Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-09

! ''"ioh N'hidlu tudt INC lilih, PRISONS,
and State reformatories should be-
frequently and thoroughly examined
| by capable and efficient State OIL
| cor. II should be seen that the build.
ings are clean and sanit.cy; that the
prisoners receive proper treatment;
are properly clothed and are fed on
sufficient and wholesome food.
Some of the jails are unfit for oc-
cupation aud are pest-houses for the
spread of contagious disease. Unfav-
orable conditions, when found, should
be promptly reported to the proper
| authorities. and these should be EN-.
powered to apply Immediately effoc-
| tive remedies. believe 1t would be
| far moro effective and economical to
have this work done by commits.
sioner than by n Board.
State Farm Should BE Uscd Also for
Agricultural Experiment Purposes.
81 wish TO call your attention to tho
great advantages which would accrue
| to the agricultural interests of the
State II the convict farm. In addition
TO the purposes for which ii is now
| used. were also utilized to make ex-
periments in agriculture
"The farm contains every variety Of
soil and conditions existing in Vir.
gnia. 1t has an abundance OF labor
and every facility for making accu-
rate, prolonged, ard scientific expert
| ments. Under proper direction II
could be made one OF the best and
most successful experimental farms in
the Nation. This could be accom-.
plished with very little additional en-
pense to the State The results of
the experiments made could he pub
lished and distributed free under the
direction of the agricultural depart.
| ment OF the Virginia Polytechnic In.
stltute. Thus with hardly an appre-
| ciable increased cost. this farm could
he made great object lesson In mod
| ern. scientific, and thoroughly prac.
teal farming. Not only would the
benefits be great to the State, but also
| to the convicts themselves.
| Preservation of Mineral and Timber
| Exhibit at jamestown Exposition.
Through the generous contribu.
| tons and earnest efforts of the rail
| roads and the mineral and timber in
terests, Virginia made mt the James.
| town Exposition the most magnificent
display Of mineral aud forestry wealth
| ever before collected by State.
This valuable collection cost more
| than 100000, and believe that one
equal to this will never again be Sc
cured. All the contributors to this
| wonderful exhibit are willing TO give
IL to the State, provided n suitable
building is furnished at the state cap
ital for its permanent installation.
| recommend that this he done. In ad-
dition. ! suggest that you consider tho
jadvisability of establishing State
department of mines and bureau OF
State geological surveys. The miner.
al resources of Virginia are so varied
and valuable, and possess such vast
possibilities Of wealth, that the State
| should undertake their systematic
study and exploitation.
Bureau of Labor and Industrial sta.
tistIcs.
THE Bureau OF Labor and Indus
trial Statistics has l'aen wisely and
conservatively conducted: has given
much encouragement, and rendered
! much assistance. TO the wage earners.
! Its annual report. containing so much
| interesting and valuable information
Is alone worth the small sum appro
priated for it's support
THE work and usefulness of this bu-
reau can be beneflcially extended. The
| ed so as to enable 1t efficiently to III.
spect the factories. and to see that
the labor laws enacted by the State,
end especially those governing the
| employment of children, are obeyed
There is no more important question
AFFECTING the future well-being OF this
| state than the prohibition of the
working of children of tender years
in factories and the rigorous enforce
ment of such proper restrictive meas
lures.
Agriculture Department.
| II recommend that the laws re.
lspecting the duties and powers Of the
! Commissioner of Agriculture and I'M
migration and OF the Board of Agri-
culture be amended. SO as to define
clearly the powers and duties of each.
thus preventing conflict of authority.
Fish and Oyster.
| THE people OF the State. and es-
ipecially those of Tidewater have a
valuable asset in their water bottoms.
The fish and oyster interests, have.
in the past year. brought into the
State direct revenue OF 100000
Through an expenditure of less than
oae-third of that SUM, not including
the taxable values and material
wealth resulting indirectly therefrom.
II may possibly be we'll to consider
the wisdom of the suggestion that the
entire direct revenue. or a large por-
ton thereof. collected through the
States oyster officials. should, for a
few years at least be expended in
protecting ana fostering these indus.
tries. The present appropriation is
inadequate to meet the demands OF
this growing interest. If properly
protected and Wisely administered,
our fisheries would far surpass those