The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-04
our ancestors, and contributes largely to
the hopes entertained BY ourselves.
REPORTS.

l hEfOklS.
The reports of all the departments of
the government of our public and charita.
BILE institutions and the State literary insti-
tutlons are herewith submitted to you, and
l bespeak for each one of them your care.
ful perusal. 1t will be gratifying to you to
note the thoroughness and completeness of
administration which characterizes every
department of all our institutions. desire
to bear my testimony to the faithfulness,
efficiency and uniform courtesy of all our
State officials, They have largely contrib
uted to whatever of success has attended
the discharge of my Executive duties, and
they are in no wise responsible for any err.
rors that may have been committed
trust that the General Assembly will adopt
the suggestion of the Attorney General,
and | cordially approve of the recommen-
dations made by the Adjutaut General
The Superintendent of Public Printing
exhibits in his report a gratifying
reduction in the expenses of his de-
partment. | must again suggest the
propriety OF relieving the Executive from
the duty OF examining and approving the
bulls OF this department. From the ma
ture of the case such examinations must be
superficial, and, so far as the present Ex-
ecutlve is concerned, almost utterly valu-
less, due to the fact that he is ignorant of
| the value of material used and the work
done by this department. Let this duty be
| imposed on some other officer more famil
lar with the subject. A State Board of
| Health was duly organized under the act
approved February Is, 1872, composed Of
eminent and learned physicians. com.
mend to your careful consideration the alb
lie report of this Board. Its usefulness has
| been trammelled forlthe want of funds, and
trust that you will find 1t consistent to
! make a reasonable appropriation for the
use OF this Board. The duties devolved
upon it are of the highest importance, and
! the small sum required to enable it to dis
| charge those duties with efficiency and sat-
| isfaction ought to be promptly appropriated
/ submit herewith the report of DR.. W..
2. Palmer, appointed by the act approved
April 7, 1872, Ito secure the preservation
ofhistorical papers in the capitol building.
The suggestions therein made are impor
tent, and meet with my cordial approval.
The statue of General Washington, for
merry standing in the rotunda of the Capt.
tol, it was found necessary to remove du-
ring the past summer, as it was ascertained
were giving away and were liable to fall.
he preservation from mutilation or posi-.
BILE destruction of this exceedingly valuable
work of art was deemed of the highest mo-
ment, and it was consequently promptly
removed from its dangerous position and
carefully boxed to await the action of the
General Assembly. you shall decide to
reinstate it in its former position, it will be
necessary to take down and rebuild the
arches underneath the rotunda, which will
be attended with considerable expense. 1t
has been suggested that in Case of fire il
would be impossible to remove this statue
| from the Capitol in time to save it from in.
jury, owing to its great weight, and that it
wonld be advisable to place it in the Capt.
to grounds, sufficiently remote from the
Capitol to insure its safety. l have no re
commentator to make npon the subject,
as have not fully formed my own opinion
as to which is the better plan. trust,
however, that the General Assembly will
take action upon it at an early day.
GILBERT G. WALKER.