Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-08-30
THE PAGE COUNTY BONDS.

people there to repudlate their honest
obligations in reference to the Shenan-
doah Valley Railroad.
From the very inception of that i'm
por;ant enterprise, and at every stage OF
its progress, the company having it in
cha, 90 has been subjected to series OF
uncalled for, unfair aud most malignant
attacks from similar cliques in other
counties along the line; but, in every
instance, it has fully vindicated its claims
to the confidence of the community and
covered its enemies with confusion.
That such will be the case in Page
county we have no doubt, inasmuch as
we have an abiding faith in the integri-
ty and good sense Of its people. They
may, perhaps, permit themselves for
while TO lend listening ear to the false
representations and specious arguments
of those who, for their own selfish pur
poses, ale now so sedulous!y seeking to
seduce them, but when it comes to the
test, their temp,crs will find that their
virtue is impregnable, aud that they
themselves will be looked down upon
hereafter with the Indignant contempt
that they so richly deserve.
liquidation does not pay debt, be
it an individual or corporations and
debt is just as honest after an exPira-
tioh of years as it was when it was first
contracted, and it cannot be obliterated
until it is paid. And an honest indi-
vidual, or corporation, will liquidate an
honest obligation, no matter OF how
long standing,
The Page subscription to our railroad
was made fairly in good faith, and was
so received by the Shenandoah Valley
Railroad Company. Any attempt now
10 withhold the county bonds would be
not only contrary TO law and common
honesty, but likewise the very worst
policy, for their material interests as
well as for their good name, that the
people of Page could possibly pursue,
and this is fully proven by the follow
ing speech of the Hon. VIM. Mines,
President of the S. V. r. r., who, by
the way, has done more to advance the
prosperity OF Page than any man in the
county, and whose advice we sincerely
trust will be needed by all who have at
heart the interests of its people. The
spirit of the Valley" Harrisonburg,
Va, edited by Col. Daniel Dechert,
SAYS
President Milres, of the Shenandoah
Valley Railroad, spoke some words of
pregnant importance to Rockingham as
well as Page, at the NJ. f. Church fes-
tival at the Shenandoah Iron Works,
August Goth. lie commenced by speak
inc of the vast mineral wealth of Page
county, of its isolation from markets by
mountain ranges and want OF railroads.
He spoke of the agricultural nature OF
the county's wealth, and then dropping
into figures in the easy and convincing
way that man has who is thoroughly
conversant with his facts, he said that
20 haul one bushel ofproduce from Page
TO the nearest railroad, cost at least, on
an average, ten cents; that when there,
it would be forwarded on 10 a market
in Baltimore at charge or local rate
equal to what the same bushel could be
sent to Baltimore from Chicago. In
this manner he showed that by the time
haulage, packing, freight and the com
mission merchant were paid, the pro-
duce left nothing for the producer, even
il the consignment was not left in debt.
Unfortunately, toe many of our readers
can confirm Mr.. Mines observations on
this head. He showed that in the event
of Page Valley being opened by rail
road communication how, in the in
crease of population along the line of
road-iu the blast furnaces, rolling mills,
machine shops, nail works, car shops,
DC, that must and will be built along
orr ore deposits, (however long the stu,
pidity of cross purposes may delay their
erection)-the farmer would find the
best of ali markets-ORe right at home.
The money now lost in transporting
would be saved, and make good profit
on all produce. He instanced a county
10 Pennsylvania equally rich in mineral
wealth, but equally poor in everything
else until couple dozen years ago when
she went, heart and soul, into railroad.
The effect of opening its resources was
what was to DC anticipated from the
neutrality-suspicious. became dense,
industries became dotted along the hill
sides, wages advanced, and the sterile
mountain sides, so far from being
drag on their owners to pay the few
cents taxes on them, became vast mines
OF wealth; land that would not 'sprout
black eyed peas realizing hundreds of
dollars per acre.
The speaker then gave home thrust
when he alluded to the subject most
dear to every family in the land-the
welfare OF their children. Where, said
he, Rave your sons, your young men,
any chance to improve their condition,
or to become anything else but farmers
by staying at home? To day there is
not single foundry in operation in
Page county, and all other branches of
Industry other than agricultural, are in
similar morbid condition a rail-
road would alter all this-plenty of
work for all, good wages, good price
tnr nrnAnnn nnd On hnnnrahln and In