Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-01-06
COMMUNICATES.
IHAnpER's FERRY, Dec. 81, 1875

HARPER FERRY, Dec. 81, 1879.
TO The Editor of The SPIRIT of JEFFERSON
have just read a communication of Mr.
Mason 20 some of the county newspapers.
of a. bapdbill through the county, headed
The Bridge Case" In the present com.
munication, which respectfully request
you tospublish in your paper, do not pro-
pose to examine the several propositions of
hr. Mason, but will confne myself to con-
sideration of one alone.
The burden of Mr.. Mason's appeal to the
public, and its manifest purpose is. to relieve
himself from the odium which he is con-
scious he has incurred by unnecessarily
obstructing the completion of public work
vital to the prosperity of Harper's Ferry.
lie declares that he has no wish OF pur.
pose. "captiously and unnecessarily" to OBJ
struct the completion of the bridge at this
place, and that he is simply acting for the
protection of his right of soil and ferry fran
chise. He processes his entire willingness
to submit to Jefferson jury" how much,
ii any, damages he is entitled to recover, for
the injury of his rights. Ali he wants, he
says, is TO have "some security" that his
damages will be paid when court and jury
shall have ascertaincd them. His chief ap.
prehension seems to be that the Bridge
OoinPany nay give "a ueeu OF trust upon
their property before such damages are
| certained
Now if these views be honestly and sin.
cerely entertained by Mr.. Mason, has he not
remedies that would have accomplished all
his avowed purposes without obstructing the
completion of the bridge by such an iDjunc.
ton as he did sue out; with its superscdeases,
attachments for contempt, and the most an
| noying and embarrassing conseuuepces2 Let
us see:
He knows full we'll that his damages can
only be estimated by "a jury" and to ac-
complish that result he must bring an action
on the case. He further knows that he had
the full right upon the institution of such an
action-if:he had any just ground of appre,
bension-to apply to either the county or
circuit court for an injunction (Which would
have been readily granted,pnd not opposed )
restraining and forbidding the Bridge
Cempany from creating any liens upon their
property until his damages were paid. ~
No. objection would have been made to
any such bill, and he would thus have ac,.
CURED right to satisfaction for whatever
damages he may be entitled to, upon a props
erty costing fifteen or twenty thousand dol
lars. lie admits that the bridge must be
constructed, sooner or later, and that all his
rec Mt movements can have no other effect
but toannoy the stock holders, to increase the
cost, and to postpone and delay the benefits,
which the people of this community would
derive from the completion of the bridge.
Had he adopted such Course of procedure
as have suggested. every stone placed on
the piers, every plank put upon the super.
structure, every dollar expended upon the
bridge would have been so much of value
added to his security Looking to the in,
exorable public demand which required a
more prompt and convenient mode of trans.
portation than that furnished by ferry, his
Interests would not have beer autagonistical
to the completion of this public structure.
bnt the reverse, for having relieved himself
from tho apprehensions of any liens in con,
fict with his rights, he might calmly have
awaited the just and impartial verdict of
~ Jefferson jury, to which arbitrament the
Bridge Company is now, and has been at all
times, ready most cheerfully to submit
Sharpened by the deep interest they take
In their great. public Improvement the citi.
zens OF Harper's Ferry keep watchful eve
on Mr.. Mason. They decline to accept as
current his counterfeit half ponuy statements
OF intentions and purposes. He may prac>
tiee delnsions upon his own versatile and
eccentric intellect. but he cannot delude
them Actions speak louder than empty
professions. PuBLIUs