Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-09-24
Shenandoah Valley Railroad.


From the Page Courter. We copy the follow.
ing reply to an article which appeared.in that
paper several weeks ago, aud which we copied
into the SPIRIT:
TO hte Editor, OF The. Page Courier. The
undersigned as citizens of the county of Page
and Directors of.the Shenandoah Valley Rail-
road, feel called upon to correct an erroneous
statement contained in the local column of
your paper of the 5sh inst, being satisfied
that you will, in justice to us and the com-
pany which we represent, make the necessary
correction, and that you; were led into error
by the statement of others with no intention
OF desire upon your part to do either us or our
company any injustice
: Under the caption s.. v. R. r. you state
the "St9ckholders of the Shenandoah Valley
railroad held a meeting in Front ROYAL. War
rem county, at which the directory were
ordered to Issue first mortgage bonds to the
amount of s25, 900 per mile instead of s2O,-
1000, as provided in the contract" This state.
mens is, untrue; the existing Contract" pro
vides for first mortgage of $4,000 per mile.
and it was for the purpose of authorizing the
issue of the mortgage bonds provided for by
the contract that the meeting was called
w III tHis Ib"'gdge, duu All Dtner 10QeDteQ-
ness which will become necessary to be created
for the building of the road. the Indebtedness
will be less per mile than majority of the
roads in the United States. and We have every
reason to believe that the business. when the
road is completed. will enable the company to
liquidate its Indebtedness. pay general ex>
penses and declare a reasonable dividend to
the stockholders.
Your article further states-"B T. Gray
son, ESQ.,. proxy for PAGE county, refused to
vote in the meeting. giving as his reason that
the subscription Of 81 ZOO, 900 subscribed by
Philip Collins Esq. as agent for the Central
improvement Company of Pennsylvania. was
a fraud and that through him this county
should rot lend herself to any connivance at
fraudulent transaction" Mr.. philip Col
Inns did not offer or propose to vote upon the
subscription of 100000, which the Cen
trail improvement Company, which Ire repre-
scented. had more than one year ago subscribed
to the capital stock Of the Shenandoah Valley
Railroad Company, and which he voted in
two Stockholders meetings in which Pace
county was represented by Mr. Grayson =
The existing contract between the railroad
and contracting companies. distinctly specifies
the amount of railroad stock to be taken at its
par value by the contracting company amounts
ing to little more thon half million of dol
lars. II any fraud was prsctsed or attempted
1t was not at the meeting a, which Mr.. GRAY.
son declined TO vote and your article leaves
the impression that sc would quietly submit
to trand heing prac;iced u9on our people
This lnslnuaton is a direct reflection not ONLY
upon US, hut upon such men MS Hon VIM. RI
i'ravers, Geo. w. EicheIhcrger, Esq. and
lion. A. II. Roteler, of Jefferson; Major A
w. Mcdonald and Col U T. l3nycc. Of Clark.
NJ. Is. hnck, Esq Col. n King. Captain
Ewell Baker Of Warren; r. b HarnSberger.
Esq. of Rockingham, and many Others
Can any one believe that these gentlemen
would practice fraud upon the peonle of our
State, and that only B. F. Gravson Eso..
among the stockholders Of the Shenandoah
Valley railroad possessed sufficient honesty to
protect his people from frsud-c
himself their special guardian and advocate.
The railroad company is controlled by the
stock held in Virginia and Vest Va. conse-
sequc,'t'y the Central Improvement Comnonv
is Power'ess nf itself, TO have any resolution
passed IN the stockholders meeting or to so
any act injurious to the railroad But when
the county of Page ceased t. he ranrcsantnd
by the refusal of Mr.. Grayson rs proxy inr
Page County TO v"te. the company WAS in the
i""ef q! tue contractors. hut cverv nrorusi-
ton of any interest or imnnrtrnce, brought
before the meeting, we believe was unan
m"usiy adopted the railroad company and
the contracting parties acting harmoniousIy
for the Interest Of the road
The conditions of the subscriptions made
by the county of Page 10 AID in the con<trnc
ton of the s. V, r Il is. that the money shall
he expended in the county, and we not only
feel disposed, but intend that the conditions
OF the subscription shall be faithfully com,
piled with. and the citizens of the county may
rest assured that no demand will be fnade
with our consent) uron the county VARYING
from these terms We feel as deep an inter-
est in the county of Page as any one. and
feel as anxious t, protect her in every leyiti>
mate and honorable manner
We have written this article in Justice to
ourselves. in justice to the county of Page.
and in justice to the Shenandoah Valley
Railroad c"mnany; and in this connection
will say, that the road is progressing finely.
and perfect harmony and good feeling exists
ing in the company.
Very respectfully.
MANN SpITLER,
JouN w. AsuRY,
NM tIJrNES t.