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Staunton Vindicator: December 17, 1869 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

The Admission of Virginia
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper reports that Republican members of the Virginia State Legislature issued a protest to Congress against re-admitting the state to the Union under its present form of government. They argue that all legislators should be subject to the test-oath.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper stresses the importance of the construction of roads and railroads to help bring prosperity to Virginia. The article also offers plans for implementing taxation.

Full Text of Article:

The people of this State are now looking out for the speediest manner of building up the interests of each particular section and all have, as with one accord, come to the conclusion that the solution of the problem lies in the opening up of lines of communication. Especially do we in this section look forward to great good from completion of the great line from Norfolk or Newport News to the Ohio, which runs through this county, and the consequent construction of two other railway lines up and down the Valley, to cross the Chesapeake and Ohio in this county, and connect with the combined roads from Norfolk and Memphis at or near Salem.

That the result of the completion of these roads must be most advantageous to the people of this county and the Valley will not be gainsaid. But the question suggests itself how can we derive the greatest benefit from it. These roads can not run by every man's door, and, while they give ready access, in all directions, to markets, unless all can readily and easily reach the various depots with heavy loads, it were almost as well that the roads were never constructed. To be ever near to market and yet not be able to reach it with produce, would make our people another Tantalus chained to a rock, with water surrounding him to his lips and yet dying with thirst. The remedy in our case, however, is easy, if the proper steps be taken, and consists in the construction of good country roads--not dirt roads, but good McAdamized roads. Such roads can be made in every section of the county if we only make the effort. Staunton must take the initiative and McAdamize her un-McAdamized roads to the corporation limit. There the county court should take the matter in hand, and McAdamize, say two, three, five or seven miles, as it may deem best, on each of the main roads each year until they reach the county limit. Then the cross roads should come in for their portion of improvement. This would cause an additional tax of a small amount each year, but we know of no object for which our people would more cheerfully bear a tax. The increased amounts they would be able to transport, in all seasons, and at times when they could no nothing on their farms and can not use the present roads on account of their muddy condition, and the saving in wear and tear of teams, wagons &c., would more than four-fold compensate them for the yearly cost of making good roads and keeping them in repair.

The New Constitution, on the subject of roads, has the following:

"ART. 7.--Sec. 4.--Each Township shall be divided into one or more road districts. In each road district there shall annually be elected one overseer of roads, under whose direction the roads shall be kept in repair at public expense, in a mode prescribed by law.

Sec. 5.--The General Assembly, at its first session after the adoption of this constitution shall pass such laws as may be necessary to give effect to the provisions of this article."

If the Legislature is to pass a law for keeping in repair county roads, at public expense, it must do it by taxing. That it will make such a law there is scarcely a doubt. Our object then is simply to encourage the idea of first class county roads, to be built from a central point, on the score of economy. If all the overseers provided for in the constitution were to commence simply putting in repair our dirt roads, it would cost a large amount yearly to keep them in repair. Whereas if we commence from a central point to McAdamize and extend it yearly as far as can be done, in a few years we have good roads over the county, with a necessity for only a nominal tax to keep them in order. Is it not well for all of our people to consider this subject, and especially our Legislators, who must, in all probability, in a very short time, frame a law to carry into effect the new road system?

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: A number of citizens from Augusta had their political disabilities removed by an act of Congress.
(Names in announcement: J. N. Ryan, William A. Burnett, Reuben D. Hill, Dr. Francis T. Stribling, B. Fifer, Robert G. Bickle, David C. McGuffin)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: An African American child was found nearly frozen in the stable of Ned Burke. It was the baby of Maggie Mitchel, who claimed that the gypsies had stolen it.
(Names in announcement: Ned Burke, Maggie Mitchel)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: A black man being led to jail by Justice Fishburn escaped and ran before reaching the building. A pursuit ensued and he was captured in the rear of Bob Campbell's Bar Room.
(Names in announcement: Bob Campbell, Justice Fishburn)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: John D. Arbuckle of West Virginia and Miss M. Lizzie Vanlear, daughter of the late Rev. John A. Vanlear, were married near Mount Solon on December 8th by the Rev. John Pinkerton.
(Names in announcement: John D. Arbuckle, M. Lizzie Vanlear, Rev. John A. Vanlear, Rev. John Pinkerton)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: Capt. Lafayette D. Matheney and Miss Martha C. Demasters, both of Augusta, were married at Wintergreen, near Sherando, on December 9th by the Rev. John N. Lockridge.
(Names in announcement: Capt. Lafayette D. Matheney, Martha C. Demasters, Rev. John N. Lockridge)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: Samuel T. Valentine, formerly of Augusta, and Miss Emma Holman of Indiana were married at the residence of the bride's mother on October 28th by the Rev. J. E. Ervin.
(Names in announcement: Samuel T. Valentine, Emma Holman, Rev. J. E. Ervin)

Died
(Column 02)

Summary: John Wiseman, formerly of Augusta, died in West Virginia on November 24th. He was 19 years old.
(Names in announcement: John Wiseman)

Died
(Column 02)

Summary: Robert Whitlock died at his Augusta residence on November 26th. He was 53 years old.
(Names in announcement: Robert Whitlock)

Died
(Column 02)

Summary: William Fauber, son of Samuel C. Fauber of Augusta, died in Illinois at the residence of his brother on November 12th. He was 35 years old and leaves a young wife.
(Names in announcement: William Fauber, Samuel C. Fauber)