Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-02-12
Notes Of the Railroads.

The rght-of-way agents for the
Shepherdstown cutoff of the B. q U
Railroad have been busy the past week.
They have received instructions from
headquarters in Baltimore to finish up
their work here by the first of March
and they are moving as rapidly as
circumstances will allow. j. A. Hun
ter is laboring with the landowners
northwest of town, W. 0. Wilson is
interviewing those who own property
adjoining the town and southeast, and
in. McJilton is wrestling IN the
neighborhood Of Bakerton. Settle
ment has been made with few per-
sons, but there is considerable body
of landowners who think that the
right-of-way men are not allowing
sufficient compensation for the dam
age inflicted upon the farms. The
railroad splits up some Of the most de-
sirable farms in this section, and nat
urally the owners feel as if they ought
to be well paid for the never.endlng
annoyance that will follow the con-
struction of a great railroad.
1t is likely that the contractors will
be turned loose upon this end of the
road within very few weeks. 1t has
been decided that the road shall be
pushed to completion as speedily as
possible, and the contractors will be
put under forfeit to have it finished
within a specified time. A large force
Of men will be employed and the work
rushed. Shepherdstown will be the
center of operations for considerable
time and the headquarters Of the con-
tractors and officers in charge Of the
section between the Opequon and
Harper's Ferry. Lively times are in
prospect for Peaceful Valley.
Watch out for more railroads in
Shepherdstown. Ex-senator Henry
G.. Davis, who recently sold his inter-
est in the West Virginia Central Rail
road to the Wabash system, is going
into the railroad business again Just
cant keep out of it. He has lately
bought the Charleston, Clendennin &
Sutton road he owns the Rearing Greek
and other shorter lines, and he has, so
it is stated, given out contracts for
$50 miles of new road to connect and
extend these properties. He has his
eye on Washington, and ultimately
expects to gain an entrance to that
city, where he can find tidewater
terminal. Davis and Elkins have
within the past few months bought
vast tracts Of coal lands in West Vir-
GINA. That they will trust to other
railroads to get this coal to market is
improbable. Developments may be
looked for of the most interesting
character, for they are heading east
ward. Keep your eye on Shepherds
town.
There's no telling but that the Wa
bash system will head this way also.
President Joseph Ramsey is now in
Baltimore, and this week inspected the
Western Maryland road. a connec-
ton will soon be built between Cum
berland and Cherry Run, and the
Western Maryland is to be improved
SO as to carry a great traffic to Balti-
more. But Mr.. Ramsey wants to get
into Washington also, and he is lying
low for the Chesapeake g. Ohio canal.
In couple of years he Il have a chance
at it, and we predict that it won't be
long until railroad trains will rush
along where now the canal boat drags
its weary way.
Joseph H. Sands, formerly general
manager of the Norfolk & Western
Railroad, has retired from railroading
and will engage in the coal business
in the Pocshontas field.