Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-04-22
TIE sHRN. YALLEY RAILROAD.

The warren Sentinel OF last tfluay, says
the Clarke Courier, criticises in no very mild
terms the conduct of the proxies of the
counties of Jefferson, Clarke and Page, in the
meeting of the stockholders of the Sheuan-
andoah Valley Railroad, held in Front Royal
on the Sth inst, aud attempts to hold them re-
rponsible for the failure, at this meeting, to go
into an election of board Of directors for
the ensuing year. The Sentinel can well af.
ford to indulge in its structures upon tho
course pursued by these gentlemen, az the
county of Warren has nothing to lose aud all
to gain in the failure success of the road
for Warren has not taken dollar of stock in
the proposed enterprise.
The failure to go into an election of board
of directors was owing to the withdrawal
from the meeting of the representatives of the
Central Improvement Cor contracting) Com
pany. They found a lf,justifying cause
for this proceeding in the opposition manifes>
ted by the proxies of the several counties
to placing in the new board of direction any
many who was Interested with the contracting
party. This was the sole isste on which him
,ged tie difficulty.
Recent developments in regard to the cons
struction of railroads have demonstrated that
much mischief may result to the interests of
thu counties lending aid to public enterprise
by the board of directors aud the contractors
being one aud the party. The mere
n.eution OF such relationship ia sufficient to
awaken alarm N the breasts of those having
at stake the interests of the county, for the
idea is suggested at once to the intelligent
mind that the contracting party can not To
held responsible for its acts. If A contracts
with himself to perform certain duties, and
fails how is it possible to force him to comply
with his contract? OF course, this illustra>
ton amounts to nothing if a furnishes all
the means, but if Il lends valuable assistance,
it is wise i'll him to seek to protect his inter-
cSs. Il in this case, is represented by the
proxies Of the several counties which have
subscribed to the stock Of the Shenandoah
Valley Railroad. The stock of Jefferson,
Clarke and Page amounts to $3.50 GOO, aud
il is proper that the representatives of these
counties should eadeayor TO protect their sub
scrir'ions; and hence, at the meeting referred
10, they determined TO guard the counties in
terests by voting to place in the board Of di-
Iectors no man il any way benefcialIy inter-
csted in the contract for construction. &c
We make this statement in justification of
The conduct of the proxies of Clarke 1t may
be necessary, in order to secure the construc-
ton of the road, for the counties to eacriice
their subscriptions. If, by fair and open
means, We are called upon to make the sacri-
hoe, there will be little or 10 complaint; but
ii, by any cbieanery, our subscriptions are
s"ampe6, most naturally will we feel indis>
Eant against those victimizing u.s.
We do not pretend to assert that Ike con>
trsoting party will pursue any other than
fair and open course, nor we prepared to
state that it is the object OF the contracting
purity to sst controllia. power in the board
of directors. Their Withdrawal from the
meeting because they foressw the course maps
ped cut by the county proxies admits Of a
suspicion OF the kind, still we arc not disposed
TO prefer against them charge of this char
acter.
We regret exceedingly that any difficulty
sHoCId nave at all arlsen V &c aTs n warm
supporter OF tho ROAD, and nothing will give
US more pleasure than tn sre the road pushed
t" its completion. Had there been less ami
mostly displayed, and more Of disposition
manifested to reconcile the issues that crept
INTO the management of thu affairs OF the road,
We are satisfied that hearty reconciliation
could have bean effected. We are no enemy
to the contracting party at the same time,
VIC are eallod upon to watch the interests of
the county for whose benefit we labor We
hope, at the meeting to DO held On the 2!at
of May, all difficulties will be recouoiled, and
that the work of graduation will lie proceeded
with tho vigor.
d n In r1nT Tc,N