Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-08-31
The q. v. Railroad and Berkeley
County Court.

The County Court of Berkeley were
called upon at their late meeting TO
make an order subscribing the seventy
FIVE thousand dollars, subject TO all the
conditions imposed 10y the people OF
Berkeley, to the Shenandoah Valley
Railroad. A full knowledge of the sit
uation was detailed TO them by the
Hon. w. II. Travers and U. l.. Boyce,
and the importance OF prompt action
thoroughly understood. The Court adj
iourned without action either negative
or affirmative.
The Shenandoah Valley Railroad
have offered TO hepeople of Berkeley
Co, connection with their principal city
ofa continuous line of rail trayersiugthe
richest agricultural region of the United
States, and intersec,ing and connecting
with the whole Southern system OF Rail
ways, upon the condition that they
would give the construction OF the road
within their limits such reasonable aid
as the benefits TO be derived from it
would Justify. Then indifference would
indicate that they fail 10 appreciate the
value Of the connection, and that the
friends of the road elsewhere overesti-
mated il. We understand that the
County Court is sustained and justified
by large aud influential property own
err in the immediate neighborhood ot
Martinsburg, the point OF junctlon.-lf
this be true, the County Court were
probably governed by the impression
that there has been change in the pop
ular mind in their County. Whether
that be so or they were governed by
tear or unauthorized assumption OF au-
thority against the people whom they
are elected to represent, has no practl-
cal bearing on the question. They have
retarded for short period OF time,
connection via the Cumberland Valley
road with the city markets, and II now
becomes our imperative duty TO seek
connection with that road at the most
available point. That point seems 10
be generally accepted as Bedington.
The distance from Shepherdstown TO
secure it is only eight miles, lover conn-
try easy for railroad construction. a
survey Of that route should be made
without delay, and we doubt not that
every facility for It's construction in re-
gard to right of way, depot purposes,
&c, will be gladly granted by s1e peo-
pie alongits course.
The people Of jefferson County are
surprised at this rather unneigbborly ac-
ton of Berkeley, and their conduct is
subjected 10 very free and not very
complimentary criticism. Many assum-
ing that they think the road compelled
to construct TO Martinsburg, and they
therefore decline to appropriate the sum
voted by the people. We do not believe
this of Berkeley, but do believe that the
County Court have delibcratly come TO
the conclusion that no substantial bena-
fit will be derived from it. While this,
to some extent, changes the general dc.
sire, il does not in the least interfere
with the speedy completion of the road,
as sufficient sum will remain in tho
hands of the Commissioners OF Jefler-
son County Subscription TO build con-
nection with the Cumberland Valley
Railroad by producing the Main Line Of
the Shenandoah Valley X. r., through
Shepherdstown to Beddington, and this
will undoubtedly be Immediately accom-
plished. d.-The contractors, Messrs. Sat
terlec & Co., are pushing the construc-
ton of the road as rapidly as possible,
and in every way indicating the inten-
ton TO live mp TO and execute all the
duties under their contract.-So long as
this continues ttey will meet with corres-
ponding good faith on the part of JET
ferson, and the other Counties the road
traverses up the Valley Charie'fOwn
Free Press.