Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-08-24

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{ there are nov comparatively few cas-s. |
suppose this provision is made " iih you by the
respective counties and | am Inelincd 10 think
this Is the best mode. Several OF the towns in
one OF our counties, AT least. have recently Mp.
piled TO the Legislature for authority 10 asSo-
ciate for establishing a common poor house.
They have been induced TO do THIS, by the Sue
cessful experiment of salem and OF some oiher
large towns, which, hy n proper police aud
economr, have greatly diminished The expense.
and. at the sana time. promoted the comfort
and Improvement of The subjects of that prosi.
sion. In these cases, n farm has been connect
ed with the establishment. and such as were OF
ability tn labor on II, on 80 work NJ any trade,
were regularly employed /; aud The order aud
comfort of n private family have been introdu
ced into these dwellings. and schools provided
for the instruction ~ the ehildren-and the
boys. when they nrriye at IA suitable agp. are
hound out h, the oVersrefs either to farmers.
IN " hicl, case they commonly have a small snm
secured To them when they come of age, Or 10
mechanics 10 learn same trade. Tie females
are put out into respectable fanIlies-and, IN
all eases, ii is made a condition in the iuden
iarc that they shall be sent To school and have
opportunity 20 learn TO read, write aud cipher.
Aud II is made .he duty OF the overseers oi tho
poor, OF the town where they reside, TO see that
they are properly supplied with food. clothing
and other necessaries, aud are, IN othe. respects
well treated.
The laying cut. making aud repairing roads
and highways, forms "A subject OF great impor-
lance, both as it respects pr 'yate rights aud pub.
lie convenience. With us, this duty is p inci-
pally devolved upon the towns. The Select.
men are authorised by law 10 lay oui, in their
respective towns, particular and private ways,
for the use of such town, ur for the use oil one or
more of The Inhabitants or proprietnrs OF land IN
the town. The persons desiring 10 have II way
laid oui, make Applications III writing 10 the
Selectmen, who examine the subject aud II they
think proper, la, on, the way ~ report The mo.
ney 10 the town for their acceptance. II the
Town think proper TO approve aud allow the
same and order II 10 br recorded by the Clerk,
il becomes IN eslabIishrd way. Ia case the
5electmen Tefusn TO lay ont the way, or the
town refuse TO allow il, provision Is made, for
the persons agg,ieved, for carrying the case be.
fore the court having Jur'sd'ct'on Of such mat
ters IN that coun' y.
The public highways or common roads lea.
ding from town TO town are LAID out on peti-
ton in the FIRST instance To the court where
notice is drst ordered 10 all persons Interested,
who may he present aud heard by thr court IN
their re sous for aud against The way-and
; also when the nc uAl view is made, IN case such
examination oil the conrt is ordered aud they
may also ne nehfu before Tue 1Dhft on Tue
inni question of establishing the same, as sur
yeyed and laid out. But all highways and
bridges within the limits otnny town are made
and supported Mt its charge, unles' Tho court
on appltca ion by such town, shall Judge the
same nnTeasonahly burdeusome aud IN thai
CASE the town is relieved, IN such measure, ms
iflndges TO be reasonable, from the funds Il
the Country. Provision Is made Tor indemni-
{, ing any person through whose lands any road
or highway is laid and The iamageJ in such
cases are also paid by the town.
Each tow" is bound by law TO keep all high.
ways, townways and bridges IN rcpai", - thar
they may be snfe aud convenient for travellers,
and is liable TO Indictment aud fine for any de-
lanlt Of duty in this particular aud is also
made responsible 10 any person suffering iniu-
~ 10 his person OF damage To his property, TO
be recovered by action in The courts OF Law.
The regulations presc ribed by lan for making
aud repairing The roads aud highways, have
leti 10 the towns an option IN some particulars
as to the mode Of performing ,hr duty. At the
annual meeting Il number of surveyors of high
ways are chosen. the law requires there shall
be ut lehst two aud IN practise SIX or eight are
chosen in "A town of ordinary extent, Al the
same meeting the town votes and agrees 10
raise "A certain sum deemed sufficient Tor the
object, and the Selectmen are required, before
the first OF May Annually, TO assign for the sew
eral surveyors their division aud limits tpr ma.
KING and repairing the highways and roads aud
each surveyor takes charge OF his particular
division. The SeleCimen make and deliver TO
each sdrveyor lisi OF s1eh persons, rs ihey
may assign TO his division with the assessment
or tnx OF eAch person set against hip name
The surveyor on receiving this isl is Ia give no
tice 10 each person Of the sun he j. assessed.
aud also AT least six days notice of The Iims
h. ohaII t,t,t,,t To-. 40, 4 - 80, fh. h,uIuuuxs
10 The edd tina, each person may have oppor
lunity, by himself or substitute, TO work ont
bis tax AT a certain rate for labonT, fixed by
the town, and he is allowed for whatever work
he may do or cause 10 he done--and the ,uryey
or is bound to render al the end OF his term 10
the assessors a list ol such persons as have
been deficient in working out their taxes, and
such defclent suns are put int1 a distinct col
umn against their names in the 1ext Town tax
and collected with ii. This however does moi
happen to any great extent but On the Other
hand, such is the ~ crest of the people IN i'm
proving their owl roads, that they frequently |
add 10 heir taxes voluntary contributlJ ns OF
labor for their amendment and repair.
] have thus given YOU IA very imperfect out
line and survey Of orr towns. The expert
meni OF two centuries has proved their utility
with Us. They were peculiarly tire offspring
of the popular will, aud have been cheri'hed
with fresh affection by every new generation.
H"w far they may be applicable TO the phyoi-
cal circumstance OF your commonwealth, OF TO
the habits of your people, you, to whom II be-
longs are best qualified to decide, your enligh'-
enrd and patriotic men, however. il they should
after due examination, come TO the opinion,
that il would be wise aud poli'ic for your Com
m%onwealtb to adopt such Institutions, will fluid,
am afraid. insurmonntalle obstacles TO their
establishment in the fear Of the Gw aud the pre-
JUDGES of the many, which, in all communities,
can be brought TO resist any charge IN is ins'i.
iutions and usaSrs. II i, true these corporations
are emphalicaliy III, Institutions Of the people
they are primary assemblies for deliberations on
common interests. Thev are so many indie
pendent democracies where every voter may
join ia the discussion, Or act IN the common
1aii6a RI tt,ug tor Tho ,nuntnn nDod The ir