Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-02-10

l.
s76l 90: Frederick, sSl297; King George,
s1oG:3 Loudoun, sl,l77.l4; Louisa, $497. Il
Madison, sl93. Oh; Northumberland, s2lSl 10;
Orange, s5U7. 90; Prince William, 5000;
Ranpabannock, s26S.72;; Rockingham, 81
070 13: Shenandoah, $l30.2G; SpotsylVan1a,
s67 ,S4: Stafford, $20l.l7; Warren, S5l9:21;
We>tmorelaud, $373777; Fredericksburg, sl,-
2Sl.S5.
GOV. SEYMOUR.
Ex-Governor Seymour, Of New York, &C
COMMANDED by Mrs Seymour and other ladies,
and Senator Beach, also Of New York, were at
the Capitol to-day They visited both branches
Of the Legislature, where he greatest courtesy
was shown them In the House of Delegates
q recess of fifteen minutes was taken, IN which
members we're introduced to the distinguished
ex Governor The party visited the State Ill
brary, where they spent some time examining
its contents. Mr.. Seymour and party lett the
o;tv FIR the South on the afternoon train.
Letter from Loudoun County.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.
LEEsBURG, Feb. THE news of the adjust
mept Of the difficulty about the Washington
and Ohio Railroad was received here to-day,
and everybody seemed pleased with the result.
The only desire here is to have an outlet to the
West, SO that travellers can come to Loudoun
from that region without having to 90 all the
way to Washington with the dclcctable prl Vi
lege of going back the same way.
By the way | was greeted the other day
with the question, Have you seen the OHIO
man? he can tell you all about turnpikes aud
how thew are made" | happened to know all
about it, and it is done in this way: We will
take for example the country from Leesburg to
Upperve The people along the route get
up a petition for metaed road, and 1t Is pre-
sented to the Board Of County Commissioners,
and, if asked for by majority OF the persons
within one or two miles OF the route, that
Board determines that the road shall be made,
and requires the persons along the route to
secure the right of way. This is done by per-
SOUS interested either giving the right OF way
or raising money to pay for it. Disluterested
parties are then selected to determine how
much each man will he benefited by the road,
and a tax is levied from him according 10 his
proximity to the road, and this tax he may pay
10 money or in labor, or materials at far rates
We will say the road is twenty miles long; tor
each square mile on each side there are GAO
acres, and for the whole distance on both sides
25, 600 acres, and the same quantity for mule
in rear of the front lots. We will put this road
at 81 900 per mile, which, for twenty nllcS.
would be $4,000.
The %, 600 front acres, at sl.25 average per
acre would produce. $32 900
The back u. GOO. at ftty cents, l2S00
Total, S44 500
These roads are sometimes free roads, but
in Coshocton and Muskngum counties they
were (per act. of lS77I toll roads The tolls are
established by law: the gates farued out on
bond and security; the payments made quar-
tery and the funds applied to repairs making
of lateral roads &c. | have seen man who
wa. supervisor OF roads for five years In Ohio,
and he told me the plan was to work the dirt
roads early 10 the spring and to bed up as
much as he expected to gravel 10 the fall. The
summer travel hardened the road bed and
made it fit to receive the gravel, aud, he said
further, that two men having front OF ulle
on each side would not untrequenty give hun
$40 each beyond their taXes to flush the road
in front of their farms that particular season.
Sometimes eight or ten miles would DC gravel
ed in one season. have not doubt that the
land fronting on the road would be increased
in value S. per acre, which applied to the 25.-
GOO acres would make SIPS, 900
And gay the others 81, 25,6oo
Making the gain, $l53, 600
For an outav Of 10000
For the lands have taken as example, s.
would be about . per cent, while in Frederick
and Washington counties, Maryland, the gam
in value is twenty per cent on $50 or SI0o
levied I heard of one instance in which man
had offered his farm for S5S, O00 II being two
miles from turnpike. In two years road
was built through or alongside of it, and he
sold it for $4,000; gain iu value enough to
build 81 miles of road Can not our people
have such law? A general law; charter re-
corded in County Court; whats the use of both;
ering the legislature with such small matters
or the Secretary of the Commonwealth? its
local matter; let the local tribunals manage. it;
restrict the issue of bonds to half the capital
stock; require sinking fund Of at least two
ner cent to be set aside, and let the STOCKHOLM
ers or taxed proprietors have the surplus of
tolls or dividends, to make lateral roads or
bridges. ALIOUlS.