Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-02-24
THE NEW STATE OF JEFFERSON.


against the State of West Virginia to
recover certain territory that the
former claims from the latter. Yet
the consequences OF this litigation are
Indeed momentous. AS the matter
has stood for mary years, the western
boundary between Maryland and
West Virginia is fixed by the source
OF the North Branch of the Potomac
river. Now, in the suit referred to,
MARYLAND claims that the true bound
ary is that source of the Potomac
river that lies farthest west, which Is
tho North Fork Of the South Branch
OF the Potomac, and not the North
Branch. Maryland claims, and this
claim, we believe, is not disputed, all
that territory north of the Potomac
to the Pennsylvania line and as far
west as the true source OF the Poto-
mac. The whole matter hangs upon
what is the true source Of the Poto-
mac, and this question is the one the
Supreme Court of the United States
will be called upon to decide.
A glance at the map shows an III
teresting situation. The North Fork
of the South Branch OF the Potomac
goes through the southern boundary
of West Virginia and rises in High
land county, Virginia. 1t flows north
through Pendleton and Grant coun-
ties, joining its continents, finally uni
ting with the North Branch on the
Hampshire county and Maryland
boundary and forming the Potomac.
IL the MARYLAND claim should prevail
that State would gain from West Nir-
pinis the whole OF Mineral county,
nearly all of Grant and Tucker, big
slice OF Preston, and parts OF HamP-
shire, Hardy, Pendleton and Randolph
a rather handsome addition OF
wealth and population and territory
for our neighboring State.
This is not the most interesting fea-
turs of the affair, however. The coun-
ties OF jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan,
Hampshire, Hardy and Pendleton
and part OF Grant would be entirely
cut off from the balance OF West Nir-
pinia! Now, a State must be COM
posed Of contiguous territory. what
IN tl,ic St lAptlOn
divided from the parent State Mary
land does not claim it, West Virginia
cannot retain it. There il but one
logical thing to do. and that is to
form a new State OF 1.-THE new State
of Jefferson. And what nice, Thrift
tv, compact, all-wool Democratic lit
tie State ii would be! 1t would be
bigger than Rhode Island and as large
as Delaware, and altogether worthy
memberhood of the sisterhood OF
States.
And then think OF the number Of
nice offices we would have for our
people. Two Senators, certainly one
Congressman, with all the federal
appointments usual to a State; Gov
ernor, auditor, treasurer, supreme
Judges, the minor State officials, and
a lovely little Legislature, too. Why,
there would be almost enough offic es
to 20 around. The vulgar scram bic
for place would no longer be seen,
cor almost every patriot who desired
70 serve his country by holding office
could be gratified. The State OF JEFF
ferson would be Democratic to the
backbone. The majoritiss that would
be rolled up by the counties of Hamp-
shire, Hardy and Jefferson would
make it almost unanimously Demo
cratic, and our two new Senators
would make the United States Senate
safe enough.
Every town OF any pretensions at
all could have State institution of
some sort. We suppose it would be
well to make Martinsburs the CAPT
tai. as it is the biggest town and has
such good railroad facilities. Shop
herdstown, intellectual Shepherds
town, would of course be the seat Of
learning, and here would be located
the State University. Charlestown
might have the Penitentiary. The
reform school could be given Moore
field, Berkeley Springs get the In
sane Asylum, while we reckon Rom
nev would have to be content with a
term OF the supreme court. AS the
State should develop, and other in
situations become necessary, towns
like Higginsville, Hard Scrabble,
Shanghai, Tomahawk Springs, Stot-
ler's Cross Roads, Riderstown and
Bunker Hill could he provided with
something nice.
Take it all in all, we should not
grieve if Maryland should win the
suit and our fond hopes concerning
the new State be realized. We sup
pose the other sections of the State
would hate to lose SO much territory, so
many good Democrats, such cultured
citizens. Yet, on the other hand, the
statesmen of the Eastern Panhandle
have long been thorn in the politi
cal flesh of the people OF the western
part Of the State, and to get rid OF
them would be worth something.
But whether our friends on the other
side of the mountains like it or not,
we are sure we voice the sentiment
OF the people OF this entire section in
saying "All hail TO the new State Of
Jeffersonw
Captain w. A. Albeit, who has
long been with Messrs Percival Il
Hattop. Real Estate and Insurance