 be
fostered and supported, and ! trust you will
provide literally and generously lor it.
commend also the University Of Virginia,
the first literary institution in the Southern
Con,ederacy, to your fostering care and atten-
ton. 1t has established itself firmly lii The
affections OF the people Of the State and Of the
Southern country, and whatever is necessary
to enable it to maintain The reputation il h5S
acquired, should be cheerfullv accorded to it.
The deaf, dn'nb, and bind asylum buildings
at Staurton, a!e now in possession Of toe
Government, md arc used for
purposes. The pupils and teachers
have been removed ~ the Female Institute
buildings in tbs: place, anal arc comfortably
Tor.
I commend to your consideration the report
Of the .Adjutant General, and the documents
accompany il. The onerous and op.
duties OF this Office have been dis.
with ability and untiring energy and
Since the war commenced the iabors
Of this officer have been greatly increased
They are of the most responsible ard i'm.
poriaat character. H has labored earn.
to preserve the arms and keep them
10 place for a time of iced, and in this
policy he has been ably and theoretically
supported by the superintendent OF the arHo-
~. If the policy declared in a resolution
passed by The House Of Delegates ct the last
had prevailed, and the flint lock mus
Sets had been delivered to j. r. Anderson !
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