The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-23

Two miles distant The Virginia Southern
connects with tho former road at Sugar
Grove and runs on fourteen miles 20
ma irnio,lnt, In Grayson county. About the
time of Colonel Mllcss death the Two
roads passed under the management OF
the lumber company and passenger una
freight trains are now operated between
Marion and Paramount. Is SAID inc
United States Lumber Company owns
enough timber IN Smyth and Gruyson TO
supply It's mills for thirty years. There
are said to be chances for good invest t
,ncnts IN timber land in thc section penc-
trated by the new road. There Is talk OF
the construction of a road from Fries, In
Grayson county, to connect with the VIZ
glnia Southern at 1Nhirmount. The com
plctlon or this work would open up a fine
territory. now entirely undevelopcd.
Town of Marion. 81
Marion is thriving like all tho rest of
the towns of the Southwest that have
visited. In addition to tho big lumber
mills. there arc three Or four woodwork
ing establishments. One firm, engaged In
tho manufacture Of hubs, spokes ana
completed wagons, Is understood to be
doing IN especially fine business a fur
nitllre factory{ls rapidly building up a
large trade. ii
A courthouse 10 cost upwards of s50,000
is In course of erection, and will be COM
plctcd in two or three months. 1t Will
be of brick, with foundation and trim
mings OF Indiana limestone. There was
q great row over the building Of this
courthouse. large proportion Of the
voters, said to reach so per cent, was IN
favor OF rahalring the old courthouse
But The board of supervisors was con-
WINGED that 1t was wiser to blllld Il new
one and 1t was SO ordered. The people
OF the county. were promised that the
new building would not result In in
creased taxation. The county gave $50, 900
10 secure the location Of the Southwestern
state Hospital for the Insane at Marion.
The money was raised by an issue OF
bonds These bonds have just been paid,
Instead of lowering the taxes. as could
have been DONE with the bonds redeemed,
tho supervisors kept the rate at the old
figure and arc building a courthouse.
There is n general clamor for better
roads In Smyth. Many OF those who
opposed building the courthouse wanted
the amount the building would cost APP
propriated to make better ROADS. l5ul u
proposition to issue $4,000 for road build
Ing was overwhelmingly defeated In a
popular election two years ago, and w.
w. George, then a member of the General
Assembly from this county, was defeated
for re- election because he had secured the
!, passage of the Bill allowing the people
to vote on the question of bonds or no
bonds
So that while the demand for good
roads Is sincere probably, the people arc
hardly willing to pay the price,
Splendid Condition
The county is in excellent financial
condition. and the same is true OF the
town of Marion. There arc two thou
sand or more Inhabitants of Marion,
The general appearance Of streets
and buildings, including residences
ana business houses. indicates that tho
trade conditions are good. Another IN
dcatlon Is the large number Of drum
mers who make" the town the COM
mcrcial traveller does not go where there
IL not business Richmond wholesale
houses should control the Marion trade
hut Baltimore and philadelphia nre
strong competitors. Richmond Is 3ho
miles distant, Baltimore 375 knoxvllle
claims some Of tho trade.
THAT there Is money IN the Town .,
Marion and Smyth county Is rV'oehceN
bv the flourshing condition OF me panks,
Tho Bank OF Marion, cstaplisilch tWo
years ago, paid, this year, an anhua'