Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-08-12
To the World at Large.

who iail TO pay II visit. In addition to It's
natural attractions there has been, for nearly a
century, a great historical interest connected
with it. Jeiferson's Rock is inseparably asso-
ciated with the sage Of Monticello, the author
Of "No,es on Virginia" and the more impor-
tant and glorious prOduction-The Declaration
| Of American Independence. The Father Of
his Country himself, it is said, selected it for
/ the site Of National Armory. having in view,
/ no doubt, its Combination of all that is beaut
/ ful in natural scenery, and all that is useful
/ for The prosecution of manufactures. Johu
\ Brown the hero, the scoundrel or the mailman,
/ as You may please to call him, has given the
/ place an interest that will never die, to the
historian, and 1t is certain that the spot where
on the first scene Of our great tragedy was en-
acted wW never ceass TO attract melancholy
interest from the generations yet unborn. The
importance attached to the place as a strategic
point during the civil war and the many bat
lie fields in It's immediate vicinity, may also be
/ considered guarantees of its ueyer-dyiug fame
l. Notwithstanding the prominence with which
/ the above circumstances invest It, there are
points 10 It's history known to but few except
It's Inhabitants. To them the untold tale Of
Harper's Ferry is of much greater Importance
than It's written history, and many a worthy
man and good mechanic at the place now suf-
ferins the diyeSt distress would wish il written
as an appeal 70 his countrymeu for redress Of .
great wrong pcrpetrated on the place, and as a
warning against the perpetrators who, from the
positions they hold under tho government are
able 20 make many other places 20 suffer from
their uelariouS practices.
It's q historical fact that in 1852, on IN or
der from the then Secretary Of War, the L. :.
Government sold TO mechanics engaged ut tue
Harpers Ferry Armory much Of the govern
meut property at that place. Many houses
were sold dt full value aud many lots were
purchased on which the buyers built comfort
able residences. of course the best men eng
plovel ut the armory were these who purchased
for 40 others had means or credit to enable
them Co provide homes for their families The
sale was made with the condition, if not men
tioucd certainly implied, that the government
would continue % manufacture arms at the
place Shortly after came the war and tho
consequent destruction ofthe armory buildings.
This. Of course, was very d;scourssins to the
people Of Harpers Ferry, but being mostly
: loyal % the government they did not despair
OF the revival Of prosperity in their town.
On the return Of peace. however, it appeared
as if the goyernmeut~had altogether forgotten
the place and the interest they had 10 t For
seven years the people suffered the torture Of
"hope deferred, and finally made an appeal to
the government either to rebuild the armory
or sell the grounds anG water-powor to manu-
lecturers IL may be well 10 say here that Mr.
Lincoln, while on q visit 20 the place immedi-
atc,y after the battle Of Autietam, declared pub
lic'y that it was the intention aud policy OF the
, government to restore the armory and put ete-
, lytlug in g'QiU gro eRte Jel'aW The Ord
. nance Department, however, had Il O such in
;cution. and in 1868, on recommendation OF
n Gen. DYER Chief of Ordnance bill passed
3 both houses Of Congress and was approved by
b the President, authorizing the sale OF the Hair
per's Ferry property. In pursuance Of this
Ia . sale took place on the S0th day Of Nov
1861 The site Of the Musket Factory was
Knocked down to Captain F. c. Adams OF
Washington for one hundred and seventy-Six
thousand dollars John L. Wilson, Esq. OF
the r. & o. Railroad who was Capt Adams
only competitor, having bid within oneahous-
and dollars of that sum The site OF the Rife
Factory was knocked down to the same party
for thirty thousand dollars. Many houses and
lets in different parts Of the town were sold to
citizens. and very large prices were given
purchase money TO be paid in year and the
other half in two years with approved security.
Captain Adams gave out that he was mere
q e AZ Agent for others, aud that he represent
Ell Northern Capitalists, aud It was hiUtsd that
Q Senator Sprague, Of Rhode Island, was con-
CerUed in the purchase. Great was the rcoic-
, Ing among the people Of Harpers Ferry at the
. prospect Of again hearing ;he hum Of industry
I around them, and their JOY was increased and
their hopes confirmed in a few days afterwards
by dispatch from Capt Adams; who had re-
turned to Washington, in which it was stated
that Senator Sprague was to visit them and
e address them on The Future of Harper Fer
e. ~" The news spread like wild fire, and that
Prince OF Good Fellows, the father Of Virginia
iournasm-aud a good deal beSides-H. n.
. Gallahcr Of The Tjrq,Hic Free Press, printed
and spread abroad, gratis, hand-bills annOunc-
ing the fact % The people Of the surrounding
country, and inviting them 10 pay their res
poets % the distinguished Senator On the day
appointed, however, the Senator was reported
non est aud Z IS said that he afterwards eX-
pressed unboUudej establishment on being told
Of the disappointment he had caused ct Har-
rers Ferry. II is also said that he positively
denied having any interest in the IIarpers
Ferry purchase, or any intention Of making q
speech 70 the people of that place After a.
while Captain Adams paid another visit, and to
inquiries made Of him by citizens as to what
were bis intentions he made evasiye answers
To The surprise of all it was announced during
tls next Summer that Capt Adams and 9TH
crs who had become incorporated under the
title Of The Iarper's Ferry Manufacturing
aud Water Power Company had entered suit
against the B. q O. X. r. Company for posses
sion Of The ground over which their road pas
SOS from iiArperN Ferry bridge TO point about
q mile above the town. The right Of way over
this ground was given 20 the Railroad Compa-
rv by the Secretary Of War in 1888. and no.
body Thought of their b ing deprived ofitagain
except Captain Adams and company. among
whom. it is supposed. with q grca, shew Of
Justice, are zen very high in some Of the de-
partm1uts at Washington, and others equally
prominent in the National Legislature, who.
seeing chance for speculation off the Rail-
road Company, detailed Capt. Adams 20 make
7 Ills ,l1lr f{e purchase. All last Summer az
;icles appeared IN q Washington paper. signed
. " r. G. A.. denounciug the Railroad Compa
uy and It's President, John w Garrett, and
copies Of this paper were sent to Harper Fer
~ with q hope, no doubt, that those diatribes
would fully satisfy the longings Of its people
+ Now It happens tina, the people Of Hrpcr's
Ferry have no quarrel with the Railroad Com
/ pauy nor Mr. Garrett. They acknowledge The