PWCo Items: Manassas is still pushing ahead... (1871)

Alexandria Gazette (Va.)
12 June 1871

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA. -- Correspondence of the Fairfax News.

Manassas, May 27. -- Manassas is still pushing ahead and is about three times the place it was in 1869. A new Baptist Church is now going up and is nearly completed, in the grove belonging to Mrs. E. E. Johnson. The Presbyterians and Episcopalians intend to build churches during the coming summer. The Episcopalians and Baptists, at present, worship in the new Methodist Episcopal Church.

Several new buildings have gone up during the Spring and Winter, and among them a fine brick freight depot, and we are promised a brick passenger depot during the Summer.

Our public school system is in full blast. We have a Graded school under able teachers, and it is the intention of the Trustees to have a school where any Academical branches can be taught.

At the election Thursday last, this Township voted a 4 1/2 mill tax, and a poll tax, of 50 cts for public schools; every Township in the county carried the tax, except Coles, where it was lost by one vote. In Manassas, where the Trustees asked for the heaviest tax, the tax received the heaviest vote. Anson Bangs, of New York city, who is probably the largest owner of real estate in the county, happened to be in Dumfries at the time of the election, and not only favored the school tax, but offered $100 extra from his private purse.

The somewhat famous "Lewis Robinson suit," brought by a colored man against four of the late officers of the county, appointed under military authority, were tried at the May Circuit Court, and resulted in the discomfiture of Lewis. The suits were nine in number, and were brought for damages to the amount of $17,000, against Messrs. Baldwin and Ketchum, late magistrates, Mr. Herrick, a deputed constable, and Mr. Round, late Commonwealth's Attorney. His Honor Judge Keith instructed the jury that it would be a violation of their oaths to give the slightest weight to political or sectional prejudice, and if he thought any juror would be influenced by such motives, he would send him to jail. These trials have been an expense to the county, and have done nothing for the county but retard immigration and keep out capital.

The crops in this section are looking the finest I have seen for years.

M. J.