Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-07-29
COMMUNICATED.

Mr.. Zittle-I read with much pleas
ure the articles signed "Justice" which
appeared in your paper, some weeks
ago, upon the subject of the Smithheld
Turnpike; and have been hoping that
their writer would follow them up with
additional! facts and figures upon "the
same subject continued" for it is mat
ter in which our whole community IS
interested, and one therefore which
should be thoroughly ventilated and
fully understood. :,
Nearly all the legitimate stockholders
of the Turnpike Company, who are the
real owners of the road, Representing
az thew do the original subscribers
whose money made it, are perfectly
willing to surrender their entire interest
in it to the county-to make an abso-
lutte gift of it to the public-if the coun-
ty will accept it and place on the same
footing as the other county roads, 40 as
to make it free highway for every
body to use without let or hindrance.
But this commendable liberality on
the part of those who have the best
right to say what shall be done with the
road don't seem to suit the plans and
purposes of the sharp little clique who
have lately contrived, some how or 9th
er, to get temporary possession OF it and
who have persuaded the County Court
to give them the privilege OF putting
up gates for the purpose of exacting
toll from all who pass over it, so that
now no one can come to Shepherds
town, except on foot, by either of its
principal approaches, without being
stopped on the highway and told to
''stand and deliver
Besides the gross injustice which has
thus been done to the representatives Of
the original stockholders and the annoy
ing tax, which is thus being imposed on
the pocket and patience Of the public, this
obstruction to trade and travel, is ex-
tremely injurious to the business inter
ests of Shepherdstown, in keeping people
away from the place.
1t is the obvious policy of our town
TO encourage intercourse. especially
with the farming community around it,
BY affordug every facility for unrestric-
ted traffic. But instead of holding out
inducements for people to come here.
all who wish to come, from North or
South, are compelled to pay for the
privilege of making us visit. The
town might as well be fenced in com.
pletely, aud al, its business interests be
| at once surrendered to the merciless ma
nipuation OF few monopolists! If the
two turnpikes to Shepherdstown were
good roads, or likely to be made good,
there would not be SO much reason to
complain Of the tolls exacted for using
them but they are VIGOROUSLY the
toughest and altogether the worst spec
linens of turnpikes that have been built
since the DAYS of the Scotchman who
originated McAdamized road making.
Poor old ShepherdStown! with every
natural advantage in and around it to
make il prosperous place, it has so
many artificial barriers around it which
are made to contribute to personal ends
or private emoiumert, rather than TO
the public convenience, but there can be
no prospect for its improvement until
they shall be modified or removed-and
removed some of them must be if our
town is to lie rescued from utter ruin.
had intended, IN this communities.
ton, to say something about the high
tolls charged by the Bridge Company !;
but will reserve my remarks on that
topic for the present, hoping that the
Company itself, for its own sake as we'll
as for the sake of our town and of the
public generally, will recognize the pol
icy and propriety Of reducing its rates
of toll which are now go outrageously
high as to cause great complaint on
both sides OF the river, and which if not
! voluntarily reduced by the Company
will assuredly be by the Legislatures of
Maryland and West Virginia at their
| next session.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.