Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-10
GOVERNORS MEssAGE-(Conclud

the proper officer of the United States Govern
| meut for the assignment of a competent corps
of surveyors to the duty of ascertalnlng and
locating the true boundary lines between the
State of Virginia and the States of Mary land
North Carolina and Tennessee, and authorizing
him to appoint two commissioners on the part
of the State, whose duty it shall be to meet,
confer and act with such corps OF surveyors,
and like commissioners on behalf OF other
States" Before action had been taken under
| this resolution, controversy arose between
our oyster police aud certain citizens OF Mary-
| land ns to the right OF the latter to oyster in
waters south of certain conventional line
heretofore established by tue mutual agree
ment of the oyster police Of the two States,
and known as the Davidson. Lovitt line. This
controversy has been satisfactorily settled by
mutual agreement between the Governors Of
the two States to observe and maintain this
conventional line until the real boundary line
| between the two States can be ascertained and
finally settled His Excellency the Governor
of Maryland has informed me OF the appoint
ment by his State of three commissioners to
settle this question of boundary line.
The prompt action of Governor Bowie in this
matter, as we'll as the manly and statesmanllke
course pursued by him in the adjustment of
the controversy before mentioned, deserves the
highest commentator. 1t will tend to pre-
serve and cement the friendship which has
| so long existed between the people OF these
States.
The Joint resolution above named only AL
| thoriZed the appointing of two commissioners
on behalf of Virginia, which, presume was an
oversight. The grave importance OF the ques-
ton at issue, and the great magnitude OF the
rights and interests involved, as we'll as pro
per respect for the authorities OF our sister
State, appeared to me to demaud that Virginia
should be represented By commission OF equal
number and ability with that OF Maryland.-
| Hence | have appointed commission OF three
eminent citizens Of this State, who have already
entered upon the discharge OF the responsible
duties devolved upon them. | trust that this
action will meet with your approval,
| have also addressed a communication to
the chief OF the United States coast survey, re-
uuestiDg tho ASST gnment CT corps OF survey
ors, as provided in your joint resolution, TO-.
gether with maps of the localities to be
surveyed. The maps have been promptly
furnished, and presume that corps OF sur.
veyors will soon be assigned to this duty
I have transmitted copies of your joint reSo
luton to the Governors of North Carolina and
Tennessee, and requested like action on the
part OF those States. Your joint resolution
evidently contemplates the appointment OF but
one set of commissioners on behalf Of this
State to adjust the North Carolina and Tennes.
see line, as we'll as the Maryland line. This
may be found to be impracticable, or, at least,
attended with much delay 10 view OF these
very possible contingencies. | would respect
fully recommend that the joint resolution be 50
amended as to authorize the appointment Of
other commissioners to adjust the North Caro-
lima and Tennessee line, and that the number
of commissioners be increased to three. 1t
would also appear 10 me advisable that the
compensation OF the commissioners should be
determined, and that suitable provision be
made for deiraying the other expenses which
will he necessarily incurred in the prosecu
ton and settlement of these important ques.
tons.
PENITENTIARY.
The report Of the board Of directors Of the
nenitentiary exhibits in detail the workings of
that institution since the present energetic
superintendent assumed control OF it. While
there has been slight increase IN the number
OF prisoners, the very great improvement IN Its
financial condition may we'll be the subject OF
CONGRATULATIONS I have no doubt that, IN the
lansnape If the president Of the board OF dl.
rectors, VIC may Indulge the hope that the
nenitentiary will soon not only cease to be an
expense, but will become source OF revenue
| TO the State" | respectfully call your atten'
ton 10 my views and recommendations upon
this subject, as expressed in my message OF the
Sth Of February last. 10 response thereto, the
Legislature passed an act entitled IAN act 10
authorize the Governor 10 appoint commits
sion in relation 10 the sale and removal OF the
penitcntiary," which was approved April 80
last. Commissioners were appointed under
this act, Who after thorough examination OF
the whole subject, made their report, when
was submitted for your consideration at your
adjourned session in October last. July COD
cur in the conclusions expressed IN THIS report.
It is i'm pcralive!y demanded that the present
penitentiary shall be either remodeled, lmprcv
ed and enlarged, as urged by the board OF dl
rectors and superintendent, or that 1t shall be
sold and new one built oil a capacity and MT
ness commensurate with our present and pros.
pectivc wants. The outlay, in either case
need not be heavy, and in DO sense comparable
to the benefits it would confer
Under an act approved April 23d, 1870, en-
titled IAN act to authorize the Governor to
hire out the con7icts in the rententlary Tor
work in stone quarries, or for other suitable
labor" over three hundred prisoners have been
contracted to labor upon the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad at twenty five cents per day, net;
that is, tie contractor boards, clothes, guards
and cares for the prisoners at his own expense,
duu lcpdyS lllc Olat0 any SoPSh"o
the capture and return OF any escaped conVlcts,
not exceeding one hundred dollars 10 any one
case, and pays the State twenty i've cents per
day for each convict while in his custody The
amount heretofore received for the hire or con-
victs, under contracts made by me, | have
directed TO be paid directly in the treasury Of
the State, hut there arc many good reasons
why it should be paid over to the general agent
and credited to the penitentiary and, unless
some different rule shall be prescribed by the
General Assembly, | shall, on and after the lst
Of January next, so direct. The amount rc
ceiyed to date, since the passage CT the law
above meu,ioned, should be credited to the
pepiteutiary in balancing its accounts for that
period and there should be charged TO it the
expenses Of the Temporary guard for the
! same period, which amounts to twelve thou
sand, forty three dollars and twenty five cents,