Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-05-30
THE GAZETTE.
mMRpaMgDWm@a Va
THURSDAY, MAY 80. 1889.
TIE RAIL RoAD.-wAsHINGToN coUN.
TY.-THE TORCH LIGHT.

and iis conflicting proposed locations on this and
the other aide Of the Potomac. We tbsn prom
sed an examination Of the points made by our
friend Of the Torch Light.
Could we see any evidence of breach Of faith on
the part Of baltimore and the Rail Road Compa-
ny, or of the thousand wrongs which they have in
aic,ed upon the people of Washington County, IT
we did not openly and p~ublckiy commend the
noble determination and energy with which they
have resisted the strong arm Of power and inJus-
tice," we would at least have remained silent in
the controversy. Baltimore and the Rail Road
need not our assistance to defend them. Right or
wrong, they can OF all times command ADLER cham
pions. But well knowing that the Torch Light
circulated on both sides Of the Potomac in the Vi
cinity Of the recent location Of the Rail Road. and
locking upon the spirit evinccd by the people OF
Washington County, as shown, we believe BY all
her journals, as unfair and selfish" we regarded
our humble sheet, on account Of its location, as a
suitable agent in exposing the gross injustice of
the complaints Of the people Of Washington Coun-
y. Confident, as we are, of the trdlh Of our po-
siiion, we give many thanks to the Editor of the
Torch Light for his kindness in laying our remarks
of the 9th inst. before his readers, and ask the same
favor for this article.
What are the thousand wrongs" which the
Rail Road company are charged with having in
hicted on the people Of Washington County3 We
see no evidence oil them in the article in the Torch
Light, or in any facts that have otherwise come to
our knowledge. There would be an obvious pro-
priety in combining the route ms far as practicable
to tie territory of Maryland, in view of The magui-
tude of the fund raised in Maryland for Ire con-
struction of the work, and il cannot be doubted
that such a location would warmly have recon-
mended itself to the wishes and interests of Balti-
more and The Rail Road Company, but for the i'm.
mense and p~roligate sacrifice at which it must, of
necessity have been made. We had consulted our
map, before we were urged to it by our friend Of
the Torch Light, to ascertain the relative proxini-
ty of Hagerstown and Martinsburg to a direct line
from Baltimore to Cumberland, but we did not as
certain that Hagerstown was almost on The line"
On the contrary, it appeared that Marlinsburg was
about six miles south Of a direct line, and Haeers
'Vfh hDt"t ~ fhSo W ~ - - NE't
otherwise, it is too late to discuss this qaesiion.-
The Road is complete to Harpers-Feriy, and the
anathemas of the Torch Light should have beer
hurled against the Company years ago, when they
were making this point, instead running Through
the centre Of Frederick County. over the South
Mountain. at Unger's Gap, &C." The admission,
which is fairly to be inferred from the Article of
the Torch, that the manifes,ly proper route be-
tween the present terminus at Harpers-Ferry and
Cumberland. is that which is now located through
Martinsburg, seems to US to decide and conclude
every question now properly at issue, while the i'm
policy of making Harpers Ferry a point, is no.
where shown, except upon that c~uriOus'y inacu-
rate map, which has shown our friend Of the Torch
" that Hagerstown is almost on a line between
Baltimore and Cumberland"
If additional facts be required to justify the
Company in the location through Virginia, and to
show the utter futility and injustice of the com
plants Of the Torch, they are furnished by the fol-
loving extract from the Twelfth Annual Report of
he President of The Company =
"The reconnoisances and preliminary surveys
N'N' '" vs. VI ~ NV inv 'NA'tANA W ~ thN
last annual report, together with the estimate of
the cost Of the entire wolk, were fully prepared in
the course Of the year. They shew the practical
billty of locating a satisfactory route to the Ohio
river, embracing both Wheeling and Pitsburg,
at the maximum elevation OF GO feet per mile, and
that the cost of construction with a single track of
the most durable plan to both poists, will not ex-
coed nine millions and n half Of dollats.
1t was found, however, that the time allowed for
/ b -Y-,st aE..u -A.f g ~ .~saL 4 II
State ct Virginia expired in the month ofJuly last,
aud ii became necessary, before attempting TO pro-
coed further with the work, TO make an applica-
ton Tor a renewal of the charter in that State.
Measures for that purpose were accordingly Ia
ken, as early as practicable, and the President with
a committee Of the Directors and the chief Engi-
neer, attended the last session Of The Virginia Lee
g~islatuIe to urge the application.
In the mean time, however, new interests, less
favourable TO the extension Of the work through
that State had arisen, and that which at an earlier
day might have been comparatively easy Of accom-
plishment had then become a task of greater dith-
Guilty. A law was finally passed extending the
tlfse for completing the work FIVE years; but it de-
priyed tho Company Of the option OF selecting be-
tween the routes in tho State of Maryland and
those in the State of Virginia, between Harpers-
Ferry and Cumberland and made it an express
condition that the Road should pass into Virginia
at 1arpers- cry DE thence constructed through
that State to about five and a halfmiles below Cum.
berland, and that Wheeling should be made one of
the termini. The law also authorized an addition
al subscription OF 81 058, APO upon The part of the
State, being ~two-ifths ofihe estimated cost Of so
mt n of the road as was required to be made
IN Virginia, between Harpers-FeIry and Cumber-
land.
According TO this condition, which was the best
it was possible to obtain, the Company was not on.
y required to pass into Virginia at Harpers. Ferry (;
but was also Obliged to abandon altogether the OK.
tension of the Rood TO Wheeljag, or to leave the
State Of Maryland Tor nearly the entire distance
between Harpers-Ferry and Cumberland.
The validity of the act depended upon the ac-
/ cePiance by the stockholders including the State of
Maryland; and independently of the other conse-
quences involved in the condition, it hest became
= Hecessary TO ascertain the praciicabiity ofcrossing
! at hafPers-Ferry. The crossing at that point
could only be effected by occupying a part Of the