The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-18


Kanawha To the wsters Of james river
win compare farorably with any IN the
Union. The probabilities are that the
Kanawha river win cease to be simply
local line OF trade snd travel. and will
become an important channel Of com
mnnication between the west snd the
east, connected as il is with far reaching
lines OF water communication.
An earnest effortis making to induce
Congress to
Improve the Ohte River.
As West Virginia constitutes in q
large degree the watershed for The
waters of the upper Ohio, probably no
comprehensive scheme for q farther
improvement Of the Ohio, as the flow
of water is concerned, can be msturet
that will not embrace within it plans
for the improvement of the Kanawha
and possibly the Mouongahela and
the Little Kanawha. This river, there
fore, may in time become most valu-
able possession to the State in every
point of view.
The Cumberland Road,
under the management OF the new Su.
perintendent, has been greatly improved
When he took charge Of it, it was much
out of repair, but is now in good oendi
ton. As soon as it is thoroughly re
paired it is the desire of the Board o
Public Works to reduce the rates o
tolls. The statute in regard to
Weights and Measures
ia very much of a dead letter, from tn,
fact that no means have been provided
to put it in force. II it is desired tina
the counties be furnished with standard
weights and measures small appropri
alton will be necessary for this purpose
The Railroad Survey.
The Board OF Public Works il
obedience to an act passed last winter
appointed a chief engineer and organ
lied a surveying party for the purpose
OF making a preliminary survey OF
railroad line from Charleston TO thu
Pennsylvania line. A survey was &C
cordiDgly made, beginning at Charles
ton and extending to a point near Yves
ton. 1t could not be carried further
from the fact that the appropriation
was. exhausted; in TACT if it had moi
been for the lberality Of the Board o
Supervisors Of Kanawha county, il
contributing $1,000, the survey could
not have been carried so far. The line
was run in good part through an un
settled country; consequently supple:
had TO be furnished and transported tc
the surveying party; this added very
materially to the cost OF the survey
The report Of the engineer is not YET
complete; it will probably be laid before
you at an early day. This survey has
stimulated inquiry as to the resources
Of the country along its route, and as tc
the necessity OF building a railroad from
Charleston 10 the Pennsylvania line
A company has been organized under
the charter granted last winter, and
hope the day is not lar distant when
the northern and southern parts OF the
State may thus be more closely united
in interest and friendship.
EntaiIcd Estates.
By an act passed February %, 1911,
the Code was so amended as to permit
bodies corporate to purchase real estate
and hold and sell the same for profit.
This was an innovation upon time
honored policy, and is fraught with
dangerous result. II carries with il
some Of the evils Of entailed estates.
Our lands are already held in large
bodies AID this will tend to aggravate
the evil. Its objection is speculation in
lands, which, while it may bring profit
TO the stockholders, will tend to retard
the growth of the State. Public in
terests therefore seem ID demand It's
repeal.
The Permanent Seat.
The citizens OF Charleston have
generously provided convenient and
handsome building for the State, as
Capitol, free Of cost. 1t would seem
but q fitting appreciation OF their liber'
atty to provide for furnishing it in an
appropriate manner, aud | recommend
n small appropriation for this purpose
Meteor ology.
transmit to you Joint Resolution
adopted by the Legislature OF Tennes-
see, in which her Senators are instructed
and her Representatives are requested
Ito use their influence with the United
States Government in favor OF the
establishment, by international co oper-
alton, of general and systematic plan
of Meteorological Observations and
Crop Reports" Meteorology is COM
paratively new science, and its Undue
lions must be made from vast number
of observations throughout the world.
This can only be done by the co-opera-
ton of civilized nations. | recommend
that you take similar action.
ALittIe CLEAN Of state Rights.
With advancing civilization and the
progressive tendencies of the age, a
system OF free schools has become q
part Of the policy Of all the State gov
ernments in the Union. Nearly all the
States Of Europe have adopted plans Of
public instruction. Efforts have been
made from time to time TO give the
General Government control OF this
question, and with the gradual encroach-
ment upon the rights OF the States,
which has been going on within the last
few years, there is cause 10 fear that
these efforts may ultimately be success
full. II this scheme is ever accom-
plished, It will tend more to destroy our
identity.Gs a people aud the original
form. OF our Government than any other
one thing could do. We have our
cherished notions with respect 10 re.
lrgion, morals, family relations and
habits Of society, which We have re.
ceiyed from our fathers and We cling IN