Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-12-11

Board of Public Works to sell and transfer
the stock owned by the State in the railway
company if, in the Judgment of the board,
such sale ba best to the interest of the
Commonwealth. The board advertised in
the New York, Baltimore, and Richmond
papers for sealed offers for said stock, but
no bids we've received. Ia view of the ua-
certainty of being able to get anything for
the States interest, and also in view of the
tact that such stock was quoted at from 81
to 81 per share, the board finally determin-
ed to accept an offer to sell 8,S11 shares
that being one half for So per share, net
ting $50, 800, and at the same time exchapg-
ing the other half-viz., SSH shares of the
capital stock of said company for similar
number of shares of the assessment paid
stock under the plan of reorganization, such
exchange, however, only to be made upon
the execution of sufficient guarantee to
purchase the stock SO exchanged at the
price of three dollars per share at any time
prior to the expiration of sixty days after
the next regular or extra session of the
General Assembly of Virginia, and the State
decided to sell the stock at that price. At
the time the Legislature authorized the
Board of Public Works to sell this stock in
consequence of the assessments laid upon it
brought in the open market 800 900. The
State has received $25, 500 for half of it, and
holds still the other half, which is now
quoted at twenty, dollars per share,
representing $237, 879.
THE PENITENTIARY.
| The affairs OF this institution have been
admirably managed since ny Last report,
not only by the officer in charge Of the ex-
ecutive work, but by the competent Board
of Directors who snperinteud its opera
tions. refer you to the interesting report
of the board for all details.
The whole number of prisoners up to
October 1, 1889, was 1,0S1, distributed in
the following proportion between the races:
White men, 1877; white women, a; total,
191. Colored men. 815; colored women, rs;
total, 800. The total number within tho
walls Of the prison is 6l5.
Tho Abingdon Coal and Iron Railroad
Company are working SO; the Farmville
and Powhatan Railroad Company, 80; the
Roanoke Southern Railroad Company. 81,
aud the South Atlantic and Ohio Railroad
Company. 54-makiug total on the public
works of 266.
The majority of these criminals are con-
| fined for HOUSEKEEPING and larceny, and OF
the 447 prisoners received during the past
year y were not natives of the State. vi
this number 1876 were under twenty years OF
age, the youngest criminal being eleven.
| would recommend that the younger
criminals be separated if possible from the
older ones, and reform atory measures be
practiced as far as possible with them.
The financial condition of the institution
exhibits gain of s., oS5.82 during the past
fiscal year, notwithstanding the loss to the
! State on convicts at work on the roads haz
aggregated during the same time the large
sum of $14 1923 II. 1t will be seen that
this loss has been more than made up by
! the profits from the hiring OF the convicts
within the walls.
| The act In relation to convicts of March
16, 1886, was largely experimental, and IN
it's practical application has proved unsatis-
| factory to the interests of the State as well
az to that Of the contractor. am disposed
to adopt the Recommendation OF the Board
of Directors, snd units With them in sug
costing the passage OF a law confning the
hiring of conviets outside of the walls OF the
peritentiary to the board itself, subject to
the approval Of the Governor, being satis
Fed that the liberty thus possessed in max.
| inc contracts for their employment world
make THE institution gslfrsustsining outside
|
personal inspection the buildings ara kept
neat and clean, the sanitary condition is
good, and the discipline excellent.
LATER MESSAGE.
Besides tbs themes embraced in this mes
sage there are some other matters Of in
portance to the State, Of which ny fou'
years Of executive experience has given me
some knowledge. l hope to be able to pre-.
sent some reflections rpon them in brief
message to your honorable bodies to be
submitted later.
The subjects herein | now commit to
your bands in the full faith that your wise
legislation will promote all the interests oil
| the Common wealth, thus making her great
future worthy OF her grand past
FITZ. LEE.
THE SPECIAL MESSAGE.
1t ia understood that in the special mes
sage which the Governor promises he vii