Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-01-08
Governors MESSAGE.

today. while one uf the briefpst
messages ever submitted lay u Vir-
ginis Governor, contains some of
the wiSest and most popular rec
concentrations ever laid before the
State legislature.
Governor Swanson recommends
That this General Assembly APP
propriate annually out Of the
surplus the $4,000 required
for the extinguishment of our
public debt according 1" the
terms of settlement, aud that
the dividends received from
our holdings in the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Pot"ina- Rail
road also be devoted to thi~ pur-
pose. TO do this will only require
an additional annual appropriation
of $4,000.
That the State annually appro-
pirate $3.50, 900 for road improve
ment and construction. As oar
revenues increase in the future,
this annual amount could also be
increased. Our present receipts
are amply sufficient to Justify this
annual expenditure for this pur-
pose. / recommend that this
amount should be used first to pay
the expenses of the Highway Com
missioner and the operation of the
State road force, and that the
residue be divided among the
counties in proportion To the taxes
paid by the respective counties into
the State treasury. charging to
each county the expense incurred
In the county for working the
convict road force prior To the date
fixed for distribution. The appro-
priation should be available only to
those counties, or communities in
the counties, which will, in addi-
tion To- the road tax now paid.
raise an amount at least equal To
that appropriated 10y the State.
The joint fund thus appropriated,
should DC used in the Improvement
or construction of roads selected
by the concurrence of the Highway
Commissioner and under his di-
rection.
An increased appropriation for
primary asd high schools. / favor
a gradual introduction of manual
training, agricultural education
and domestic economy in the high
schools. Our system of education
should be extended and improved
until the rural communities have
opportunities for education equal
To the cities.
Increased facilities for institu-
tions engaged in normal work, so
that the schools may be provided
with more teachers who are eff
cicnt and capable and purpose to
make teaching their life pro-
fession. These institutions are
indispensable 10 our educa
tional system and should be
sufficiently numerous To provide
the schools with well-trained and
equipped teachers. Our revenues
are sufficient to Justify us in provid-
ing at this time for at least one
new normal school for the women.
This school should be large one,
having complete and thorough
course. Its physical and educa-
tional limitations and proportions
should be decided upon by compe-
tent authority before its growth
begins, so that not thought
or dollar expended upon it may
be wasted in bringing it to its
ultimate ideal.
bdt tiit otdOt DOdiu vi llcdiliI
be give authority to require the
registration of deaths; to- prevent
the pollution of all streams and
drinking water; to restrict and
prevent the spread of dangerous
communicable diseases; To inspect
and approve the plans and specifi-
cations for the construction of our
public school buildings in so far as
sanitary matters are concerned and
to correct the unsafe and unsanitary
condition of those already erected.
That the pensions paid to the
most disabled. dependent, and
deserving clSsscs be increased and
that larger appropriation for this
purpose be made. / also recon-
mend that the work of collecting
Confederate records, of cOllating
and preserving the materials Of oul
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