Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-11-04
OUR RAILROAD.

and at no time since the first inception
of that important enterprise has that IN
terest been manifested so efficaciously
as within the last two weeks.
When it became known that the
Commissioners appointed by the Court
to assess land damages along the line
through our County had failed to agree
and were so widely apart in their re-
spectiye views as to forbid the prospect
OF an agreement, 0he present law re-
quiring four Of the five Commissioners
to concur in their awards the grief OF
our people was as great as 1t was gene
ral They had confidently expected the
Commission to secure the right OF way
uDon reasonable terms and their failure
to do so caused well grounded fears, as
well it might, that the Railroad Com
pany unable to obtain the privilege OF
building their road upon the line OF Its
present location would be compelled to
seek another route through either Lou
doun or Berkeley, and thus leave our
own County "out inthe cold altogether
In this unlocked for dilemma, when
their disappointment had settled into
dependency, which was fast sinking in
to dispair, a plan was proposedby which
the impending danger could be averted,
and which was no sooner suggested
than it was cordially approved Of by
our people and promptly carried into
execution.
The plan adopted was that referred
to in the following editorial from the
last Spirit Of. J,.6ersOn -
The friends of the Shenandoah Valley Rail-
road are making last effort to secure HE riSht
OF way through Jefferson county, on reasonable
terms, failing 10 which the project, so far as
this county IL concerned, will BE- wholly aban-
doneJ and another aud more inviting route Sc
Iected.
A large meeting was held al Shepherdslown
on Saturday, the 2lsl inst, for the purpose OF
taking the subject, in its new aspect, into con-
sideration and saving, il possible, the beneht OF
this important enterprise TO this community.
In an able address 10y the ton. a. X. Boteler,
one Of the directors of the company, II was
stated that the sum OF fiteen hundred dollars
Der mile was offered for the sht OF way, aud
il the proposition were accepted by the i4ih Of
November, the work of construction would
proceed at once, and il not the line Of the ROAD
would be established else where and through
mUre friendly country. In order 10 ascertain
if this ultimate proposition OF the company
would not be received, committee oil The
leading citizens Of Shepherdstown and lis VI
ciRity was appointed 10 wait on The property
holders interested and report their disposition
on the subject. We learn that this committee,
Who undertook TO visit the land proprietors
along one-ta If Of the located route, has dis
charged its duties most successfully. The
owners Of property ySiteo have modified and
moderated Their views, and there is every rea-
son to suppose that an agreement can be made
between them and the company that Will &c
satisfactory to all parties. Arrangements have
been effected by which owners of land on The
other half of the line will be called on during
the presen, week. We trust and believe that
there will be the same, il not gcealer lioeraliiy
shown on the part Of those yet 10 be waited on,
and that The vexed and now perilous question
of the right Of way will be forever disposed OF.
We think the offer Of the company ought
not TO be rejected. Whilst il is possible that
in some cases it may not be full compensation
for immediate damages, we doubt II IN siu-
gle instance the large resulting increase IN ihe
value Of all property through which the ROAD
will pass will not greatly o'eibalance The ihJu-
nv inflicted. Besides the work is one OF great
public interest, and some public spirit should
be manifested towards It.
AS a sequel to the foregoing there
was another town meeting here on Sat
urday evening last, to receive the report
of the Committee appointed on the pre-
ceding Saturday, to arrange with the
farmers about the right of way.
Joseph Welshans, Esq. presided, and
the meeting comprised most of the sub
stantial citizens of the town.
The report was submitted by John II.
little, Chairman of the Committee.
1t stated that all the land owners
along the proposed line, from the Poto-
mac to Mr.. Aglionbys, eight miles
south of ShepherdstOwn,) had been fully
conferred with and that, at the prices
they had agreed to take for the right
of way through their respective farms,
the aggregate cost of the eight miles
(Which is about half way across the
County, would be within fraction OF
$4,000, or nearly $4,000 per mile, on
which reductions to the amount of some
81 ,5OO or more might be expected.
After the report had been discussed
and adopted,it was moved and seconded
that, inasmuch as the amount demand
ed for right of way, half the distance
across the County,was 1000 more than
that which the Railroad Company had
offered to pay for it in County Bonds,
the difference should be made up by
Shepherdstown, which motion was re-
ceived with acclamations, and carried
without dissenting voice. 1t being
then suggested, that as nearly two weeks
would elapse before the regular monthly
meeting of the Town Council, it would
be well for it to have an extra session
without delay. the MaYor, who was