Page:The Scientific Monthly vol. 3.djvu/132

 THE SCUiXTIFlC 3I0XTHLY

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mountains givGS tlic reprosentativeB cansiderablG powDr in the H Legislature. Folilical discussions are said to be confined in genera stump speeches eoncerlied with national issues, and hence are of 1: help concerning local prohlems. However, since the mountain men good at politics, some make a profitable bu'sioess of the local conti Beceutlv in some sections some are said to ha\c turned their attentio the school, for the sake of profit in the appointment of teachers. T the trustee runs for office upon a platform statement of which teac lie favors. In some sections the vote runs high in =(liool elections, v it is light on other mattere. An increasing number of women vot school uffairs. Another favorite field of tht politician i^ the haiidlin road taxes.

Deep-seated prejudice, due to povertv, exibts against taxation of kind. In 1D06 the per capita stale-and (ountj tax was $4 62 for W ward County, in the Blue Cirass, while in the mountains it ranged : $.40 in Elliott County to $i.7'> in Harlan. Little returns are obta by taxation of lumber and mineral resources.

The feud was transjilantcd from Eurojio into the Blue Grass Kentucky Slountains. and elsewhere. It survived among i,he iso valley of the mountains, where it was fostered by folk-song, the fii resentment of the Indian fighter and pioneer, and the habits of the natural in isolated eommunities where for a long time there was ne sheriff nnr jury, and where, even ti> Ihis day, the government hardi been able to iiis|iire eonridence or dread. The Civil War greatl, creased and intcii-'^iricd the fmid : Prior to IRfiO, few weapons had used in the luountnins, and few deaili^ had resulted. In the regii ISfiO there wore lO.OriS s^hivcs and 1.-?>:(1 free colored people. Th<? grew sharp lielwecn the T'liimi and Ciuifedcrate counties, as wc

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