Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-08-30


rengthened, or Virginia would retro
grade and be far outstripped by her
sister States. l promised that my
first care should be directed toward
producing educational progress and
Improvement. In my inaugural
address as Governor, [ presented this
matter to the General Assembly as
forcibly and as urgently as ! could.
| urged that the appropriations for
primary schools be doubled. This
was done. The improvement OF the
primary schools in every section or
the State bears testimony to the
wisdom Of this appropriation. l
urged that a special high school fund
for rural schools should be provided
to give the rural sections beneht OF
higher education. This recommen-
dation was enacted into law, and the
nigh schools of the State during the
four years l was Governor Increased
in number from seventy four to four
hundred and five. More than half
the magisterial districts of Virginia
today possess splendid high schools.
This progress should continue, in
stead of ceasing, until the people OF
every section Of Virginia have faclll-
ties not only for primary but for
higher education. l Favored ana
aided in every possible way the
passage Of the bill loaning the liter
airy fund TO the school authorltles
to pay half of the cost of construction
of school buildings, loanlng the
money at four per cent. payable
within fifteen years. Under the
provisions of this act modern and
creditable school building have been
erected in every section OF the state.
During the four years of my admin
istration there was spent in the con-
struction OF school buildings under
this law the sum of S2,942, OS5.9I
almost four times as much as was
expended for the same purpose dur
ing the four previous years.
l urged the passage of approprla-
lions for travelling school libraries,
and also circulating libraries: so
that the school children and the
reading public could have furnished
them free, suitable books for readlng.
No one can estimate the benefit that
have and will continue to improve
from the creation of these libraries.
During these four years, fifteen
rural normal training schools were
created to equip rural teachers, ana
agricultural high schools were located
in each Congressional District to
teach modern scientific farming.
Virginia had been deficient in pro-
viding college educational facilities
for her daughters. During my adj
ministration as Governor two female
normal schools were created, one at
Fredericksburg and one at Harrison
burg to provide needed educational
opportunities for the daughters of
this Commonwealth. The success or
these institutions is assured, and the
future blessing to be derived from
them in a larger supply OF efficient
teachers will be manifold. The Uni
yersities and various colleges Of the
State were given increased appropria-
tions which wonderfully improved
them and made these State institu-
tions equal to those of other States.
1t was absolutely necessary to do TINS
10 make up-to-date and e1ncient these
great institutions. During the four
years that | was Governor, there was
appropriated by the State to the
primary schools S1,S02,3IS.0O more
than was appropriated during the
four years OF Governor Montague
administration. The educational de-
velopment in Virginia was so great,
so marked, that the amount given to
primary schools, State and local,
during these four years exceeded that
Of the four previous years by
S7,913,095.34 ! do not believe
there is a State in the Union which
in the same length of time has made
greater educational progress. wish
TO commend the members of the
General Assembly who were wise
enough to vote these appropriations
which have brought this revival and
these great blessings and benefits to
Virginia. OF the increased expen-
ditures made under my adminlstra-
ton as Governor, the larger part were
for educational purposes, the bene-
fits Of which go TO the great masses
of the people Virginia cannot spend
her public money better. Great
States and great nations can be built
only upon the solid foundation or
broad. wise and scientific education.
/ rejoice 10 have aided and am proud
to share the responsibility for these
increased expenditures for public ed
ucation, which will bring to this great
Commonwealth future blessings that
it is impossible 10 fully estimate.
The next policy that | earnestly
advocated in my campaign was State
aid to road Improvement. In that
campaign ! distinctly stated that
favored local, State and and National
aid for road construction felt
that the time had arrived for the
State to take hold vigorously of the
matter of her public roads. | FULLY
realized the great loss sustained oy
the people of the State on account
of the "annual mud tax. In my
inaugural address | recommended,
first the creation OF highway COM
mission, with scientific engineers,
who should give, their services free
of cost TO the local communities, in
order TO aid scientific improvement
of the roads ! recommended that
the convicts in the jails and those
with short terms in the penitentiary
should be worked upon the public
roads. These recommendations were
enacted into laws. When the second
legislature under my administration
convened, l recommended that the
State should appropriate $3.50, 100000
TO aid the local authorities in the
Improvement Of public roads, to be
divided among those counties which
did not have the benefit of the con
yict road force. This recommends
tion also was enacted into law. This
law produced wonderful road I'M
provement In the State, and under