Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-02-14
INTERESTED IN THE BRIDGE
Three Delegations Before Wash
ington County Commissioners.
WANT BERKELEY TO PAY HALF
Want the Two Counties 10 Build the Bridge
and Give tie People Free Tolls.


Hagerstown. Feb. II. Delegations
from HaCerstown, Williamsport aud
BerReley county, ". va. appeared be-
fore tie Board of County Commits
sioners Tuesday afternoon in the In.
terest Of the project TO build a bridge
across the Potomac River at Williams
port. The delegation had previously
held a conference at the Hotel Hamil-
ton and adopted d resolution request
ing the commissioners to appoint a
committee Of gine-thfee commission
ers, three citizens of Hagerstown and
three citizens Of Williamsport who
shall at their earliest possible conyen-
fence communicate with the authori-
les of Berkeley county and request the
appointment of a like committee for
the purpose Of suggesting and devils
ing plans for the construction of a
bridge at Wiiliamspert.
This resolution was presented to tho
commissioners by Edward ". Mealv,
chairman, and V, N. Cushwa. score
tary. Mr.. Mealey spoke briefly Of
the action Of the delegations aud was
followed by J.. Clarence Lane. The
latter smoke at length Of the great I'M
forest manifested in the project He
said Hagerstown and Williamsport had
suffered in the loss of trade because of
the absence of a suitable means of
crossing the Potomac liver. The build.
ing of a bridge at Williamsport, in
the opinion OF the speaker, would
greatly benefit moi only Hagerstown.
but the entire county. he stated two
plans for providing means with whichF
to. construct the bridge had been sug.
eested. This one for Washington and
Berkeley counties to build the bridge
aud make it absolutely free. In this
connection he referred to the growing
opposition on the part Of the people to
paying toll. even on turnpikes. The
second plan was to organize a stock
eompany and eaeh county to subscribe
for a large block Of the stock, believ-
ing that it would be q good invest
ment.
Alex Neil said ne was heartily in
sympathy with the movement. Here
called the trade that years ago cane
to Washington county. but has since
been diverted in other directions be-
caase those avenues have become mos
accessible.
Victor Cushwa, spoke Of the efforts
made some eight or nine years < to
build a bridge and explained why the
movement failed. Forty years ago the
people thought nothing of ferrying the
river. but conditions of the present
day are different. Mr.. Cushwa fav-
ored a free bridge.
At the last election Berkeley conn
ty elected a man to the Legislature
who is pledged t ask for an approuri-
alton from West Virginia to build the
bridge. 1t is thought if Berkeley
county will be willing to appropriate
one half the cost of the bridge the
Washington county commissioners may
be induced to appropriate the other
half. The cost of a bridge it is esti-
mated. will be about $40. 600.
The commissioners did not appoint
the committee, requested in the reso-
luton on Tuesday, bnt it is understood
will do so at an early date.
The following composed the delega-
tion before the commissioners from
Berkeley county, Henry Benkle. John
G. Sampbell, joseph Lands, NV. En-
merson. G. p. ditto. Jacob Dice. Vim.
Reid, Geo. Cole and John Selley.