Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-02-18
MErRopo11rAs BEAnou RA1LnoAp.-


METROPOLITAN BRANCH RAILROAD
The hrst train was passed over this new branch
OF the Baltimore and Ohio between the Point
of Rocks and Washington on Saturday week,
conveying officers aud others. In short
tlme says the Baltimore Sun, regular way
train will be put on for the accommodation of
the public. The route of the Metropolitan
road, though involving much heavy bridging
and cutting in crossing, as it does, spurs and
streams making to the Potomac, is a very d.
rect and straight one, and actually involves
less distance from Point OF Rocks, via Wash
ington, to Baltimore than the present route of
the old Baltimore and Ohio line, via the Pa.
tapsco valley, which, as all know who have
traversed it, ia very winding, and hence has
many short curves. When the Metropolitan
Branch, therefore, is fully in operation the
passengers between Baltimore and the West
Will all be passed over it, the junction with
the Washington Branch being half mile or
so north OF the present Washington depot
The general freight traffic will be conducted
over the present route, the local passenger
trains, of course, being maintained thereon
also as usual. The point of junction of the
two roads in Washington is on street that
mas the advantage of local passenger car line.
JEFF. Co. INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY. the
regular meeting of this Society, on Friday
evening last, the ques ton for debate" Should
our county take stock in an extension of the
Washington Ohio Railroad from Hamilton.
Loudoun county, via Charlestown"- ABLY
discussed by Messrs. ". N. Mcdonald and
~ IL Kennedy in the affirmative, and W. Il.
Travers in the negative. after which farther
discussion was postponed to some future meet
Ing, and the question discussed at the previous
meet1ug-'Shou!d not the people of this
county encourage the immigration of farmers
OF small means, with view to dividing our
lands into small farms and increasing the
amount OF our agricultural products"-was
selected tor debate at the next regular meet
ing on Friday Afternoon next, at 81 o'clock.
Dssp"tamts.-W. l.. Wilson, Is. G. Wash-
ington and John. Aglionby in the affirmative
and w H. kable, j. V. Simmons and A. T..
Kennedy, in the negative.
Joseph Trapnell reported from the Com.
m'tteo on subscription to Car Factory ex>
penses, the collection of about $50.
HE hARrER's FERRY PnopEnrY-The
Attorney General, as wo learn from WasL>
ingt dispatch to the Baltimore Sun. has
prepared and will transmit to the House If
Representatives within day or two an opinion
upon the bill providing for the adjustment Of
claims OF the government for property sold az
Harpers Ferry. The bill was referred TO him
by the committee on military affairs The
Attorney General says that all the claims have
been adjusted except that for the water power,
and he knows Of no re's Why lnnser time
should be given to The parties to that purchase.
as they and their bondsnen are amply able +,
make settlement. He AIDES that their obliaa
tloos are now one and two years neerduc.-
Suits have been c)nn,enced IL sainst their. and
he IS opposed to the withdrawal Of the suits
or to giving them longer time. lie doubts
whether better or even as good terms couli
BE- obtained if sale Was again made to other
parties.
PROTECT TIE PARTRIDGEs-The Frederick
Citizen lrarns that Mr.. Wm n. Todd of al,
Pleasant District, has not forgotten the pour
partrldges during this severe winter. He has
trapped number of these noble birds and
put them IN his garnet where he now feeds
them and will turn them out in the spring
tic is also feeding flock that comes near his
house. If all our farmers would act in this
manner we would never complain Of a scarcity
OF birds. This has been one Of the bar,,.s,
winters on Partridges that has ever been known,
and numbers have persisted by the severe cold.
many by hawks and others from starvation.
1t the farmers would but remember what a
benefit they do them IN destroying foul seed
they would not forget them now.
HE HARPER FERRY PRopERrY.-The
Petersburg State Journal says, the best the
government could do with this property woud
be to give it to West Virginia for tho benefit
of her free schools. Millions of acres of land
have been given to the Western States to sup
port education, all of which is just and right
and Is based upon sound policy. Why not
apply the same principle to West Virginia
and convert the ruins at Ilarper's Ferry into
fund for popular education We hope our
members of Congress will make the effort to
accomplish this result.
Z. d 0. CANAL.-The Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal employs 400 boats constantly
during the boating season. These baa,s re>
quIre =, 900 head of mules and give emn]oy
ment to 1000 persons directly aud Indirectly.
The mules consume at least 2, 500 barrels of
corn, 3, $40 bushels of oats, and $500 tons