Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1846-02-27
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BERRYvIILE TURNPIKE.
Some years since, a chartergwas granted by the
Legislature of Virginia, for the construction of a
Macadamized road from BerryYileto Winchester.
The county of Frederick obligated herselfto dou-
bic the subscription of Clarke. which, with the
States subscription, was the means relied upon
for its construction. Frederick county failing to
make MP her proportion, the charter expired by
IFS ownalimitation, and the State is consequently
released from the payment Of her subscription
An effort, however, has been made during the pre-
sent session to get a new charter, but it has as
vet failed, and those best Informed on the subject,
think it will not be granted this winter
We wish, therefore, to call the attention of the
citizens of Clarke, to a new terminus for their
road, which, we doubt not, upon investigation,
viii be found more practicable, and altogether
more profitable to them, than Winchester. 1t is,
that the road shall be constructed to Chariesto,on,
thereby connecting with the Winchester & Poto-
mac Railroads. miles nearer Baltimore than Win
chester. Here, too, they would have the choice
of either depositing their produce at our Depot on
the Railroad, or connecting with the Ill. f. d S.
Turnpike, go on to H~arpers-Ferry, and there
arain have choice between the Baltimore Railroad
and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. The dis
lance from Berryyille to Charlestown is something
less than from the former placeto Winchester
A better grade can be had, andthe road construct
ed for less money. Now, if our Clarke friends
can reach Charlestown in the same distance they
do Winchester, (and they can do it in less,)
we think we can show to them that it is decidedly
their interest to prefer this place as the terminus
for their road.
Assuming that the cost of transporting a barrel
of flour, or any other produce, from Winchester
to Harpers-Ferry is just double, (and it is rather
more than under,) that it would be from Charles
town to Harpers-Ferry, a saving of some impor-
lance can be effected, as the following figures will
show
The amount of Wheat raised in Clarke in 1910, was
25S,OOO bushels, or 81 600 barrels of flour; The cost of
transporting this from Winchester to Harpers-Ferry,
would be, at 20 cents per Dbl, slo'SeOo "
From CharlestOwn TO Hnrpers-tcr-
ry at 10 cents per Dbl, 5,l6o Oo-S9,loo w
Again, the amount of Corn raised
in 1910, was 267, 900 bushels, or 3d.
400 barrels. To convey this from
Winchester to Harpers-Ferry, by
means of Railroad, would cost $lO,6SOU %
From ChaFlestown TO EarperS-ter- ~
ry, it would cost, 5,5lOOO-$o,Sluuu
NI Flour a ande Corn %n u elO,5 500 90
Now, on Flour and Corn alone, there may be an
annual saving to the county of Clarke, OF the no
uncomfortable sum of ten thousand fire hundred
dollars. 1t is true, some may answer, that Clarke
does not send abroad all the Wheat or Corn she
may raise. But the above was the product OF
1910, and, her increase in the production of
Wheat and Corn now, over that period, warrants
the above as q correct data to base our estimate
upon. Besides, she raised that year, 1900 BUSH
els of Rye, 81, 900 bushels of Oats, &c, some of
which, could she find a market for abroad, could
be spared. In her return trade, too, she would
find a great saving ; for, instead of her merchan-
die, Plaster, &c. going to Winchester, she could
intercept it here; 30 miles short, or at Harpers-Fer-
ry, saving the whole cost Of the Winchester Rail-
road.
Charlestown can already offer as many induce
ments for the trade of Clarke to centre in, as
any other town short of Baltimore. Among the
Wheat buyers, she can boast of some of the most
liberaland extensive dealers in the Valley of Vir-
GINA. She has IL or Is Dry Goods Stores, not
surpassed, if indeed equalled, by the same number
in Winchester. In one month after the compile
ton Of this road, Plaster. Salt, Groceries, and every
thing needed by the Farmer in exchange for his
productss could be procured here as cheap, if not
cheaper, than in Winchester, for we have the same
advantage over that town in transportation from
the East, that we have in the trade from the West.
The estimated cost of the road from Bcrryville
to Winchester is, we have heard stated, $4,000.
If the State subscribe her share, we doubt not, if
our Clarke friends enter into the scheme, the
amount of stock can be taken. In coming from
Berryville here, the road would pass the farms of
some of the wealthiest, most liberal and enterpriz-
ing landholders that either county can boast of.
Besides, there is every assurance, a fair proportion
of the stock can be taken in our own town, and by
those in other sections of the county, who feel an
interest in its future prosperity.
We shall recur to this subject again, and must,
for the present, content ourselves by merely ask
ing of our friends in Clarke to take the above
hasty and imperfect suggestions into considera-
ton, and give to them that attention which they
may think they deserve.
Charlestown Academy.
This building has become much dilapidated, and