A good suggestion.
--The last report of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Military Institute very truthfully says that
Virginia has already expended more money in exploring,surveying, establishing and re-establishing the old and disputed lines and landmarks between her own territory and that of her coterminous States, than would have been required to execute all the surveys necessary as the basis of a correct map. Besides, as mere landmarks or even monuments are perishable and often entirely obliterated, doubts, difficulties and expense will be perpetually recurring in regard to the state lines (wherever they are artificial — not natural,) until those lines shall be once ascertained and agreed upon with our Border States, and then the chief points in each line fixed as respects latitude and longitude — after which no difficulty could possibly arise, although every vestige of landmarks might be obliterated, as the various points of the lines could be readily ascertained and re-established by reference to their latitude and longitude, and the practical astronomical observations in any locality, to test any point in dispute.
They add--
‘
"Should it be the pleasure of the General Assembly to appropriate a few thousand dollars each year to defray the necessary expenses of the surveys whilst in progress, the
Superintendent of the Military Institute would have the field work entered upon and prosecuted during the vacation months of each year, by corps of Professors and Cadets of the first class, and so continued until completed.
"In this way the
Professor of Engineering would prepare the materials for an accurate geographical map, whilst the
Professors of Agriculture and of Chemistry, aided by corps of Assistant Cadets of their first classes respectively, could be making surveys, explorations and investigations, in connection with the geology, agriculture, and natural history of the
State.
"There would thus be provided the best and most improving practical school, for both Professors and students, connected with the departments of applied science at the
Institute, whilst, at the same time, a great and valuable work would be accomplished for the
Commonwealth, by her most scientific men, and in the most economical manner."
’
