Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-05-29
:. Garrett Blocks the Wsy.n


The above is the caption Of az article,
which we append from the Washington Re-
PubieGa. with reference to the great Water
Power at HarpeF's Ferry. The writer is cor
rect. we thips, in the estimate Of the value
e this property to the Government fer an
Armory, or 70 capitalists for manufacturing
Ppposes; but It IN becomes company with
80 high sounding a title as that which pur-
chased and did not pay forl the property
bought IL, as is sincerely believed with no
expectation Of using il for manufacturing
purposes, but with the hope Of compelling
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company to
take OF their hands at an advance, or else
pay the cost Of it for the disputed right OF
way,-to come into the papers pending a
snit brought by said so-called Water-Power
and Manufacturing Company, and charge
President Garrett with blocking the way"
Il also quotes from n Cincinnati paper
which affects to know everyihing.-refecting
on the enterprise Of yireinians because the
property Is allowed to remain as ii is. Did
not the Company which purchased tia Sl75,-
600 profess 10 have the means aud the enter
prize to make valuable use Of this property
Aud yet, the planting Of the mud. filed canal
with potatoes is the only enterprise attempted
-excsp, that manifested in the Courts 10 take
from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
Pany the right Of way which has been theirs
toJ forty years-ascording 10 the iutimaiion
Of o. S. Judge Jackson, their "prescriptive
right" TO say the least,
II this impecGaiOns Manufacturing Con-
pany had been on, Of the way, the property
would have gone into the possession of the
3. & o, r. R. Company. and ere this by three
or four years. Rolling Mills aud Car Shops
and shs like. would have been operative at
Harper's Ferry, and an annual outlay Of
500 900 ready mOney,-equal to the product
Of an average wheat crop Of this fertile coun-
ty.-would. in all probability, have resulted.
President Garrett, in our humble Judgment,
has not " blocked the way" to the prosperity
Of Harpcrs Ferry.
/ "The question as to what shall be done with
| that immense and very valuable water-power
aud property at Harper's Ferry is being dis
/ cusSed By several Of our Virginia contempu-
I raries. They do not. however, seem TO under
stand The question in all its bearings. Mr..
/ Johu w. Garrett, If we are rightly informed,
/ has thrown a legal stumbling block IN the
way Of any private company disposed TO take
/ hnldof the property and utilize it for manu-
featuring aud commercial purposes 1t used
20 be a common saying here in Washington,
when any new railroad enterprise was sug-
gesied. that d" Mr.. John w. Gnrrett is in the
way Aud he seems "tn be in the way
/ still. There is not n doubt that il this nar-
/ per'S Ferry property were in the hands of an
euterprisins private company, with sufficient
capital to properly develop 1t for manufactu-
ring purposes, It could be made Of immense
7 benefit 20 Washington Indeed. il might be
made 20 bear the same commercial aud 6nGn-
cial relations 10 Washington, now that We
have the Metropolitan railroad. that Lowell
and Lawrence do 20 Boston. We have seen
the letters Of several Northern manufacturers
who have, within few months, made appli-
cations % parties here for water-power privi-
legs at HaTper's Ferry In each instance the
, object u seek ing change Of location further
South was said 10 he a hope Of securing a
better climate and superior commercial and
mineral advantages.
As a central location, in close proximity 70
raw material Of all kinds. and within access
by =ail with al the great markets Of the
North. Yves, and South Harper's Ferry is
unsurpassed while as a water power il has no
superior IN the country. 4 Cincinnati paper,
which affects to know everything, says It is a
reflection on the enterprise of VirginiauS that
the property is allowed 10 remain az il is 1t
forgg;s that Mr.. john W. Garrett blocks
the way One Of our Virginia cuntempo-
raries makes the most sensible and practical
suggestion We have seen. II is that the Gov
eminent take the property back aud as prnof
of It's confidence in the South restore the
/ buildings. and again utilize il as an armory
and arsenal filled with busy mechanics -
There is a real business ring about tina, idea,
and we heartily second it, The West has
Rock Island the North, Springfield. Why
should not tho South have Harper Ferry and
derive equal profits from IL? The people Of
MARYLAND Of Virginia. West Virginia and
the C,Tolinas have an important interest IN
this matter. and should give more attention
10 It than they do. To the Government that
property. with It's valuable water. power, is
worth millions Of dollars. All the the foun-
dations are there uniuiured Many Of the
wheels and ground Improvements are in
good state Of preservation. The fuundry.
roin2-mills and forges could all be restored
in a very short time and at small cost Both
material aud labor are at hand. and very
cheap. A new dam. built Of huge blocks #
black marble, stretches more than half way
across the river This dam is one Of the most
substantial pieces Of masonry in the country,
and cost the Government more than ninety
thousand dollars In short it is estimated
that IT the same ground improvements
had 10 be put IN to-day they would cost the
Government a, least four millions Of dollars.
Shall aproperiy so valuable thus be allowed
10 remain idle because one man, in his caprice,
chooses to throw a cloud over the title -
Ieeca n prirht