Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-02-03
sbspberSstown Register.
rhe uIarper's Ferry Property

Tte Iarper's Ferry Property
A Washington correspondent Of the
Wheeling htelsigNcer writes rs follows in
regard to the government property at
ua:per's Ferry, under date January %:
Coloael J. p. Bptt, of lIarper's Ferry,
has bcep in the city quite frequently of
late, ep gagged in the very laudAbe effort
10 have the Earper's Ferry public prop
erty disposed of by the government. Col.
BUT has had Il number of interviews with
the Secretary of the Treasury, the Solic-
itor, and numerous other Interested par
ties, in which he has earnestly urged that
the property be subjected TO public sale.
lie has succeeded ip reawakening some
interest in the subject. and it Is possible
that through General Belknap, attorney
for wealthy Philadelphia tirp, the prop
erty known us the old Musket Factory,
located on the Polorpac, will be disposed
of witbip The next six months, aud IBIS
will result in the erection Of important
works there, INVOLVING the expenditure of
about 100000. Tue efforts of Col. B1ts
are at present more particularly directed
TO the sale of the property known as the
Halls Rifle Factory, located on the Shen-
nndoah River. He is the bearer o. prop
osiiion looking TO the purchase of that
property by Colonel Arson Mills, Of the
Tenth United States Cavalry, who is the
pltentsc aud sole .oWper Of the right TO
manufacture the "Anson Mills Woven
Cartridge Belt, "now in use in the Amer
Jean Army, ami which is being rapidly
introduced into use abroad. Col, Mills
proposes upon certain conditions with
reference to title, to purchase the SheDan-
toah property and establish his manqfac-
tory there. His desire is to procure head
quarters ut point convenient 10 the raw
material of which bis belt is mapufac-
tured. He is at present having them
manufactured ut Worcester, Mass, where
he employs from so to 100 men. lie fur
nishes the United States GoyerDment an
average of 10000 belts annually, and as
his work is patented in Great Britain,
Belgium, France, Canada, Victoria, and
other foreign countries, he has quite 4
good prospec: of largely increasing his
business. He is now engaged in fllipg
an order for the United States Of ,ColOm-
bia, and negotiations are pending for an
order from the Mexican Government. The
Winchester Arms Company have the en-
elusive right, ut present, to manufacture
the belt for the sporting fraternity, but in
case the works are established ut Harper's
Ferry this branch CT the business will be
also transferred TO that point, and it will
bc seen at glance that i accomplished
the sale Of that ut present useless property
will be largely beneficial to the Eastern
Panhandle of West Virginia if clear title
can be procured.
Colonel Mills, in 2 letter to Col. Butt,
obligatcs himself y erect bis works and
begin operations inside of Is months, and
il is probable he will also commence the
manufacture there of cavalry spur, OF
which he is the inventor. The govern
meut is manufacturing this article at
present. under franchise conferred by
Colonel Mills, but he will doubtless with
draw his permission under which the gov
.ernmeut operates, and assgme the cXclus-
i've right 10 manufacture them himself.
Citizens of Jefferson County will SUBJ
scribe and contribute $4,000 towards the
purchase, ip ease pending negotiations
are satisfactorily CONCLUDED. |. c. Orn-
dorft, agent for Colonel Mills, will visit
Harper's Ferry az an early day 70 examine
the property and confer with Interested
citizens. The Solicitor Of the Treasury
has give" the matter some attention, and
has spoken fay2rably of the proposition
presented by ColQnel Butt. He has also
consented that the property shall be sold
separately, rs desired.