Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-12-24
LegOJ Notices.


ATA EEEETgNG OF THE BOAlsD
"a. OF SUPERVISORS of Augusta county,
held atthe Courthouse thereof on Friday, the
18th day of December, A. D: 1872
(John Paris, William Z: Rush, VIII
PRESENT, liam Crawford, VIM. 3. Cochran,
Henry 3. Seig and John D. Brooks,
Gentlemen Supervisors
WHEREAS, by an Act of the General Assem-
bly, Of Virginia, in force February lst, 1872 en-
titled 'iAn Act for the re-assesSment of lands in
''the Commonwealth" was provided that
Upon the petition of a majority Of the land
"holders in any county or corporation, or up
'0n the petition of the majority Of the Board
''of Supervisors of any county, or upon the petit
''Lion Of majority Of the land holders il any
Township OF any county, 1t shall be the duty
s'of the Court CT the county or corporation, Ut
''the March Term, 1872, TO appoint and associate
s'tWO freeholders with the assessor who shall
constitute a Board OF re-assassment. for the
county, corporation or township, who shall
proceed to the value OF lands, lots &c,
which Act, Immediately after its passage was,
at the instance of this Beard. published In the
ctdUntoD Spectator, and the attenJIoS Or al con-
cerned specially directed to 1t; and no petition
from any quarter being presented 70 the court,
or any desire expressed by the Iand-holders to
any member of this Board, that re-assess ment
was desired, and this Board, at this time, beiiev-
ing that tho act referred to did not provide en-
adequate remedy, but that general equaiiza-
ton OF the intrinsic values Of a.. the lands IN the
Common wealth is the only constitutional and
that owing to the peculiar condition OF Affairs in
Virginia, her people largely n debt, with large
tracts CT UnproductlVe land on hand, and desl-
ring TO sell, that o very low as5es5uleat you'd,
to : large extent, prevent holders CT real estate
ron, selling, whereas Ii The assessed values were
sucn as the owners would accept those desiring
to invest would De much more like! y TO buy -
that a low assessment necessitate5 high Per cent
OF taxation, while high assessment lowers the
per cent OF taxation; that as tho amount 10 be-
realized by taxation % meet the expenses CT gov
eminent must be thu same, whether the rate Qf
assessment be high or low, it follows matter
Of COURSE that provided the lands Of cue State
are uniformly assessed st worry low hgure, the
taxpayer gains nothing, bus Oh the contrary, an
obstacle is thrown in the way OF mis- selling his
land at its intrinsic Yaiue-the5 the evil, there
fore, consists Ii the Want OF uniformity. AND,
further, that enormous sacrifices must De the re-
suit OF low assessment BECAUSE courts are author
lied by law to confirm sales OF real estate, when
eyer three -fourths Of the assessed value IS Offer
ed-a nlgh assessment avoids, to p large extent,
this phase OF the case. which has De met at no
distant day by the debtor class.
And whereas many OF the counties Of the State
have had their lands re-assessed according 10 tina
provisions of the Act referred 10, and such re-
assessment is said TO be greatly under the first
assessment, thus making the burden Of taxation
not only unequal and uni just but unconstltutlon-
a. also
therefore, Resolred, That this Board DO re-
commend that the andholders Of Augusta coun-
ty do petition the General Assembly Of Ytrginis
Tor the Immediate enactment OF such general
law as will etfectually remedy the injustice ari-
sing from the disprOportlonate assessment Of tho
lands in the various sections Of the Common
wealth.
ResoLUsd 2nd, That the creation by the Legs-
lature. Of State Board, or Boards for the diE-
terent sections of the State, whose duty It shall
be 10 VISIT every county, examine the assessoT3
books, make careful inquiry into thesubiect and
compare the average assessments CO the various
counties and sections OF the State and thus as
certain the inequalities ROW existing, aud equal
lZa the real values OF lands among the several
counties OF the Commonwealth W0uld, in the
opinion of this Board, be the most feasible mods
CT et9cting the desired object.
Copy-tas:e
WILLIAM \. BURNETT,
Clerk Board Of Saporgi.ors Of Augus.a county.
doi7-34 Town papers copy st
4 z q EzEETgEIs 6sE E@aE EsQoAEsD
"A OF SUPERVISORS Of augusta county,
neld at the Court House On Friday, December
(Joha Paris, William :. Bush, VIII
Present, lem Crawford, Wn. 3. Cochran,
Henry &. Seig and John D. Brooks,
Gentlemen Supervisors,
WHEREAS, series Of resolutions adopted by
the Common Council Of tho City OF ctau1ton, N
regard 70 z Adenizing 20 re city iIGits sever
al OF the main thoToug hiares leading TO Staun-
ton, appointing committee to confer with this
Board or the subject OF gradu. extension of
the improvements therein referred to, has been
art member Of the committee, having appear
ed before the Beard and fully explained the
plans Of the City Council. TO wit:
lac A2AdamlzlnG of thu maIa leading roads
| to the corporate limlts and the desire that the
county authorities should adopt such measures
as will lead TO the gradual extension OF the inn
pToyameltS cortemp plated, to romo;a points in
the county. And tdis Board believing that veil
located, and properly constructed roads will be
greatly promOtive OF tae mutual interests OF the
countg and city, and ct the So Q time believing
that under tbs present read system no extensive
plan o. improvement can be carried ilCo effect
by the Townships, or taa5 shi5 Board has any
power IN the premises; Yet rs by the provis~
ions OF Sec. 81, Of Chap. al ACES OF I659-70,
provision Is made fCr working and keeping IN
repair, county roads at county expense, and IN
order to bring This subject prominently TO the
consideration OF all who are interested therein
<ScSotveG, ..aat the tax payers o. the different
EownsnIps OF Augusta county be, and they ere
/ hereby invited to hold Township meetings az
such tine IS 20 them may seem most suitable for
adopting some plan for the gradual in progemens
| OF sii the main leading GhorouGhfares of the
county at county expense-and that each Town
ship, at such meeting appoint five delegates to
meet ut the Courthouse Of Augusta county, on
the - day Oh next, who shall adopt such
measures for carrying into effect the wishes Of
the people as may be deemed sroneF.
ReSotved, That in the event 3 county meeting
should be held, the Common Council Of the city
OF Stanton be invited to take such steps to have
the Interests OF the city represented rs my be
deemed most advisable.
WILLIAM =. BURNETT,
| dei7-3s Clerk B. 5. A. @.
Town Di.Inrs 0Or,y 81 and clar~e county.