The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1897-04-16
ApyERTIsEMENr.

people OF the COuuLy Uuliu y
bridge that lifts one man above
water when he is already far
above want. for the purpose Of
enhancing the value of his prop
erty.
win it benefit the towne We
think not: or at most only Incl
dentally. The station of the road
is already easily accessible. 1t is
reached by well made streets;
numerous hacks transfer passen-
gers and property from any point
in the town to this station at
nominal rates. There is no great
demand for building lots, ifthere
were sucn a demand the tract of
land around the proposed station
would have long since been sur
veved and placed upon the mar
ket. The difference il the dis
lance to the present and pro-
posed station is not sufficient to
warrant any great expenditure.
Opening the new streets will cost
the town a large sum of money.
Keeping them in repair will add
a continuing obligation that will
always absorb money. But on
the other hand the additional lots
along the proposed street will be
enhanced in value, and some
might say that not only the town
but the entire county would be
thus Indirectly benefited. At a
superficial glance their conten.
ton would seem grounded on
facts. But let US see if it is not
really fallacious.
Forty years ago the depot was
located at its present site. 1t
was generally understood that it
was to remain there permanently,
as the company obtained it's
lands of Mr.. Jackson under a
contract to keep the station upon
his farm. In pursuance of that
plan it made its survey accord
ingly, making a mile of level
track extending equi-distant on
each side of the present station,
and it is the only level track be-
tween Wolf Summit and the
Bridgeport tunnel. Our people
invested their money in lots and
buildings near the station with
the understanding that it was to
remain there. They have erected
large wholesale houses, spending
thousands of dollars in that way.
Remove the station and their
property loses its value. Their
investments are thrown away,
and the added value that accrues
to the lots to be laid out along
the new streets. will be taken
from property situated near the
present station, thus robbing
Peter to pay Paul, but not in
creasing the sum total of the
missionary fund in the Disciples
treasury. The sum total of the
wealth of Harrison county or of
Clarksburg will not be enhanced
one cent; it will simply be trans
terred from those owning prop.
erty in the eastern part of town
to the lucky ones acquiring lots
near the proposed location.
Let US go a step further. We
heard during the late campaign
much of a certain entity called
confidence" and we were in
formed by divers dear patriots
that she was a coy maiden, easily
affrightened, and difficult to re-
assure. and we were adjured to
court her favors by carefully alb
staining from any act calculated
to disturb her nerve-centers. Now
a portable station" one inclined
to emigrate occasionally, would
certainly have tendency to
make men contemplating invest
ing money here a little shaky.
and to alright that timid child
child called confidence" The
portable station, upon the town,
will be anything but healthy. 1t
will not strengthen the christian
spirit that knits society together,
nor add to the general stock of
honesty.
We do not think that the pro.