Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-06-10

ZION inc court 10 tTtCI SdteS VII VIC
Martinsburg road, and then no one can
enter our little town from any direction
without paying handsomely for the
privilege-tbough he wont see quite as
much after he gets in as the visitors to
the great Centennial. There would be
Just as much justice in erecting toll
gates on the Martinsburg road, as those
who live on the road and are compelled
to work it every year can show just as
good legal title, and as far as the road
is concerned, it is much better and
smoother road for ten months in the
year, than the old Smithfield and Shep-
herdstown pike with its large boulders
buried in the bed of it, and which if it
was a county road, would be covered
with clay and made more passable. l
need not dwell upon this subject fur
ther, as the injury to the town and VI
cinity is apparent 10 all. If in spite OF
the circumstances of citizens and par
ties representing larger part OF the
stock, this new tax is put upon the
community, the citizens, aud especially
the merchants need not be surprised II
the farmers 90 elsewhere with their
produce unless the citizens will be will
ing to pay extra prices for butter amt
eggs, &c, that is the market price, plus
the toll gate tax.
Farmers on the south side of Shop
herdstown have a good store at Dut-
fields where if a dozen eggs are worth
Is cents they can get Is without paying
half of it for toll. Those south and
west can get into Martinsburg with
their produce and sell them at good
prices, and purchase their supplies with
no charge to get in. Passing along the
road from Shepherdstown to Smithfield
some time since we counted four gates
in IS miles carefully fenced in, though
only one charging toll at present. When
they all get to work travellers who visit
our beleagured town from the direction
of Smithtield must be well provided
with small change. Even the visitor
who comes by public conveyance from
Kerneysvile cannot escape paying fee
to these gentlemen for seeing our town,
as the stage owner charges five cents
extra to rel mburse himself for the tax
laid on him by this new enterprise for
drawing money out of the public. Quere:
Would it not pay better if this state of
affairs lasts for farmers living on this
turnpike to keep their money in their
pockets and go to Martinsburg or Dut,
fields and purchase their supplies and
sell their produce free of tax, or if trav-
cling forpleasure or sight seeing instead
of giving your money to Shepherdstown
gatekeepers add little more and give
It to the gatekceper of the Great Cen
tenDial Exposition and see something
worth the money.
We trust the owners of these roads
will see the Justice of these remarks and
that the Halltown Turnpike Company
will charge pro rata according to the
distance Travelled, and that the Smithtield
and Shepherdstown Company, who are
good honest citizens, no doubt, though
| do not know their names, will see
their mistake and dissolve business and
abolish tax which they have no right
to impose. If they must have stock
company, let them have one in some
more laudable enterprise where there
will be no dispute to their title, and
above all an enterprise which will be a
benefit to the community in which they
live and not a positive injury.
JUSTICE.