The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-11-24
THE LEICESTER MEETING.
a MOST REPRESENTATI AS.
SEMBI.AGE.
Speeches by Capt. Matt Atkinson
and OtherS-RcSOlutlO Were
Adopted and Committees APP
pointed to Meet in December,

II Editor Citizen Your CorrcSDOnde1
!. enjoyed delightful dav yesterday i
e very many respects. Charming con
4 pany was one of them. Mr.. Julius {
i Martin was his ''compagnon du voyage
: almost literally, because Asheyillc an
] Leicester seemed like two seaports
= separated by a young ocean of mud an
: SuSh
I But thanks to the agreeable converse
: ton OF our friend, and the efforts of
: strong horse, this slough of deSpOnd wa
; successfully encountered and overcome
, and we were well repaid by our urreception
and the pleasant friends who were read
l to welcome their guests from Asheville.
Before entering upon business, we par
took of the hospitality of DR.. J. NJ
. Stevens and his excellent wife who ar
well known tor tier good cheer, they Sc
lavishly offer, and had our eyes glad
dened by look upon grass plot, il
which the doctor takes special pride.
THAT sir" said he, lis no better lane
than ten thousand acres adjoining it
and yet, here on these three acres, have
: kept four good mich cows all summer
and besides at times, four hogs, and also
one or two colts and yet, we could see
that the grass was still green and sue
culent. How we would like to see all o
the other ten thousand acres as good as
these three. Why can they not be so?
The meeting was held at what was
formerly called Bascom College The
situation was lovely, indeed presenting
Il panorama of blue mountains, with one
occasionally capped with snow. Ashe.
vile was plainly visible, and we could
scarce believe the difficulties which lav
petwcen us and our home. These very
dliilrultics were about to he considered
and how best to remove them.
An assembly of god common sense
iarmcrS assembled i'll the upper room OF
The college building. Mr.. b. 6. Gudger
was called to the chair and Mr.. Lon
Wells chosen secretary, who politely re-
queSted the representatives of the Press
| who were present to assist him
Capt. Matt Atkinson was called on.
and promptly responded in his usual
Happy and torciblc style, showing the
people OF Leicester what had been done
ror other sections of the county in the
past by the building of the different
branches of railroad now entering Ashe-
vile, by the numerous bridges that
had been erected; how they, by taxa
ton, had helped to build the different
State institutions at Raleigh, Morganton
and elsewhere. That during all these
years Leicester had remained silent and
had asked for nothing. He advised CO.
operation with adjoining townships;
showed them why it was to Asheville's
interest as business centre to have all
parts otthe county built up; that the build
ing of more railroads would increase AShe-
vlIle's tax assessment; that the eXpe-
rience of past years had proven that ILL
creased population and property valua-
zion for Asheville meant for the farmer
higher prices for his products, cheaper
necessaries of life, and a lower rate OF
taxation.
The captain backed up his statements
by carefully prepared figures, showing
that taxation at the close Of the war
was $1.75, but as AsheviIle grew
taxes i'll the other portions of the county
gradually decreased-now it was but IS
cents on the 500.
He told them they were entitled to
better accommodations for travel; that
there was no reason why the county
should refuse to grant their request for
an appropriation to give them the rich
est township of Buncombe, the conven-
iences asked for, and showed how, even
ii the county voted bonds for the purpose
OF Improvements of this kind, it would
not increase taxation, but that the in
creased values which such improvements
would draw to this section would meet
ali the requirements of the interest on
bonds, etc, and that there was no
reason whatever why the acCOmmoda- |
tionS asked for should not be granted to
The people OF Leicester, and that in the |
future, as has been demonstrated bv the /
figures he had already given on Ashc-
v1Ile's increase Ill assessed valuations tor |
past years, there was every reason to be |
llevc that it would continue and the tan !
rate Of the farmer continue to decrease
as the wealth Of Asheville increased.
Capt. Atkinson's address WIS we'll re- |
ceived and was followed by few timely
words from Mr.. J. l.. Slagle, aud he in
turn by some practical suggestions from
Mr.. Wilson Nash.
Mr.. J. [. Martin was then introduced |
by Mr.. Lon Wells. and entertained his |
with most excellent speech. |
we wish we had space to report it in full:
short of this would be an in
Justice and so we will not attempt any
synopsis.
DR.. d. F. Sumrney then offered the fol
lowing resolution which was heartily
seconded and passed unanimously:
Whereas, The townships Of Leicester
and Sandy Mush have long suffered on
account of their bad facilities of traffic
and travel with the city OF Ashcvile, and
Whereas, These townships have al
ways paid without complaint their share
of the burden of taxation without ever
having received cent for their develop
nent and convenience,
Therefore be il resolved, That the
chairman of this meeting appoint fifteen
delegates from Leicester township,
and the same number from the
OF Sandy Mush to meet With
those sections OF Buncombe that are
likewise deprived OF the advantages that
we feel So much the want of, in the city
of AsheviIle on the first Monday of Decem-
ber next, and confer together as to what
can and shall he done to improve the
means of travel and communication with
and tn, different sections of our
county, and that we demand of the au-
Lhorities of our county such appropria-
tion as will give to our sections advan-
Lages similar to those that enjoy the
blessings of railroads
In accordance herewith. the chairman
appointed TIE following committees to
which. on motion, he was himself added,
aud the meeting adjourned:
For Leicester-B. G. Gudger L. n.
Wells, d. F. Summey, o. r. Jones, F.
Sluder, S. Hampton, Lafayette Robin.
son, G. W. Nash, Daniel Shook, T. n.
Hawkins, p. Israel, W. F. Wells, NJ.
Plemmons, J NJ. Stevens, B. a. Torrance.
Sandy Mush-T. J. Ferguson, X. V.
Wells, ]. H. Reynolds, L. Wells, James
Robinson, n. Bonham, r. {. Wells, Vim.
D A l