Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-02-28
PUBLIC MEETING ar HARPER'S
FERRY,

Pursuant to oaR the citizens of Harper.s
Ferry aud BoItRar held public meeting in
the Bolivar school house on Friday evening
last, for the purpose of taking action on the
correspondence between James D. Butt,
Esq, and Col. Arson Mills, u. S. A., look:
ing in the direction eff the development. of
the Water Power at Harper::s Ferry. by the
establishment OF a Cartridge Belt Manufao.
tory. At the request of the chairman, Mr..
Butt read the letter which he had recently
received fr"m Col. Mills, and explained his
action in the premises at great length. %
motion it was ordered that Mr. Butt be re.
quested to continue the eorrespon denoe and
do all in his power in furth eranss of tie oro>
Jeo.. II was further ordered tina. CON N it.ss
OF I've be appointed, with Mr.. Butt as ohair.
man, for the purpose of taking charge of the
affairs IN behalf Of the town, and to take such
steps as wiki lead to speedy sale OF the " atsr
ROVER; aud as tho representatives of tho
town, they be empowered to do aay and all
acts necessary to accom- plish said parpose
% motion of DR.. W. H II. Spanglsr = vote
OF thanks was unanimously rendered Jas. D.
buts, Esq, for the prompt. able and ener.
sstic manner in which Re has rseresented
the interests Of this community in his en-.
deavors to develop its resources. The ehair>
mau appointed the following named gentle.
men to act on the committee: Gil MYERS
G. Fl Trail, E. Spauglsr. J P. Schilling.
On melton the meeting adjourned subject to
the call Of the Chairman
T. W. BEALE, Chairman.
W CRUDE, Secretary.
We have been favored with the sorrespou.
dence alluded to in the above proceedings.
following tho first letter of Col. Mills.
which We noted a few weeks ag",) aud deem>
ing it of interest to our readers in all parts of
the county, as we'll as Harper's Ferry ws give
it in full below
Mai; In; Anr XIII, f TO-. + y.Jan Is. 1882
Fort Csnebo. Texas.
iaqu,riaE for suitable ter-Pswsr f.eiii.i.s 70:
mannfacLuring purposes, vac handed to nc by
that E.n, n for aa.Esr IL doing beg
twa w ater-P ,wsrs at this place, d-yeinped and
formerly used by the United States Govsrnnent
!. located On the Potsmae river, and furnishod
the metivs power needed in run.inR the Armory
en- the Shenandoah river. known as the "Rias
Factory" Tho one on the Potomac river con-
terry through a canal about ons.haif n'is law
There ls dan at the head of this canal which
supplies ; the water This canal is in fair cosdi-
tion. With the exception of one break in it,which
could be repaired 1T little cost The head rate
and lock are in good order. There are about ten
tory and the walls OF two go sh ps brick} are
.tAnding ON it. One of these shops 10 abort 800
long BY 80 feet vide. Tia walls of th.se shons
arc in good condition. both having solid floor. ef
ferebays on this alto, which could be put in GOOD
esRditIon atsmall expense. The site Of tho Rifio
dings or walls of buildings Oh it, bat rhe f"sn.
dstl oas of the aid sho pa in good couditiep and
are made of heavy s"lid masonry. The wator Of
this gewer is now in the canal and ready for use.
This latter power is the smaller of the two ara
L think you'd he better adapted to your n.r
and expensive tie manage. whereas the one on tbs
Shenandoah l., smaller. less sxp-ns:v. to nanars
that it san be purchased for about q enc ,O5
IN tn!s connection will say that should you de-
will buy it and present it toysn. This rneh b.s
bees stated to by reliable citizen of the town
Labor ia cheap end available. also ali sorts of
building maternal. You get all he Q tor q We.
need within so feet OF where yoa would want to
use thsm; Transpors.rion is two fold tie B. Il
astern'ns to erect yonr factory at this place the
Copper alton authorities will exempt your pron.
strons eh'rt to ind ucs the Legislature TO sx.n,t
yeur pronerty from County aud State ta1aiion
1ury Is tie custodian Of thi. property for the
Government. but that Official has assured me
that vhsnevse he ia convinced that a rsspons-
lhlo party desires TO purchase either of the,.
Water Powers TO utilize them. that he viii take
imm edlate ''ep. t" dispose Of either o both of
thsn Our people are thoroughly aroused in tbi,
matter, and will extend to you sil the aid at
their command for tho fHrtherance OF the pro.
jet, and can assure you hearty wsIceno to
cur N 'dat from all the people living along the
hord-r of onr own State, Virginia and II .rylaud
fer they all have com n nit Of in !. ~:
Prosnerity of this town. My services are at your
command in any MANNER which you may be
p1eassd to indicate ha wing for ito object the rs.
torstIon of ur native town to it's former happy
and prosperous condition. Your letter was of
general character aud can on ~ give You oon
sTal answer. IF Won will vrite mo more explicit
ly will then give you such anseial in for
a. heve at hand or may he able to obt ain
HnPins to hear from y ON At an early dsy.Ian
yslrs with great respect,
JAMES D. BUTT.