Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-11-16
gnirit Of aefersoIt
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
The Harper,s Ferry Property.

LIE Harper Oil ~ 4SVP0AJ'
The announcement of the prospective sale
of the Government property at Harper's Ferry
has very naturally excited good deal oil
interest with the people of that town, and the
citizens of the county generally. Touching
upon the sabject of this sale, we find the an
nexed article in the Wheeling InteLhgencer OF
late date -
Governor Stevenson returned yesterday
from Washington, where he had been to con-
suit the Government authorities In reference
to the proposed sale of the Government
property at Harper's Ferry, fixed for Novem-
her Both. This sale has been advertised In
but three newspapers-theC Cincinnati Gazette,
the New York Times and the washington
Chronicle The act ordering the sale OF this
property provides that the surplus, alter re-
imbursing the Government FORTS investments
shall be paid into the school fund of this State.
The Governor, therefore, naturally reefs con-
Siderable anxiety to see the property sell well.
he is apprehensive that in consequence Of
Insufficient notice to the manufacturing men
of the country, there will be but little COM
petition and the property, if sold at the time
liked, will be at price far below its value.
The main purpose of the Governors visit
was to impress these views on the Government
authorities having the business in charge
He had interviews with Gen. Dyer, the Chief
of Ordnance, with Gen. Sherman, and with
Gen Belknap, Secretary of War The two
former seemed rather aversc to more extensive
advertising, expressing doubts of their au-
thority to order it. Upon this point the act
provides that the sale shall not take place
until it is advertised in three papers in the
cities named, but does not forbid advertising
in others, leaving that to the discretion of the
Secretary. The Secretary manifested more
interest He showed disposition to do every
thing in his power to make the property yield
as much as possible and promised to investi-
gate the matter.
The act of Congress is liable to different
constructions in reference to the reimbursement
of the Observation-Disclosures it is to be re-
imbursed only for the original cost of the land
and such buildings as now on it, or for
the buildings and machinery destroyed and
carried away during the war Under the
first construction it is thought handsome
surplus would come to our school, but under
the latter there would be nothing. The Gov
ernor asked the Secretary for his construction
of the law, but the reply was that the De-
partn:ent would give no construction OF 1t till
after the sale, and would then cOnstrue 1t as
favorably rs possible towards our State. On
this point Gen. Dyer expressed the belief that
the Government would have to be reimbursed
FOR all the buildings that ever were there
Under this construction it can concern the
State very little what the property sells for.
except as it effects the u S. Treasury; but
the property is worth million, and it looks
now, the sale having been advertised in an
obscure corner of bit three papcTa of limited
circulation, as if it would not bring 5000, coo;
for it is an undoubted fact, that while the
country generally is aware that the Harper's
Ferry property is to be sold some time, very
few manufacturing capitalist are aware of tho
exact time when the sale takes place
Governor Stevenson was accompanied and
seconded i'll his mission by Senator Wiley and
Hon. G. D. Hubbard,