The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-12-25

To the Editor of The Morristowu Gazette:
"Times are bard'' over here, pr
duce is very low, the weather is co
and roads awful bad, but health
tolerably good as a general thin
Everything is basking along aftt
the old style, except
OUR EXCELLENT SCHOOL
is adding life and vigor to our 81
ciety and prospects. The schoc
has been under the present manage
ment less than Eve months. yet il
success has exceeded the expects
tions of the most hopeful. and it
prospects grow brighter still. Man
young persons are here from a dis
tance, and all seem to be doing well
we are glad to have them among us
and our citizens will give them ant
any others that may choose to come
a hearty welcome and kind enter
tainment.
DEATH
visited our community on the nigh
of the 9th instant, and carried away
our friend j. N. Treece, ESQ.,, /;
highly respected and useful citizen
He was a member of the bar, and
for eight years after the late war
Clerk Of the Circuit Court Of this
county. He made an excellent of
ficer, and was safe legal counsel
lor, but his best and brightest quail.
ties were seen and felt in his private
life. By his industry he had accu-
mulated considerable means. He
leaves a wife and an only son, a
bright little fellow of six summers,
to mourn his loss as we'll as other
relatives and large circle of friends.
The funeral, which was largely at
tended on Sunday last, took place at
the Baptist church, Rev. B. G. Ma
nard officiating. Deceased was bur-
led with Masonic honors, and has
gone to his reward. Peace to his
memory.
THE TOLL GATE.
It would be out of order for one
to write to the press from this coun-
ty, and not speak of the toll-gate
swindIe. "Bric-a.Brac'' was last
heard from, profaning the name of
toll gate'' Well, we have never
met anything more provoking, or
more calculated to excite ones ire
than that toll gate. That it is an
a sWindle and humbug,
cannot be denied; but how are we !
going to help ourselves, is the ques- |
Lion? Why think of it-over here
in Claiborne our citizens living with
in one mile of either side of the road |
are compelled to do six days work |
On the road every year, and yet when
any of them pass the gate-to say
1othing Of the condition of the road
they are charged a rate of toll
hat is in direct violation of law.
Following are the rates fixed by law,
code, section 1886: "For hogs or
sheep, per head, cent. For horses
,r mules, loose. per head, 2 cents.
For every loaded wagon, 25 cents.
For buggies and other similar two
lorse carriages, Is cents. For 9th
II two-horse pleasure carriages, %
,ents. For one-horse buggies and
similar vehicles, 10 cents. For 9TH
,r vehicles for the transportation of
goods, &C., 10 cents" Charging
ates in excess of these is a INSIDE
neanor, and the Grand Jury is given
power over such an of
'ense, by code section 50S7. Now,
will any gentleman justify the acts
IF the officials in charging so cents
or a one-horse buggy? 1t is the
,ad experience of your correspond
mt that such rates have been
charged, and here assert that it is
n violation of law. But 1 omitted
,ne item in the rates "For mount.
ID horse. 5 cents" Gentlemen of
he gate, by what authority do you
charge 10 cents "a double rate) for
mounted horse?
But we could stand the rates of
oil if the road was in anything like
,ood condition; but for a Estate
oad'' bearing the name of 1.-The
Bean Station and Cumberland Gap
Turnpike" my stars what a name,
md in what fix is the road 1t is
bsolutely dangerous to travellers
'ut the public is well informed as to
Is condition. We will not attempt
o trace the money taken in at the
,ate to its destination. We only
SIX what has become of all the
noney taken in at these double
riole, quadruple aud-and-(we've
the next word, but five
ines ten are 6fty), rates The
cho, says what? We make no
harges, but an explanation would
ook we'll. Section 2, of chapter 45,
f the Acts of 1837.38. makes it the
uty of the commissioners to settle
nth the County Court of Granger
ounty, at the first court after the
rst day of March, iR each and every
ear" and to 'render to the court a ,
all and fair statement Of the re
eipts and expenditures of all mon
IS received as toll at the gate of
aid road, plainly showing for what
ae money was expended, and to
HON paid, with proper vouchers
hereupon, it shall be the duty of I
aid county of Granger TO appoint
lree persons, we'll qualified, to
lake settlement with said commits
toner's, and report the same TO the
ourt, which report shall be entered
f record" This is the law. We
o not pretend to say whether it has
cen complied with or motif il has,
ne records of the court will show it
If it has not, the matter should
e investigated. Without such re-
ort and settlement, how can we
now how much is received at the
ate, or for what the same was ex.