Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1919-08-08
BUCHANAN HAS
FEW GOOD ROADS
Consequently Pleasure of Auto
MODELLING Does Not Exist in
That Secluded Section-Pol-
itics Plentiful, However.

as Marvin, Va, was here on Tuesday,
and called in to enroll his name along:
with large contingent of those upon
whom, the Bible says, rain falls
alike without distinction or parti-
allty. He is connected as sort of
chief with big coal and lumber COM
panies in the "little but loud" coun-
ty of Buchanan, one of the few coun-
ties Keeping company with Bland
the left"
Ratliff has two sons, one of them.
DR.. John Ratliff, is a physician at
Graham. The other one is in business
around here but 1 have forgotten
just where. Two daughters are in
Kentucky where they are attending
school.
Among other things Ratliff said
that there is only one automobile in
Buchanan county. Cause-no roads.
The county. has done nothing in the
way of road building, and even wagon
and bugges have hard time getting
about. He said, further that a large
amount Of tax was collected each
year, one large company paying as
much as $4,000. Asked what became
OF all the tax money he said he didn't
know. The county like some others
round about, publishes no statements
of receipts and expenditures, as the
law requires. Buchanan is one of the
richest counties in the state in coal
and timber, yet hasn't mile of good
road. She will wake up some day.
County Politics.
Asked about the political situation,
being good Republican, he predicted
the success of the county ticket this
year. He said both parties had full
siderable hair-puiling going on, and
would be more before the campaign
ends. Mr. Dennis, who has been Clerk
n long time, has strong opposition
this year, and Ratliff said, is likely
to be defeated unless he stirs his
stumps, and he is stirring with a |
long poker.
The Rhea-Walker Campaign-- 4
"Reminiscences.
Speaking of Buchanan and poli- |
tics, reminded me, of the first and
only time | ever set foot upon the
historic soil of Buchanan, and laid
eyes on the town of Grundy. 1t was
during the memorable Rhea-Walker
campaign, the like of which was
never waged in this district before
nor since. Judge VIM. Rhea, now
President of the State Corporation
Commission, was a candidate for the |
seat in the United States Congress
held by General James A. Walker.
Judge Rhea had an engagement to
speak in Grundy. A delegation from
Tazewell and surrounding counties
attended on the occasion to lend |
"moral support" to the candidate i'm |
his race. Judge j. II. Stuart and my
self, and one other Democrat whose |
name cannot now recall, wcs'e among
the representatives from Tazewell |
Mont Clark was there from Russell, |
along with others. Mont uset:;,o be |
a militant Democrat in those "ght-
ing, furious days of political. CSe.
The meeting was held in Tx E:Jt
House, which was packed, in, v I'm
out with crowd Of as zealou,t ~
tisans as ever gathered on tn - .pcid.
don't remember much about the
i'm detail, but | do remember
vividly the trip over and back.
We went over on horseback, secur-
ing our mounts from livery at Rich
lands, and struck the mountain road |
at Raven.
In many ways the ride was pleasant |
and enjoyable. The road was, in
places, a mere ditch. There was still
traces of McAdam, put there years
before when the "pile" was built. 1t
was then the only thoroughfare from
Kentucky across to Saltville, over
which goods were transported in
wagons, and earlier the route to
Lynchburg. This road was virtually
nytcncinp nf ha al
pike, leading over the Blue Ridge,
and down the Valley of Virginia, in
the long ago.
This road is still the only wagon
way out of Buchanan south. Wagons
still haul good across from Raven.
You can reach Grundy by rail, or
nearly so, by going away around by
Welch or Jaeger or some other place.
But It is like going around by Robin |
Hoods barn, and coming in at the /
back door
Across from Tazewell into Buch-
anan, the Saddle bags lawyers"
Travelled on hoseback years ago, and
some do still, who practice in the
courts there.
On the way over we had dinner
with Mr.. Rakes, the usual feeding
place" for travellers, going and COM
ing. Milton Ratliff,. believe, lives
there now, and the postoffice is
Marvin. But, to get all these facts
and names straight and correct Judge
Coulling must be consulted. He knows
it all like book. A history of the
"old times" in Buchanan, if correctly
written, would read like romance.
Claude Pobst and Boyd
Our friend Ratliff spoke in highest
praise of Fl. Claude Pobst and e. r.
Boyd, the Tazewell and Grundy law
yers, who have swapped places.
Dollars to doughnuts, however,
that Pobst and his wife are "home-
sick" right now. j. A. L.
President Wm r. Iaxy;o