Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-12-17
Letter from LOu(IOun Co.

Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
LEEsBURa, Va, Dec 16, 1875. Our Board
OF Supervisors has been called By three of their
number to hold special meeting on Tuesday
next to consider important matters. What
they are it is hard to surmise Some think it
is to consider the condition of the Jail, which
is half filed by white and coored criminals,
and the other half filled by one crazy white
man. ..-.a-~.
l hear further that 40 insane daughter of
the late Michael Beamer has been confined in
an clubhouse for months; that she is 10 pitiaby
disgusting condition, but that now, by the
death OF her father she is worth several thous-
and dollars. The Sheriff, who has been order
ed to take charge of her, has applied in vain
to farmers to take care Of her, Offering to give
any price that any three free holders may think
reasonable. There is 40 room 10 the Jail unless
she be put in the same room with the male
lunatIc, which is not to be thought Of 1t may
be that this matter moves the Supervisors to
come together. 1t may be that they come to
gether to consider the condition of the Door :
house and the farm attached thereto,
understand there are forty nine paupers at
the poor's house, and believe there are eight
cabins occupied by them, it may be there is a
larger house for some OF them The farm is
situated 10 Mercer District about FIVE miles
from the Fauquer line, and perhaps seven
from the Clarke line; it contains about 36'
acres, and is worth from $50 to S35 per acre,
or say sl2 900, the county has, besides, IS 900
let out, making $4,000. 1t strikes ME very
io'clbly that this SUN would max a fine sink.
Ing fluid tor bonds to the extent of $50 600
to De appropriated to the purchase of farm,
and the building of poor's house, near Clarke's
Gap, where the roads from three districts con
verge, and which is much more accessible to
the other two lower districts, Leesburg and
Broad Ruu, than the present location, and not
very much more lnconvenient to Mercer Dis
trlet. Here the nearness to the railroad would
enable the paupers to cultivate currents. rasp-
berries, strawberries asparagus, and vegetables
generally, and dispose Of them readily, and
after while fruits would come on, which would
make the Institution sei.supportiug. Six per
cent: Interest and Ooe per cent additional as a
sinking tuud would he 50 lOO which would
be tax OF about Il cents 10 the SlOO on
property.
Again, the Board may deem it advisable to
petition the Legislature to cause the 1.-THE OF
81 cents to BE- applied wholly to schools, which
would make the head tax $50, and should
tie amendment to the COnstil utiou be adopted
81 81. This 50 50 per head ought to produce
$oOO,OoO, or perhaps s5500OO, if rigldly col
hnS r. ,lo,, IL
property from the school tax.
Again, the Board might petition the L,pis
lature to cause o0e-half the taxes on propertv
to be collected by November |. and the other
halt by May |, the head tax being PAYABLE all
by Nov. /, as above, but to do so the Treasur-
er should be required t. be at his Office all
week days from the time be gets the books to
the lst of November. This might be supple.
mented by penalty Of 10 por cent. on the half
not paid when due, or one per cent. for the first
month, two per cent for two moths and five
per cent. TOR three months delinquency This
would AVOID risk incurred by "peripatetic
treasurer, who has sometimes thousands of
dollars with him, and who offers, by his pub.
llcty OF that Tact, great temptations to robbery.
Ii would also do away with the risk now incur.
red by placing the money 10 National Banks.
which may break and cause loss to the Com.
mon~eaIth, and leave it 10 the hands Of the
people till is needed. This rule might be
applied to al taxes, State, county and MUM
oipal. These suggestions are applicable to all
large cnuntics
n. b. understand that Frederick county
mas model Superintendent of the Poor, and
that he very nearly supports the poor from
the proceeds Of his farm There was no coun.
ty levy for poor iu 1874 for Frederick county
| Would it not be we'll for the Legislature to call
tor his reports and make them study?
ALIOUIS