The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1892-12-29
A New County.

one Of the most important towns Of
southwest Virginia is unqnestionahle;
that the bigger par: of the legal bust
ness of the county is now transacted
through Big stone Gap attorneys is
an undisprtea fact; that the disad-
vantage of being located twenty miles
away from the county seat is an in
convenience that cannot be expected
to long exist Is the reasonable con-
clusion that will be arrived at by all
fair-mindeti citizens who study the
questions; that some action should be
taken. locking towal arranging tor
the convenience Of the town and the
surrounding section that would re-
ceive a like benefit by the formation
of Il new count. is Il matter that de
serves the consideration of all con
cerncd, whether for or against such
measure, aud the Posr places the idea
before those interested merely in the
shape OF a suggestion; to be con-
sidercl bv them, and would he glad
to hear from citiZens--expressing
their IDEAS as to it's disability
living in the three different counties
Lee. Scott and Wise--irom which
the territory would have to be taken
to form the new county.
In regard to the formation Of new
counties. the Constitution of Nir-
ginia says:
SEC. 49, No ncw county shall be form
ed with an area OF less than six hundred
SCARE miles nor shall the county or coun-
ties from wlcl, it is formed be reduced
below that area nor shall any county
having a population less than ten thous-
ands he deprived of more than one-fittl
of such population; nor shalt county,
havinya larger population, be reduced
below eight thousand. Bat any county,
the length OF which is three times its
mean breadth or which exceeds fifty
miles IA length may be divided ut the dis
crction of the general assembly. In /
general elections the voters in amy county
rot entitled to separate representation,
shalt vote in the same election district.
The law governing the formation
of new counties is given in the Code
of Virginia, as follows:
SEC. 100. Notice of petition for new
county, how given, and what to Contain
When it is intended to petition the Cen
ersl Assembly To create Il new county, no.
tice of such intention shall be posted on
u court dny, ut least sixty days next pre-
celiny an election Of delegates to the
General Assembly. nj the front door OF
tbc courthouse Of each ct the counties
from which the new county is proposed to
he formed, which notice shall set forth
fhe names of such counties, the metes and
bounds proposed for the new county, and
the place at which il is proposed to cstnb-
lish the seat Of Justice thereof.
SEC. 19l. When notice, with proof OF
hosting, to be produced to clerk.-At least
fifteen DAYS before the election, there
shall he produced 90 the clerk of the
county court of every such county, copy
of the notice, with an affidavit that the
same had been posted in each OF the
counties from which the new county Is |
nroposed to be formed, which affidavit
,hall be signed by the aifant aud attested
by a Justice.
SEC. TO-. How polls taken for and
AGAINST new countv-If copy Of tho |
notice with The affidavit he so produced to |
to the clerk, lie Shall cause poll hooks to |
he prcpared, with II caption stating the
COMMITTEES from which the new county is |
proposed TO he formed, aud the mefcs and
bounds, and seat OF justice, proposed |
therefor; and cause 10 be provided ballot |
boxes. in which shall he deposited the |
ballots OF the qualified vn,crs at such |
county, who desire to vote. The ballot |
/. shall he headed, respectively, For the
new county, aud against the new
county" and the said polls and ballots !
shall he taken, crtiied, disposed Of, and
the result ascer,aned and determined ut
the same time and places, by the same
nersons, and under the same regulations
and restrictions, us the polls and ballots |
for delegate 70 the General Assembly.
The copies OF the notice, and the atlida-
Wits and certificates. produced to the
clerk of the cour,, shall accompany said
pols fat any place tor opening said
polls. no vote he PEELED for or against the
new county. that fact shall he certified on
the poll hooks.
Size. 1913. Who entitled to votc.--Anr
male citizen OF the commonwealth aged
tventy-one Years or upwards, residing
within any of the counties from which the
new county is proposed to he formed,
qualified to vote in the county OF his resi-
denee for members of the General Assem-
bly. or who shall have lseen assessed with
any part Of the of his county within the
preceding year, and shall actually havel
paid the same, may vote in the county in
which lie resides, al any poll so opened;I
and the names of sucl, OF the voters az
reside within the meies and bounds Of the
praposed new county shall be distinguish
ed from fine rest
SEE. 794 Penalty on oRicers.--lf any
officer fail to perform any duty prescribed
f,y section seven hundred aud ninety-two,
ne shall he fined not less than fifty nor
more than one hundred dollars.
Size. 7y5. Copy of polls, &C.. to be sentI
10 clerk 81 House of Delegatcs.--A copy
os tho polls delivered 10 tho clerk, tbs
copies of the notice, and the nffidaYsts
md certificates. shall s,e friisn,itted.hs I
him to the clerk 0f the House OF Dele.
sgatas, at least ieH dass before the coia-
nSel sAsnents et the next General Assem-
4 bly,.