The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-11

Jefferson contemplated, an adjunct OF
popular education. | therefore, invite
your closest perusal or the e ssi
sation should be given to the librarian ana
his chief ass slant; additional stack space
should be allotted; travelling libraries ,ps
all means should be established; ana the
plan of the librarian for the rehabiiltation
and preservation of our history snouiu
have legislative sanction and support
MY former recommendations respecting
the Improvement OF our col,l,o.i .hnr..
highways | renew. Manifestly, mere
should be q road commissioner, or Deter,
a road commissioner. composed OF tnres
engineers. one from the university OF w
Military Institute or the Virginia Poly
technic Institute, to be desisnated ny we
faculties of these institutions and to serve
in an advisory capacity ana Wilhuu i
compensation, and the third to be selected
by the engineers OF the institutions just
named, who shall be chairman OF tne
commission and be given nNed sai,tts;
Unless VIC have such an Intelligent Official
road building and improvements tne
money expended will be chiefly wasted
In 1904 there was spent upon the county M;
roads in round numbers nearly one NIL
lion dollars tsl,0oo,oo0O0: for this year
the amount can b. no less, perhaps 1t is
n little ii, cX..rSs Yst itis few eNcep-
tons we loo!, in vain for Improvement.
State Aid Plan.
We should also adopt the state aid
man. tt,;, -. til;tt the stats. appropriata
S, much money II any gwen couiisy
or disirs uIon conmof Una tna' annronra-
ton by an equal or larger sum. Inc state
could well venture upon tins scheme'
safeguarding her interes{ E py neI h,s ah r.
those counties or districts in order OF ap-
pication and fultillment OF conditions. Not
less than one hundred thousand dollars
oh RI 81 n ~ ~,
$lQS,0oo0G pei annum snoul ,, nc , mpp,ntt
session. a.,
two several messages, Tor the utliilatiols
road materials or in actual road building,
i must repeat, This would relieve the
congestion at the penitentlary and the
engaged in skilled work. OF course he
contract with the Davis Shoe Company
must not be Impaired, but there Is no ne ne,
cessity for It's renewal. Moreover, Woutu
stiary farm and utilize upon the public
roads all convicts whose health requires
outdoor life and air?
minimum term OF imprisonment IN tho
penltentiary ut two years? Surely 1t
ought not to be less If this minimum be
adopted then it would be easy to utilize
the convicts in our iaIls to help Improve
our road transportation, so essential 10
the progress of our people.
Mining Industries.
The growth and magnitude of our min
ing industries afford employment to a
very large number of people. The condi-
lions under which these people work are
not free from danger, and for their pro-
lection would suggest the enactment of
laws substantially analogous to those
already In force In the various mining
States OF the Union
The State needs Immigration, for she
can easily support a population of ten mil
lion, and will lag behind her sister States
unless we have such an inflow of people,
I would therefore suggest the enactment
of legislation for the procurement of de-
sirabler immigrants who can contribute
to our home building and development
energies. Outside of the efforts OF our
railways we have practically done Moth
Ing to attract such Immigration. and we
must fall behind our sterlstates unless
we make such endeavors,
. Great opportunities are fast coming 10 I
Virginia and we must grasp them with |
the spirit OF enterprise and progress, The i
demands of the hour can not be met by
past traditions nor excused by past mis-
fortunes; bit we should rather count
these things as the enerciz'ng call for
the renewal of our most patriatic efforts
to place our beloved Commonwealth in the &
forefront OF the extraordinary, economic, b
mud moral forces now Mt PLAY /
IN the world. A. y. MONTAGUE,