Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-20
P0WHATAN COUNTY.
GREAT DECREASE IN POPULATION
AND PROPERTY VALUES.
state-Thc Recent Change for tho
Better-New Railroad Lines.
Correspondence Of tho Richmond Disostch.l

Correspondence Of the Richmond Disostch.l
PowHATAs. July le. 1890.
The census returns show that the popu-
letion Of this county has decreased 100
and the returns of the assessor that the
lands have decreased S272.001 in value
since the last assessment. These facts
would seem 10 show that Powhatan was IN
q worse condition than any county in the
State, but it il not true. Up to 1869 Pow
hstan county paid more taxes in proper
ton 10 population than any county or city
in the Commonwealth. Her people rer
capita were richer than any ID the state.
More than three fourths OF her inhabitants
were slaves. Everybody was prosperous.
she obtained the banner az the first great
Agricultural State Fair. The reason was
obvious. The county which forms part OF
James river and Appomattox peninsula -
by large number of small
streams. which with the wide low-grounds
of the two rivers afford moro alluylal nav
lands than any other county in the SOUTH
side in proportion to Its size. But SAD re-
verse awaited her.
WHAT SHE LOST AND SUFFERED.
No county suffered more by tho eInanci-
patton Of her slaves and the demOraliZa-
ton Of the labor system. Nowhere was
heavier felt the horrors Of reconstruction,
and the reign of the csrpet-baggers. Our
people. all ruined ne they were. stood up
with valOrOug cOustancy. Despite the BAD
seasons which followed the war they were
rising over their difficulties when their
lowlands. their best lands. were swept by
the most disastrous freshet which had
occurred for nearly hundred years past.
Since that time several, equalling the hrst
in extent. have occurred. But the most
crushing loss by high water on the low
grounds and wet weather on the highlands
fell on Us last year. Occurring IN the
spring the first planted crops Of tobacco
and corn. the growing crops Of wheat ana
oats and grass were washed away. The IN,
defatieable farmers planted tobacco and
corn again and thew were also swept on by
the later floods. The crops % the high
lands wero too wet TO be worked and ran
away with the grass.
WE'RE THEY FAVE GONE.
Hence it is that rs there was q scarcity OF
employment and food a great many Of our
lahoring people have left. Many ~ our
white people have moved 70 Richmond ana
Mauchest r. where thcy and their children
get emulovment at the various manufac-
turing establishments. While a great many
OF our coiored people have gone of 10 the
cities OF the North. a much larger number
OF on able-bodied colored men have gone
TO work on the Dry Island near New York
in the manufactures OF fish oil and scrap,
where they work AT high wages from late
in the spring 10 late in the fall. spending
tho winter in the county with their
families thew have left behind. As the
l.. al .l.,1 LTV 4f u
Of June. large number of these citizens
were not counted.
TIE LAND viLUrs.
The depreciation Of our lands is easily
accounted for. They were valued entirely
too high before. They were assessed about
double as high rs the lands in Brunswick
and other SOuthside counties. and nearly
half as much az some counties in the Val
ley, as shown by a stateHnnt from the Au-
ditor's Office. Up 70 thistimc this county
has been dificult of access and without
hardly any communication with the out
side world.
ISOLATED.
The Richmond and Allegheny railroad i
difficult of access, and we were not as we'll
OF a. when we had the canal. Tho Upper
Appomattox canal had gone down. The
ONLY depot of the Richmond and Danville
railroad ~ in the extreme border Of the
county and the only entrance TO the cOun-
ty. No public speakers on the most excited
issues addressed our people on our court
green. No foreign immigration came %
us, and in the middle and upper end OF the
county in order 10 90 10 Richmond q days
travel had to be taken 70 the nearest line
of public transportation.
NEw TRANSPORTATION Inns.
But all this will be changed by the re.
cent completion OF the tarmvllle and Pow
hatan railroad, which transports our pas
sepgers to MOselv's Junction, on the Rich
mond and Danville railroad. and our heavy
freight 10 deep water at Bermuda Hun
dred, whore we are put IN communication
with the markets of the northern cities
Already increased activity IS seen through
out the county. The forests resound witt
the axes Of the sill-getters and the shrlei
Of the railroad engine is only equalled by
that Of the steam saw-mili.
The railroad has been somewhat slightly
embarrassed by the effort of some TO avoit
paving The subscription OF, $1,000 by eacl
of the counties of Powhatan and Cumber
land on the ground Of the ilegallty OF tn'
bonds Of the counties.
IN Favor OF THE RAILROAD.
In Cumberland in proceedings to avoiC
the levy for the interest. Judge Irving de
cided in favor Of the constitutionality o
the act of the Legislature under which
they provided, and III Powhatan COUNTY
Court at last term two prosecutions agalns
the railroad Tor occupying two obsolete
streets Of the village Of the COURTEOUS
and an action of unlawful entry and de
taiuer. brought by landhoder on tn
ground that the railroad had taken an'
occupied his land with their track unde
the authority Of sO-called unlawful pro
ceedipgs and illegal charter. were all de
cided in favor of the railroad. There re
mains 10 be tried at the fall term of on
Circuit Court a bill in chancery which vii
decide all the points taken against IN
legality OF the charter. the subscription
and the bonds. which, il IS believed, val
end oil the controversy, and which, II Is be
leved, will he favorable TO the railroad, q
the others were. o.,
Nessrs. Pegram and Stringfellow are th
general and Colonel S. f. Coleman an
Hon. Thomas VI. Miller the local counse
for the railroad, and Mr.. William III. Flana
gan, the attorney for the Commonwealth
Is in opposition.
THE CROPS.
The crops of wheat and oats were fail
ures and the grass crop a small one, Du
the seasons of late have been excellent, a
the rams came very opportunely and III
small crop of tobacco and the very larg
crop Of corn are very promising IL al
parts Of the county.
Az the last term of the County Court
negro woman was convicted of breakin
INTO the dwelling-house OF one OK GU
northern settlers and murder case OF
colored man by another was postpone
until the next term. The woman had n
counsel. The man IS defended by MI
Charles VI. Wesson.
NEGRO BARBARlTY