Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-03-26
Charlestown, W. Va, March g, w.
HARPER'sPERRY WATER POWER


than two years been in the nominal ownership
of a so>called company, which, after failing
in',ts attempt at frst>class speculation on the
Is. q Q. Il. r. Company, has made no effort
Whatever to utilize this valuable property, but
literally turned it into~a potatoe patch Not
only In justice to the numerous citizens of
'Harper's Ferry-who. in the firm belief that
this so>called company would put these works
in to active operation in useful manufactures,
and thus greatly enhance the value of all prop
7erty at ttsat'point, were thereby induced to
purchase residences of the government-bu.
as matter of tho greatest moment to the peo
pie of the whole county of Jefferson and bat
simple justice to the government itself. Con-
sress should at once take measures to remove
the Armory property out of the possession of
parties who have utterly failed in their con-
tract with the government, and let it be sold to
some reliable individual or company, who will
give the people of that place an opportunity
to earn bread to put in their children $ mouths.
We trust Senator Davis will not let this sub
Ject rest until Congress has taken some tanri
Bile action in the matter AS the source of
the foregoing remarks, we clip from the SEN
Ate proceedings of Wednesday the following:
Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia I have
petition from large number of citizens Of
j HaTpess Ferry, Jefferson county. West Nir>
GINA. praying for the passage of the bin IS,
No. SD Tor the relief of tho purchasers Of
lots and houses. and lots sold by virtue OF an
act OF Congress entitled can act providiur
TOR the sale of the lands. tenements, and water
privileges belonging to the United States at
and near Harpers Ferry. in the county of
JEFFERSON. West Virginia, approved Decem>
her 10, 1868. I desire my colleague to be
in his seat when present this petition, as |
wish at the same time to call up the bill. l
have had the petition ready to presen. for
several mornings, but he has not been in his
seat at the time. therefore give notice that
shall ask for the consideration of the pets
Ron and the bill tomorrow mOrHing.
The facts Is We understand them, are these:
The property of the United States at Har>
rers Ferry included an immense wa:er,power,
which before the war was used for the manu-,
faesure of arms by the Government. At an
early stage of the war, the Armory was en-
'lreiy destroyed, nothing being left, but debris
and ruins After the war, the people enter
tanned the hope that the Government would
reorganize the aruory. or establish some other
public manufsctories- Finding this hope
frustrated, they petitioUed Congress to sell
the property, in order that it might be inn
proved, and the business Of the town resusci-
tated- Accordingly on the - dav of
--- 1868, a public sale was had
For the main property, including the water>
fhera ~
ders. One was the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road Company, and the other COMPANY Of
supposed capitalists, known as the Harper's
Ferry Water-power and Manufacturing Com
Pany. The latter bought the property at the
price OF about one hundred and sevcDty>6ve
thousand dollars, to be paid in ins,alments.-
We have never seen the agreement but this
Is our understanding of it.
as 5000 as the purchase was effected.
great parade and blowing was made through
the papers and otherwise, about ESTABLISHING
manufactures, and making wonderful i'm
provements. Time wore on-many moons
waxed and waned-aud nothing was done
Tho old brick were not oven removed Int re-
NAMED the same sad, shapeless monuments of
war and desolation. 1t became slowly but
painfully manifest that the purchasers were
no capitalists ut all, but mere spectators.
penniless adventurers, and shylocks, who had
bought for no other purpose than to speculate
OF OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany. 1t seems this latter company had built
their road over the property of the Govern
ment under authority of the then Secretary
OF War. Having discovered this fact, the
So called Harpers Ferry Water-power and
Manufacturing Company bought for the pur>
pose OF ousting the Railroad, or Lowing an
immense bonus upon them for The right of
way. The consequence is law suit with the
Railroad Company, which is now pending
Meanwhile the new purchasers have. of course.
failed to make good their payments to the
Government, They drove off by their bid a
bona tf0e captalist-the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company, and got possession them
selves. They allow the property to lie per-
fectly idle, to the irreparable injury of the
town, the county, and the State. They are
pushing scheme of black mail against the
hailroad, which is yet undetermined. IF
they succeed, they will pocket their plumber,
and sell out If they fail, they will throw
back the property on the hands of the gov
eminent, and be found to be absolutely ire
sponsble pecunarily and otherwise. Weun>
derstand that they have not even been able to
raise funds to pay their counsel And yet,
under all these circumstances, they have the
audacity to ask Congress to extend the time
OF their payments five years longer!
We call the attention of our Senators to
the imstruc'ions contained in the joint resolu>
tons intEoduced b., Ale W;lsa., ...s...l