Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-16

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as reformatory institution. Convicts OF
tender years confined therein, instead of re-
ceiving that instruction which will tend to
turn them from their evil ways working
such reformation as viii make them good
citizens, are by association With persons old
in crime, educated in evil practices, and
when returned to society at tie expiration
of their term of service, instead of pursuing
an honest calling, prefer to pursue their evil
tendencies, for which their term in the PEN
intentiary has to some extent added an in
centive.
Courts before whom criminals Of this class
are brought, are 10th to sentence them to
the Penitentiary, when convicted of crime,
by reason of their youth; and frequently
permit them TO go free, with only an admo-
milton, until finally their criminal conduct
compels their sentence.
A reform school is the proper place for
the punishment and correction Of this class
Of offenders. Many a youth might be re-
formed if confined in such an institution,
who otherwise would become q hardened
criminal The Superintendent recommends
a commission be appointed to Jake this
subject into consideration, and report to the
Legislature at future session, such facts as
may be useful in enacting proper legislation
in relation thereto.
In this recommendation concur.
The Public Health.
1t is with pleasure that / direct your al
tentiop to the operations Of this department
| of the State service.
The act of the Legislature establishing
the State Board of Health has become popu-
lar with all classes Of our people. 1t has
been taken as q model for similar legisla-
ton in several of the sister States, and the
industrious and intelligent labors of the
Board have won much credit for West vir-
| ginia. The volume of valuable information
on public health questions sent out last
spring has been widely sought for, and at
once placed the Board in the highest public
and professional esteem. The volume
will be laid before you. 1t shows
the usefulness of the Beard in com.
batting outbreaks Of infectious and
| contagious diseases; how to preserve
health and prolong human life, and in dis
seminating the most advanced knowledge
| concerning the diseases Of our domesticated
animalsand their proper treatment,
| As evidence of the usefulness Of the Board,
| you are referred to its prompt action and
energetic measures adopted for the imme-
date suppression of smallpox last year In
the counties of Mercer and Wyoming; its
| prompt dealing with and suppression Of the
| Southern cattle fever, which appeared last
| year in the Panhandle counties; and the
| successful measures adopted for the restric
ton and suppression Of the swine plague, or
hog cholera, recently appearing in Ohio
county.
These efforts tor the suppression Of intec.
tious and contagious diseases, both among
human beings and food-pruducing animals,
| is not the only service performed by the
| State Board of Health. Under its close
| scrutiny the standard of medical education
has been greatly improved and advanced
within the last three years.
Before dismissing the subject of Public
Health, must beg you to bear in mind the
danger of visitation Of Asistic cholera in
| the United States next summer, and make
provision for its coming. The history Of
| previous cholera shows that the disease has
| never appeared in Europe without either the
same year or the year after coming to this
| country. Ny attention has been called to
| this fact by the Secretary of the National
Board of Health, with the request that in.
| vite your attention thereto.
hope, therefore, YOU will feel ii
| your duty to render the State Board oil
| Health all needful assistance. To this end
| recommend an appropriation Of $4,000
| as a contingent fund to be placed at the
| disposal of the Governor, and with his ap-
| proval to be used by the State Board Of
| Health for the prevention of cholera. The
| economic administration Of the Board IN the
| past is the full warrant that no moneys will
be unnecessarily expended.
Capitol Buildings.
In the spring of 1880, a contract was en-
tered into by Mr.. A. e. Sheppard with the
| Board OF Public Works to build the STATE
| House at Charleston. The contract price
for the building complete was the sum oil
| $4,000 By the terms of the contract the
| building was to be finished and turned over
to the State on the first day Of September,
1884.
After the entering into Of the contract,
Mr.. Sheppard commenced the construction
of the building, and payments were made
thereon upon monthly estimates made by
| the architect, who was the superintendent
| Of construction. From these monthly est
mates ten per cent. was reserved to insure
the completion of the building which re-
serve was not to be paid to the contractor
until the building was turned over to the
| State. Work progressed upon the building
| until the 18th of March, 1884, at which time
| the contractor notified the Board that he
was unable to comply with the terms Of his
| contract and complete the building unless
| the Board would place at his dus
posal the reserve held by it, viz:
Bis 900; he, the contractor, having been
paid the full contract price, less said re
| serve.
The Board being satisfied that said sum
would be sufficient to finish the building
| according to the plans and specifications
refused TO place the sum at the disposal Of
the contractor, inasmuch as the Board had
further security in bond Of $4,000 exc,
cuted by the contractor, with solvent sure
ties for the faithful performance Of his con-
tract. Thereupcn the said Sheppard sur
rendered his contract
| The Boari shortly thereafter advertised
new letting of the contract for the compile
ton of the building. At the opening Of the
PROPOSALS the bids, in the opinion Of the
Board, were too high, and were declined. A
further advertisement was made and on the
18th of June, 1884, the contract was award
ed to Ruffner 4 Grady, builders, at Charles
ton, at the sum o. SCI 500, they being the
lowest bidders.
These contractors at once entered upon
the work and have made satisfactory pro-
gress, the entire building being now under
roof and a portion Of the inside work com
pleted. The Board have every confidence
that the building will be so far completed
by the first Of May next as to accommodate
the executive officers and the residue BY the
time agreed in their contract, should sufii.
Gent appropriations be made TO enable
them 10 prosecute their work.
The amounts heretofore appropriated are
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