Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-07-10
Then and Now.

Juniata county was, by Act of March 2,
1881, stricken OF from Miffiin county. Pre-
vious thereto, parties in suit, witnesses, ju-
rors, executors, administrators, guardians,
ana all persons having official business in
court, from the two ends of this, now Ju-
niats, but then Mifiiin county, had TO travel
on foot or horseback about forty miles to
get to court. Mileage was then a consider
able item of taxation. There were then no
light vehicles, such as phaerons, buggies,
barouches, or any other kind Of carriage,
except the two-wheeled gig.
Old Mifiiin county was then entitled to
two members in the Legislature. The peo-
pie below the Long Narrows had been petit
tioning the General Assembly for some fif-
teen or twenty years, asking for division
of the county, but did not succeed because
of the opposition above the Narrows. The
election struggle often ran higher on the
two sides of the mountain for and against
division, than for and against political par
ties. Below the Narrows both parties
would sacrifice their political friend to
make sure of the best man to advocate di-
vision, and so, above, parties united in cp-
posing divisioni but it so happened at the
election of 1880 that John Cummins, of
Tuscarora, an Irishman OF good talents,
and Democrat, was successful. l remcm-
ber portion of his speech when Oh the
floor, advocating the division. He, with
outstretched arms, declared that 'sthe peO-
pie below the Nsrrows were opposed TO
going to Lewistown to attend court, twelve
miles west of MIffiin-half of the way not
a solitary house, and in the winter often
icicles, hanging on the long switch limbs of
trees, would strike the travellers face.
Here we have to travel these dresry Mar
rows against the cold west wind, and against
the current OF the water, and against the
weather, but, above all, against our Wills"
That speech settled the matter, and the di-
vision was fully accomplished.
During the fall, or rather opening winter,
David Walker, Esq, of Walker township,
Judge of Juniata county, carried petition
and obtained many signatures, to have ii.
I. McAlister, then quite young man, ap-
pointed Justice of the Peace for the dis
trict then composed of old Fermanagh
township, which had lately been divided.
Previous to the division of Fermanagh
township there were only two townships
east of the Juniata river, namely, Ferman-
agh and GreenwoOd-the line commencing
n the middle of Lost Greek gap in hade
mountain, and thence southward, running
straight to the Tuscarors mountain, perhaps
a distance of ten or eleven miles, and in its
course dividing both McAlIsterville and
Thcmpsontown. Governor Wolf withheld
said commission for II. I. McAlister until
he would know the result of the division of
said county. and then when he signed the
law for division he also signed commits
sion for Ii. 7. McAlister. Joshua Beale,
who was then Register and Recorder of old
Miffiin county, informed the young Squire
that his was the first commission received
by him for an office received by him in the
new county of Junata.
In those days member of the Legislature
received as compensation for his services
only three dollars per day. We had honest
men then, who went TO the Legislature TO
do the will of their masters who gent them,
and, as soon as their work was dose, ad-
iourned and went home with honor. Would
il not be well just now, considering the
present financial condition of our country,
if the people of Pennsylvania would require
pledge from those whom they nominate
for the Legislature, declaring themselves IN
favor of reduction Of salary to about 50
per day, instead sl0' Would we not get
just as good laws, and save to the State
sI50,OOO or more, which would be an item
well worth considering. Now let the tax
PAYERS consider their own interests and get
the State out of debt. Then corporations
need not pay these enormous taxes to re-
plenish the Golfers of the Commonwealth,
Just to fill the pockets of the offiee-holders,
at the expense of the people. Then rail-
road corporations could carry passengers,
produce and merchandise at less cost, SO a.
to compo-t with the hard times that every
BODY complains of. In that way the agri'
culturist could get his crops of cereals tc
market little cheaper, and buy his mer'
chandise a little cheaper, thus indirectly
making or getting more money during th'
year than he does now, making good thai
old proverb of the great philosopher, Ben
.jamin Franklin, that ga penny saved is az
good as a penny won," The State tax OF
coal freight would also be reduced, to tbs
advantage of the consumer, and SO in many
other things. Now, LET the taxpayers anc
voters take cognizance of these things, anC
act on them for their own best interest
that it may be well with them hereafter.
TACITUS.
Last Friday William Wagner and Post
master Books were informed, by dispatch
BY the Chief of Police of Altoona, that
man with watches that were taken from tn
post-ofice in this place some time ago, ha'
been arrested in Altoona. Wagner went Il
Altoona, but the watches were not his, ant
the party was releaseh