Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-08-12
Bridge Meeting in Harper's Ferry.

notwithstanding the inclemency of the
weather on Monday evening, August the
4th, 4 very large meeting of the citizens OF
Harper,s Ferry and the surrounding neigh.
borhood was beh to give expression to pub
lie opinion in reference TO the legal proceed.
ings that have been commenced for the par
pose OF epioining the erection of bridge
across the Shenaudoah river. The inter est
felt by the community is very great; the
enthusiasm and earnestness tina. marked the
proceedings Of the meeting was quito obser>
vable-the various points made by the speak
ers being cheered to the echo.
On taking the chair. s V. Yantis. Esq,
the Mayor Of the town. said. that he had
called the meeting in compliance with nu-
mercusiy signed request. which he read
"DEAn S1R-As you aware. an injuec-
ton has been granted by the County Court,
enjoining the Bridge company from proceed
Jog with the. construction Of the bridge
across the Shenandoah river We need not
inform you of how important to the interests
and welfare Of this town this bridge ia. and
therefore, of how injurious to those interests
and to that welfare any obstruction in the
way of its erection must necessarily be. 80.
We, therefore, citizens of the town and
ncighborhood, beg leave, most respectfully
to request that you. as chief officer OF the
town. call meeting Of thu friends Of the
important internal improvement now attacked
that public opinion on the subject may be
given expression to. We are assured on the
opinion of disinterested persons competent to
judge. that the injunction above referred TO
was unwisely granted. and will in all proha>
bilit7 be dissolved. In the meantime, there
is very general desire that the universal
and warm sympsthy of the Community with
the Bridge Company be publicly and en-
phatically expressed"
Mr. Yantis also read lcttor from the
Hon ". Fl. Travers. rcgretting his inability
to be present ct the meeting In the course
of his letter Mr. Travers said-spra6ing of
the Bridge enterprise: ''There may be obsta-
clos thrown in its way, but they must. and
they will be overcome" He further ex
pressed his entire confidence that-in the
Courts-the matter would triumph.
Mr.. Charles Davies then proposed the
following resolutions:
WHEREAs-A Bridge across the Shenan-
doah river at Hnrper's Ferry would be of i'm
| mcnse advantage, not only to the town, but
to the surrounding country, and the want of
| such mode of crossing tho river, for years
past, has been deeply detrimental to the in
terests Of both;
Rhcreos-At present, and since there vas
n bridge across the river-when the water is
low and when it is frozen, and very often in
the night timo-it is impossible to cross the
river-the Ferry being useless And so the
largo number of persons-in Loudoun for in
stance-who formerly transacted business in
the Ferry. can do SO now no more, and the
business interests of the town have almost
been destroyed. In addition to this, great
personal Inconvenience is often experienced.
as for instance. when tie sick have instant
need Of physician;
Wpreas-The Bridge Company of T1ar>
pcr's Ferry clothed with the authority Of
Iaw-bsvo commenced the erection of such
Bridge, but are now impcded, or arc about
to be impeded by an Injunction an InjnDc-
ton that, however improvidenty and uuwise>
ly granted, will boa observation-disclosures
brief-to the progress and completion of the
enterprise therefore,
Resolcc1, That we warmly sympathisc
with the Bridge Company in its efforts to
build Bridge across the Shenandoah river;
that VIC shall stand by it, and assist it to the
fullest extent of our shllity. And further,
we hereby promise to bear liberal part Of
the expense of the litigation now pending;
Reso1re9. That, trusting to the spirit of
the age. that each day is becoming more lib
eral and enlarged trusting to the growing
termination of the people to suppress them
and trusting to the Law, that is never so
worthy of respect when it is exercised for
tho purpose Of advancing the public interests
while we pity the short.sightedness that
cannot discern in these things. the signs OF
the tines-we dcnounce the narrow minded
seIfishness that--regardless OF the public in
terests-seems anxious only to enrich itsolf
at the public expense. and rise. on the ruins
of an impoverished community;
Rcsolvc9, That we have the fullest con-
fdence in the fair administration of the law
tho fullest assnrance--bascd on the opinions
ofthosc versed in the law, and experienced
in its interpretation, practice and application
that notwithstanding the momentary impede
ment thrown in its way. the enterprise. in
which we arc all so deeply interested. will go
ahead. and that we shall shortly see bridge
across the Shenandoah.
The Rev. N. G Bracket and Chas Dsvies
each spoke to the resolutions. at length and
were loudly applauded. The resolutions
were carried by reclamation. A resolution
was also proposed and carried, that n commit
tee of three be appointed to collect subscrir-
tons. Tho committee consists of S. V Yam.
tie, Chas. Davies and John McArthur
The meeting adjourned at half past ten
It was one of tho most earnest. apirited and
gratifying gatherings ever held in the Ferry.
On Wednesday week, James ard
David Foreman. father and son, rcsidios
near Harper's Ferry, Jefferson county, ".
Va, wero brought to this city, manacod TO-
gether, and lodged in Jail. Upon inquiry. it
was ascertained that they were Hrrestcd.upon
the complaint of one George ". Graham,
pretended agent of the U. s. at Harper's
T. Al
fire to a piece of woodland belonging to the
government They we're tried befurs IT, s