Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-12-05

and In }Htiality their grave Importance demand,
My duty in this connection is discharged noS
commit This subject of the State debt to the acr
OF the General Assembly None more vital evnn
came before this or any other that has convened III
this Capitol. Upon its settlement rests the fntrn
of the Commonwealth. Our creditors have coroo
forward in generous spirit, and, recognizing onr
troubles, have offered to help us bear them ,ber
have aimed no blow at the life of the State Or =,
what seems to be 50 dear to her people-her public
Free School System but they have rendered tbe'r
aid that both may survive in the fitness of tbeir
strength aud beauty. feel as though brighter
day IS dawning for our beloved Commonwealth
depression is to be followed by hope, stagnation By
the revival of business, capital and labor to coroa
and help US develop our boundess resources, and
the New Virginia upon whose history we are enter
ing to be none the less honorable and glorious than
the Old
submit the reports Of the various asyums and
institutions of learning, and ask your careful COZ.
sldesaon of the suggestions of their superintendent,
and boards Also reports OF the Superintendent
of Public Instruction, Treasurer and Second Au-
ditor, Fish Commissioner and Superintendent Of
Public Printing, to which 1 likewise call your at
tention Your special attention is requested to the
status of the property where the Central Lunatic
Asylum is now located, the lease Of which expires
on the 3lst of December, 1879, ard to the RECON-
mendations OF the board
The Public tobacco warehouse, under the advice
the Committee OF Public Property in the House OF
Delegates, has been conducted on State account. |
submit the report Of the inspectors and invite your
attention to its suggestions
| On the 9Th Of March, 1873, an act was passed
ordering tao Governor, Attorney General, and Sec
rotary OF the Commonwealth, as commissioners, 10
advertise, inviting sealed proposals for the lease OF
! the penteniary This was done through the COL
umns Of papers in the city of Richmond and in other
cities North, West, and South. NO proposals have
been received coming within the purVlew OF that act
very serious tire has occurred on the prcnlisr;
of the penitcntiary, by which inc State has lost,
according to the estimate of the superintendent ana
board $50, 900 THIS is the more serious account
| of the present condition of our finances | invite
attention to the reports and suggestions Of the
| superintendent and board as 10 this tire.
| The heavy pressure Of other grsver matters has
prevented my giving 10 the general peni!entary
system, and 10 the working Of our own and its i'm
provement, if possible, that attention and thought
| which it so Justly demands have been trying 10
gather information as to the operation OF different
| systems in the various States, but am not suI.
cently informed as Yet TO make any well digestet
| recommendations To the General Assembly The
| lease system has been tried in some States, aud
has in it's working encountered difficulties thai
| have excited well grounded opposition. The EN-
plovmepL of tn, conricLs in manufacturing meets
| obi lection from the young and growing N nufac-
| lures Of the State And so with any system that
| can be adopted. 1t affords Pleasure 10 KNOW lhat
| the amended crimina! code is having happy
elect in reducing the number of convicts, and it is
hoped will, in L short time, render them more
! manageable
Under an act Oh General Assembly passed a! YOU
last session, very large numbcr-lrom lUo TO 3'I
-Eaye been and arc still employed in restoring the
James River and Kanawha Canal. Application:
from other existing and projected improvements are
now on file ii my Office for these convcts but unce-
the ruling of the Acknowledgement the canal Ia:
priority Of claim TO their services Negotiations are
now going on with regard to the property and fran
chises of This canal which will be brought in dr'
time 10 the attention Of the General Assembly
| FRED VI. VI HOLIDAY.