The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-03-16
Crab Orchard letter.
CRAB ORCHARD, Va, March 6, Is:

CRAB ORCHARD, VA, March s, 1873.
Editor Post:
We find an article published in Lee
County Republican, by our friend Z. u
Bailey, opposing our proposed new county
His objections seem very feeble and void
of good reason. We fail to he convinced
BY his arguments that it would diminish
the time in our free schools. We certainly
can have n school fund in the new county
sufficient to have good, prosperous schools
and to bc disadvantage in selecting oui
courressmcn seems without foundation
According to his theory, we would &c
better not to have any counties at all
lust make state lines counties, and have
but one in the state, and it he ut the capt.
tol of each state. Now, fellow citizens OF
Lee. Scott and Wise, We certainly car
not be changed from such arguments, foI
the Old Dominion has, believe, the rise
of 100 counties, and it is necessary for the
formation of other counties for the con-
venience Of the citizens. AS to the ele-
ment and Of class people governing me, OF
us, at Big Stone Gap, we would be just as
fairly treated as at Jonesville, Gate CIf!
or Gladcvillc. Anyway, |, for myself, car
say | think would have as fair show AND
chance with those people at Big Stone
Gap as with those at Joncsviile, or ever
Lee county. look upon the people al
Big Stone Gap as being honest, just ,ano
intelligent, and respectable as can bt
found anywhere.
AS to my holding Office, I am no Office
seeker, that seeks the vote of the people
and it | was, would rather risk my
chances, aud also Mr.. Wadc's, in the he"
prospective county than asw now have 1t
AS far as office is conccrncd,l would as Soor
orr friends in the limits and bounds OF
the new prospective county had the Office;
as those of our friends in Lee.
The point we are after is having OUT
court house more convenient. Under the
new prospective county lines The mos
distant citizen from Big Stone Gap wouio
he nearer the court house than they are
now. We have the territory and popula'
stion and the old counties it comes OIL car
spare it's territory. Friends, VIC all can
not have court houses right at our doors
and hold Offices, but gin this formation oil
new county we can mSst any of us leave
home in .nc morning and GO to our county
scat and do any reasonable amount OF
business and get back home at night with
out being out cent; or, if we desire, we
can pay railroad fair, which is cheap
travelling. Now, it usually takes me three
DAVIS to 60 to Jonesville and back. My
cost on this trip by railway and hach and
board, at 81 per day, $3.50, with time at
81 per dag. amounting to $3.50. This is
about the sum we upper end people have
to paw nearly every trip we make to Jones'
vile. while our cost to Big Stone Gap to
attend to some business would cost us by
railway and board at noon and our day
all together would not exceed Is cents
See the difference.
Now friends and citizens, these are
facts and our time is money we all know
See the saving to us every trip, $773
That amount, say only three times year,
takes $685.. Here is where we are highly
taxed. Many Of our people attend every
court: then count our cost. | have made
a low estimate of our expense to our dis
tant court houses Of 25 to 30 miles dis
lance. counted against 10 or ID miles
travel, as per our new county distance.
Our esteemed friend, Mr. Bailey's, talk
on high taxes, school fund, school terms,
congressman and our being governed by
the class and element now at Big Stone
Gan. of n new county be formed, rather
reminds me of some of our laborers when
they,go out and work week from home.
They commence the first day with bill
at some saloon at night AT the close of
each days work they so TO some gambling
room and there they hitch in, and so they
90 on until the week is ended, and they
are out of money, and frequently in debt.
,rbey come home where they have bought
something of their country merchant and
promised TO pay On their return; also
promised something to their suffering
families. but their excuses to their family
is they had to pay such high board, and
their expenses consumed it all. There is
no shift, tllereis no economy, no manage-
lnent, by these parties. Then look at the
cause. No wonder men fail to pay Their
debts under such management. No wons
Ter times are hard with tlis3class.
Nc may work, Toll and struggle all oar.l
Tres, bat If we don't manage and saseI
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