Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-12
RoOiVto south Side.
hTpsJ ~ $500
CUNBYBLAND, Va, May Z, 1889.

My attention has been caueu 10 an
article published in the Dispatch
OF April 18th under the signature
of South Side" and headed "Coun-
ty Taxes too High" l understand
the writer of that communication is
a citizen Of this county, and as he
has thought proper to assall the OIL
cials Of the county 10 videly-circulatlng
paper, l beg you will allow me lone OF
those whom he has 50 unnecessarily at
tacked) 6 small space IN your columns
to say word in our behalf. Now, l
have no personal acquaintance with
"South Side" whatever, and If | am to
consider his communication as a speol-
men Of fairness and kindly feeling to-
wards his fellow-men | for one Will
not seek an introduction.
AS the public Is III no wise interested
in the opinion ! entertain iOr the hlosyn-
Grassy of this "South Slider, who under
nom de DI,lDle uses the DispGAch TO Yeat
hisspleen and to prefer grave and baseless
charges against those who. as regards IN
teQrity of character and honesty OF pur-
pose, will compare fayorably with their
fellow-citizens, do not think 1t incum-
bent or necessary l should give express
sion TO It,
This splenetic "South- Slider" charges
that the Board Of Supervisors is com
posed of inferior men OF little means and
less responsibility. l do not know
whether he means capacity or character.
Our means, doubtless like his, are small
and few, and, like the Skyline leaves,
they increase in value as they diminish IN
number. As regards our responsibility,
/ confess that neither of US has ever
been employed rs guano agent, nor
have we ever enjoyed the exquisite plea
sure of exercising the functions OF no.
tary public, which doubtless would con-
stitute us nice gentlemen of fine ability
and unreasonable responsibility.
If l can enlighten the stupidity OF this
"South- Side writer rs regards the trans
action of public business / shall feel
amply repaid for the production OF this
article. But at the same time L wish
him to know that he cannot ride rough
shod his Trojan horse over the Board OF
Supervisors if it is composed OF
inferior men. l, for one, will hurl
spear at its hollow sides.
We endeayor to perform our duties as
we see them, and will not be deferred
either by fear OF favor by what may be
said Of others or what may be said OF us.
He charges the clerk is allowed $40 for
lights. There is no such allowance, but
S75 is appropriated for all Office ex-
penses, Including stationery for County
and Circuit Courts-it being precisely
the amount allowed the two former
clerks by the "good Democratic board
he so kindly told us about.
One of these clerks land, by the way,
a first-rate Democrat) has recently pc
titioned the County Judge for a man
damus against this "inferior board for
an additional $40. "South Side" don't
know everything. The light of know
ledge buns dimly in his lamp If he can
buy kerosene at IS per barrel. There
is no secrecy in connection with the
transaction of public business whatever.
We sit with open doors and the records
OF our proceedings are open to any who
desire TO inspect them. and 1t Is indeed
unfortunate that this "South Side " did
not avail himself OF this privilege and
inform himself before he undertook to
enlighten the public through the col
umns Of the Dispatch.
As he is a man on the shady side OF
life cannot find II III my kesrt 10 dip
nv pen in gall as [ would otherwise do
TO reply TO the allusion he made to our
jnferiority with q view to wound our
feelings and TO mislead the public.
He charges that the Board OF Super
visors fix the allowances to the county
officers. They do it according to popu-
lation. and as this county has about
1000, instead Of 8, 200, as stated by him,
the Attorney for the Commonwealth.
Sheriff, and Clerk receives $500 each, as
the law directs.
The geographical position OF this
county is an unfortunate one. Beng
bounded by three rivers It necessitates
very heavy burden upon the taxpayers
IN the way OF building bridges and keep
ING them ia repair. So the extrava-
Cance be charges to the Judge ana
Board OF Supervisors is owing to causes
beyond their control. The duties OF the
Judge are separate aud distinct from
those of the Board of Supervisors
While differ politically from the
honorable Judge. | will be as candid as
I know him TO be liberal, aud | am sure
he has no friend who will vindicate him
sooner thar |.
The criminal expenses, It is true, are
very heavy. The pay and mileage OF
iuries aud witnesses, the confinement III
All of prisoners, are large, simply be-
cause the grand iuries do their duty and
the yenires are prompt in disposing OF
the large number OF criminals III court
that on an average has three cases oil
felony before it every court, holding its
sessions from three days to week be-
sides this there are Il number OF trials
ont of court for misdemeanors. This
will account for the very large state ex-
penses OF The county.
Twelve years ago, he asserts, when
there was a "good Democratic board .
tho county levy was only forty cents III
the SlO0. now il is ninety. in 1877 1t
was fjfty-fiye cents in 500. In 1888 1t
was only fifty. Notwithstanding the
Gainesville bridge has been built,
costing the county $4,000 Farmville
bridge, including masonry, sl,4loW !;
Stony.Point bridge, S765; jamestown
bridge. s05. 90 Willis bridge, SIZE. %
repairs TO poorhouse, $500; roofing
court house. S26S.75. Total amount OF
county expenses 1877, "a, 1926; total
amount county expenses 1883. 81, 662, 09 !;
and vel the county levy is only fifty
cents in the sl00. Road tax, twelve
cents Ia 800; county school-tax, five
cents IN 500; district tax, fifteen cents
IN sle0 for wood, water, and lights,
S30 The expenses OF 1887 and 1855