Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-08-20
For The Gazette.
The Present, However Bright,
Does Not Conceal the Trials
and Suffering of the Past.
OAK DALE, Va, August 10.

The present generation cannot
realize the hardships which pre-
vailed from 1865 to 1880. The war
left every kind of business pros
trated. For some years 1T was a
matter Of bread and meat with
the people. Impoverished in food
and means wherewith to buy the
necessities Of life, it was II hard
struggle to make "buckle and
tongue meet" To add further to
the embarrassment of the situation
the government, through agents
located in every county, assessed
and collected n "back tax" on
real and personal property which
was not only oppressive, but unjust.
Many years thereafter portion Of
this money was returned to the
State, and distributed among the
people, less the commissions for
disbursement, etc. A dollar paid
when this tax was collected from
our people, was like taking the
"pound of flesh" from our tax
payers. Patiently our people met
all trials, incident to "reconstruc-
ton days; and the men who
figured conspicuously in that
period which tried mems faith,
have left AN impress on the minds
Of our older people not to be for
gotten.
Haetening over this period,
let us review briefly subsequent
events in our past history. The
James River Canal was the only
foutIet for our traffic at that time,
and the frequent damage to this,
by freshets, was "A source OF great
Inconvenience to the people,
especially the agricultural class.
The James River and Kanawha
Company not being in financial
condition to repair the North River
section, in which we were so vitality
interested, called upon us to furnish
the means to reconstruct this work
The county at that time was paying
on the old canal debt 10 cents on
the hundred dollars. a recent
issue of bonds, - l think, were
placed on the market to meet this
demand. We were forced to dO 1T,
locked up as we were, and cut off
from all markets. All traye, was
by the stage coach, Il rolling, tum-
b NC vehicle, with four horses at
tached. The roads, not so good
as now, were in places during the
winter and spring seasons. almost
impossible In many places be-
tween StauntOn ard Lexington, the
wheels would sink to the axle in
the clay and mud. The question
with tn passengers was whether
it was better to ride or walk under
the circumstances, and it was set
tied by walking good portion OF
the distance.
Under these distressing annoy
ances the people were just in thai
frame of mind to do something
desperate. A movement was set o.
foot to connect Harrisonburg
terminus Of the B. d o., will
Salem, Va. A vote Of the people
r was taken, after IA thorough can
vass was made by the promoters o
this scheme, and a subscription OF
four hundred and twenty thOusanC
|. dollars was approved by the voters
of the county, to this connecting
, link Of railway. The condition
, being, if | mistake not, that TIN
@ road was to be let to contract "a
S once throughout, i. e., from Har
risonburg to Salem, with a view t.
I its early completion, and the bond
: oe the county to be delivered, par
) Ddssu, with the construction Of the
! road.
1t is not the purpose OF TIT
$ writer to discuss the failure o
e this enterprise, further than t.
n allude to the heavy burden Of tax
t alton; which has fallen to our 1T
t in consequence of this unfortunat
act of our people, in allowing them
selves to be hoodwinked into thl
:, scheme. The road was never bull
!. as contemplated. Onlya part Of
n our county has derived any rea
1 benefit from its cO2stru }tion. Th'
G two districts, viz Buffalo, anC
i Natural Bridge, and Il part o
: Kerr's Greek, are practically no
>, in it-only to pay annually biz
. tax for interest on the bonds, ant
. sinking fund, to retire the same
From the issue of the bonds to tn
+ present, | dare say, that our tax
: payers have paid close,to million
@ dollars on this debt. Think Of this
/ then consider the taxes collected
8 for roads, bridges, schools, Cour
$ House and other objects. | stop t
y :" take long breath, when | thin
+ Of it Now, let me ask in a.
t sincerity, cannot the railroad Ia
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