The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-09-21

over the road that passes through your county
Thus it is apparent that had they succeed
cd ia their designs, the Chesapeake and Ohio
Road. running as it does through your coun-
ty, would have been practically killed, and
if not abandoned entirely, would have been
compelled to rely solely upon local traffic, and
thus become a more grinding monopoly than
it is at present, to bleed the people living up
on this line. As further evidence of what
[ have said, I am told that it is boldly
avowed by the friends Of the Chesapeake and
| Ohio r. b. in Staunton and elsewhere. that
the construction of the Lynchburg route to
the sea, is the eventual destination of the road
n oreover, had the Virginia and Tennessee
road passed into the hands Of the Baltimore
and Ohio road, which in point Of fact was re-
ally, though not ostensibly, the road which
wished to make the purchase, your Valley Il. II.
would have been effectually killed off for the
present generation, say this, because by
actual measurement, Salem, the objective
point Of the Valley Rail Road, is twenty eight
miles nearer Baltimore by following the
Va. and Tenn road to Lynchburg and thcuce
the Orange and Alexandria road to Balti-
more, than it is by the Valley route The pos
session Of the Virginia & Tennessee road by the
Baltimore & Ohio road would have established
all of the Southern and Southwestern connec-
tions for Baltimore, which she is now forced
to secure By building the Valley Railroad,
as is admitted by the Baltimore papers. Thus
I think have proven that, instead of being
the opponent Of your interest, have been its
guardian and protector. Moreover, in pro-
tecting your interest, L drew around me
the most Of the representation OF Southwest
and Southsde Virginia, which enabled me to
place the Court of Appeals at the town of
Staunton, and effect many other measures of
Importance and advantage to you.
REAssEssMENr OF LANDS.
The most important Of all measures to the
people Of Augusta, likely to be brought to the
consideration Of the GcLeral Assembly at its
next session, will be bill providing for the
equalization Of the assessments OF Real estate
throughout the Commonwealth. The State
Constitution provides in article < sec. 1st
that Taxation, whether imposed by the
State, county, or Corporate bodies, shall be
equal and uniform, and all property both re-
al and personal shall be taxed in proportion to
its value, to be ascertaiped as prescribed by
law No one species Of property from which
q tax may be collected, shall be taxed higher
than any other species Of property CT equal
value and further in sec. 6 Of the same ar
tcle, it provides that, 1.-The General Assem-
bly, shall provide for the reassessment of the
real estate of this State.in the year 1869, or
as soon thereafter as practicable, and every
eth. year thereafter, provided in making
such assessment no lands shall be assessed
above or below Its true value,' and yet we
End the grossest inequality in the assessments
Of real estate, not only in Eastern and South
western Virginia, but also in the Valley.
The object to be attained is uniform as
sessn,cnt in proportion to actual value. If the
assessment he uniform, it matters net to the
State or owners whether it be high or low, for a
given amount Of revenue must at all events De
produccd-but in case of inequality, those
whose lands are assessed at high figures are
required to pay moro than their fair proper
ton, and this rule holds good with regard to
communities, the same as individuals. For
example, the lands Of the county Of Augusta
arc assessed at one million, four hundred and
thirty-seven THOUSAND nine hundred and six dol
lars, twenty three cents G. .437, 906 23) above
the assassm ent of the same lands ia 1S56-whllc
the lands Of the county Of Rocking ham a:e six
hundred and twenty four thousand one hun
dred and sixty one dollars and 81 cents less
than the assessment ofthe same lands in 036-
5 making u difference against Augusta, taking
the assessment Of 1856 as a standard, Of over
two million and fifty thousand dollars. A
} still greater disparity exists between Augusta
aud several other Valley counties with lands
quite as good as hers. The best remedy ful
7 this evil, is universal equalization Of values
throughout the State If that fails, the next
5 best remedy will be to obtain the passage
: of a bill authorizing the rcasscssment Of land:
: in the county Of Augusta In that reassess
Q mcnt your lands must, at any rate. be brough
t as much below the assessment Of 1856, as tht
I, lands of Rockingham, which arc quite equal t
yours in value. When SO reduced you will b
t relieved Of two millions andsizty thousand dol
8 lars Of taxable values, upon which youare nov
, paying according to the present assessment tel
n thousand, three hundred dollars, (Sl0,300.
: The counties that have been assessed at low
G rates are going to fight against this relic
: in your behalf, for it is their interest to DO SC
: and it will require all Of the influence tina
5 you can bring to bsar, TO attain either of tn
: remedies indicated [ think there are iufu
: ences in thu State that will uphold my hands
and unite with me III relieving you Of this
: palpable injustice.
Y REpUBLICANIsM.
: I deem it necessary in conclusion to tak
: notice Of certain reports that have alread
. been put out in the County against nc
:, To wit: That am a sympathizer wit
y the Republican party, Demaeoguc, and
y Disorganizer To all Of which reports de
, sire to give fat and uneqpivqcal denial Id
= not claim that am either an extremist Or fire.
:. cater, and frankly admit that members of tn
i Republican party in the Legislature Of Vir
y y ginia and in the County Of Augusta, hay
:, aided me in the accomplishment of ends c
E advantage to the people Of Augusta, pure
; ly local, and in no wise poltical-whic
y services I have always appreciated and en-
= deavored to return in like spirit But there
: no member of the Republican party either i
q the County of Augusta or the State Of VII
! GINA, who will not be compelled to say, tn;
- my position on politics has always bee
, Of an uncquivocal and decided adhesio
! to the Conservative party Of Virginia.
y what l have heard be true, do not thin
. that certain prominent men living in th
~ town of Stanton, who are bending all thol
- efforts 60 procure my defeat, can obtain tn
), same testimony at the hands Of members {
= ~. I