Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-06-18
THE RAILROAD SHOPS.

Week before last the Spirit OF Jetfer-
son had an editorial advocating the es-
,oblishment of the S. V. r. Il. shops at
Charlestown and calling on its citizens
TO make some effort to secure their loca-
ton at that place.
In the next issue of our paper after
the article appeared, we took occasion
10 refer TO it and to give some reasons
why, in our opinion, the shops should
be at Shepherdstown rather than at
Charles,own; to which the Spirit replied,
in terms of kindly courtesy, expressing
the wish for Shepherdstown TO have the
shops if Charlestown should fail to get
ihem-a sentiment, by the way, which
we fully appreciate and freely recipro-
cate, saying, in all sincerity, that there
is no point on the line that we would
prefer TO Charlcstown for the shops III
the improbable contingency of the rail
road ccmpanys failing to iulhl It's prom
Use 10 locate them here.
So, after having thus satisfactorily
interchanged views, with one OF our
Charlestown contemporaries, III regard
to this matter of shops, we flattered our
selves with the hope that the claims OF
Shephrrdstown TO their location were
sufficiently understood to make any
further explanation of them unnecessary
and that the whole subject would be
allowed 10 rest with the railroad author
tiles, t. whom it properly belongs, for
such final action as, in their Judgment,
would best promote the interests OF
their company, while keeping faith with
those of their friends to whose help in
time Of need they owe their corporate
existence.
But il seems we were mistaken in
supposing that the matter would be
RENTED to the railroad company with
ont further discussion; for, we find that
our venerable confrsre of the Free Press
has taken up the typographical cudgel
which was so gracefully laid down by
the Spirit and has given US a rap or
two (meant for repartee) on 'the same
subject continued; as will be seen in
the following paragraph from his last
weeks paper:
ShcpherdStown basis its claim to the re-
pair shops OF the ). V. II. X. on promise
that il thinks is not barred by limitation.
II has Repair Shops, which in the eStima-
ton of some is an ample fultillment of any
premature promise. CharleStOwn Is suS-
nested as location every way desirable
for shops for Manufacture or Repair OF
rolling stock We have been Informed
that ShoDs could be built here for the
amount il would require 10 find bottom
and lay Il foundation ut Shepherdstown !.
Charlestown-Charl is a good place
for the location of people for pleasure or
business The Railroad Company Will To-
cate its shops where it suits its purposes
best, we suppose, and not because of any
sentiment or expression which may have
fallen from the lips of some one i'll the
LONG ago, ShcpherdStOwn Will not be
selected because it was the scene OF Rum
sey's exploits Il hundred years ago, or
CharlestOwn because from it John Browns
shirt began its never ending march. His
torical rccollectiOnS are revived to attract
travel, and thus the railroad companies
NAV feed on them and profit thereby; but
the location of shops isa matter OF the
present. and selected with Keen eye to
advantage. CharlestOwn presents advan-
tares that will not he lightly considered.
-FREE PRLSS, June II.
Now, as it is evident from the fore
going paragraph, that our friend of the
Free Press has never been made aware
of the real grounds on which 'Shep-
herdstown basis its claims 10 the re
pair shops of the S. V. r. r." we will
take the pains to recount some few facts
for his information, and that OF others,
which will show that our claims do not
rest, as he supposes, on any premature
promise" or mere sentiment or express
sion that may have fallen from the lips
of some one long ago" but on the sub
stautial foundation of formal pledge,
voluntarily made by the S. V. r. Il,
Company to the people of our place, in
consideration of the material said and
comfort" given TO it at time when 1t
WAS most REQUIRED and could not be OBJ
tanned from any other source.
by the Railroad Companys contract
with "The Pennsylvania Improvement
Company" the former was bound to
provide the right of way in advance OF
the Improvement Company operations,
so as not TO impede the latters work OF
Notwithstanding 10 do which rem
dered the Railroad Company liable to
heavy damages for whatever delay
might be occasioncd thereby; and, like
wise, subjected it to the risk cfreleasing
the Improvement Company from the
obligations on its part of the contract
aud, consequently, to the ruinous dam
ages it would also be responsible for on
that account.
1t will be perceived, therefore, how
vitality important it was for the Rail
road Company to keep ahead OF the
contractors in securing right of way 50