Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-02-09

wise and prudent provision for the
annual reduction OF our bonded in
dehteduess, the residue of our SUP
plus should be used for the progress,
improvement aud betterment OF the
State.
Schools. First Great Need.
The first great need OF this State.
the one requiring our most serious
thoughts and earnest efforts is the
Improvement of our primary schools,
Virginia needs more thorough, pro-
gressiye and Efficient system of public
schools in the country districts. Our
rural sections require better school
housts, better paid, and in many
cases, more efficient teachers, and
longer terms. No marked or perma-
nent improvements can come to these
schools until the money is provided
to acquire these needs. Virginia can
not afford to let. these schools Ian.
guish, because dependent upon them
for education is the largest part of
our population. No people can
achieve much in any of the pursuits
of life who are not blessed with the
benefits and advantages of good edu.
cation. There should also be in the
country more high schools, where as
thorough and splendid an education
can be obtained as in the cities. No
expenditure of public money can
bring greater benefits than that be-
slowed upon our primary schools.
; Our revenues are now sufficient
to Justify US in increasing the special
appropriation from $780,
100000 to $450,000 90, portion of
which should be used in providing
high schools for the rural communi-
ties. During the recent pri-
maries and election we all pledged
ourselves for better schools and high
schools in the rural sections of our
State. for one, am prepared to ap-
prove substantial appropriations for
the fultillment of this promise.
Our State University and colleges
engaged in higher education are Just
ly our pride. forming the head of our
educational system, aud should be
generously supported in their large
fields of usefulness. We must also
recognize that some of our asylums
and other State institutions are In
need of appropriations for the i'm
provement and erection of buildings
to furnish additional accommoda-
tions and for the purpose of SANTA
ton and more efficient and economi.
Cal administration.
Coed Roads Come Next.
Another matter indis-
pensable to our material welfare and
progress is improvement of the public
roads and highways. Good
public roads would greatly enhance
the value of farm lands and products,
and make country life more desirable
aud delightful. The highest
taxes paid by us, exceeding those i'm
posed either by the Federal or State
government, are the "mud taxes" ex-
torted when we travel on wretched
country roads during the winter
months. These taxes should be abol-
ished. But public roads cannot be
constructed or improved by pleasing
platitudes or eloquent declamations.
Large expenditure of money and labor
is required. The aid extended
by the State can only be supplement
tary to the work and efforts of the
local authorities. AS far as the reve-
nues and the financial condition of
the State will permit, she should will
ingly and generously aid in the bet
terment Of the public roads and
highways. The State should
first create Department of Roads,
equip it with scientific men expert
enced in road construction, and let
this department subsequently submit
a practical and comprehensive plan.
The State could then extend its aid
with the assurance that its money
would be intelligently spent, and ac-
complish good results. A depart
ment thus constituted could con-
stantly be. utilized by the counties.
The money annually expended
upon roads in this State, if scientifi-
cally used, would give us fairly good
roads.
At once, as far as existing contracts
will permit, the convicts la our peni-
tentiary should be utilized upon our
public roads. x / hope this ses-
sion of the General Assembly will be
made noted by the inauguration of
some system for the betterment of our
public roads. All reasonable and
practical legislation tending to &C
complish this purpose will have my
cordial approval.
other Important Items.
The work of our Agricultural De.
partment has been admirabls, and
/. splendid results accomplished
through it are seen in all directions.
Benefting as it does the great agri-
cultural interest of the State, it
deserves generous aad liberal con-
sideration.
Virginia is to be congrat.
ulated for creating Bureau of La
Dor and Industrial Statistics. This
bureau has been conservatiyely con-
Quoted, given much encouragement
aud rendered much assistance to the
wage-earners. Under reason
able restrictions, clearly defined by
law, power should be given the
Labor Commission to inspect fac
tories in order to procure proper in-
formation, and to see that the labor