Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-04
VALLEY OF VIRGINIA
HAPPENINGS IN WINCHESTER
AND THAT vIcIaITY.
Special Correspondence of The star.

WINCHESTER, Va. February g. 1905
The promoters of the Metropolitan Turf
Exchange, which Is alleged to be backed by
Washington and Philadelphia interests
hvaing been discouraged in their intentions
to locate at Harpers Ferry. w. Va. by
mass-meetines of citizens, who petitioned
the county court to refuse a license are re-
ported to have turned their faces toward
Mart;nsburg, the seat of Berkeley county
w Va Application, it is said, will be made
TO the county court. at its forthcoming ses-
sion, for license authorizing the company
10 conduct a bureau, whose business il will
be to furnish information on the races in
progress at all the leading courses through
out the country.
A message from Martinsburg today was
to the effect that while no outward attempt
had been made by the promoters to petit
ton the court for license there is con-
siderable discussion of the matter. and 1t
Is predicted that If the managers do make
an application similar meetings to those
held IN Jefferson county will be called and
protest against the court permitting the
company to establish an exchange III that
city or county. 1t is. understood that the
turf people are aiming to get in business as
coming under the eyes of Major Sylvester
and his men, The Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road, 1t is said. has offered to change its
present schedule SO as to put on one or two
fast trains between Washington ana Har-
pers Ferry or Martins burg, provided of
course, the turf company is permitted to
operate race betting club house. In the
event license is granted it will cost about
Sl,oeo year for that particular item.
Virginia Anti-Saloon League.
Representatives of the Virginia Anti
Saloon League are actively engaged in
Winchester at present in the work of OBJ
tanning signatures of qualified voters to
petition asking the corporation court to
order special local option election for this
city Under the present law-the Mann act
If tn obi ofv IT.
only one-fourth of the qualified voters of
the city or district in which it is proposed
10 hold such an election, and it is generally
admitted that the league will encounter no
trouble or any consequence in this under
taxing. Concerning the final result how
ever, there is a great diversity of opinion
and no matter how the election goes it will
be close Both the leagues representatives
ana the saloon interests on the verge
of one of the grea test prohibition fights .
ever known in this section, it is believed,
and outsiders are watching the contest with
interest. Local option was in force here
several years ago, and many claim ii was a
dismal failure. cheap whisky and dope
having been brought in large quantities
from small towns in other counties to sup
ply the trade To this the liquor people
point in the hope Of inducing the voters to
cast their ballots for licensed saloons, while
the Anti-Saloon League presents what it
terms the moral side of the question.
The Anti-Saloon League is also attacking
the cider manufac turers of the state, ana
in view Of the fact that the apple indus
try has recently become one of the leading
enterprises in this Immediate section. those
who have all their money invested in the
fruit are aroused as never before. 1t IS
proposed by the league to induce the ieg
stature to pass a bill which Will place aD-
pie cider on the same footing with whisky
and require all dealers in the juice to pro-
cure retail liquor license. AS the latter
is very expensive, it is stated that even
should merchant obtain a license ne
would not be able to sell enough cider IN
ten years TO make profit. In the event
o. the bill passing and becoming q law, Il
is declared. 1t would drive out of business
a large number of cider manufacturers of
this section who annually buy up thou
sands of barrels of apples that can be used
Tor no other purpose The apple producers
ana cider men are organizing, and assert
that they will fight the bill to the last
author of the Mann liquor law is gathering
statistical matter on the cider bill, To be
presented to the legislature.
Railroad Right of Way.
What is said to be a spirited war is on
between the board of directors of the Mar
tlnsburg and Winchester Turnpike Com
pany and the Chesapeake and Potomac Tel
ephone Company over the question of the
right of way between Martinsburs and this
city for new telephone line. Although sew
eral propositions and counter propositions
have been made by EACH the matter is UNI
derstoOd to be nearer settlement than
when application made for a franchise.
The telephone company claims that the
turnpike directors ask too much for the
franchise, and that unless the price is low
cred the company will make it interesting
for farmers to allow them to erect poles
on their property along the roadside
Officials of the Winchester and Washing
ton City Railway Company stated today
that gratifying progress had been made in
the matter of obtaining rights of way
through Frederick and Clarke counties in
Virginia and Jefferson county. W Va, for
the new line. which is to ultimately con-
meet with another electric railway midway
between Winchester and Washington.
Sale of Endless Caverns.n
Negotiations are in progress for the sale
of The endless caverns,'' near New Market,
Shenandoah county, Va, to a Baltimore
syndicate headed by Henry w. Rodgers. 1t
is said that the deal will probably go
through in day or two and that the cav
erns will be extensively explored and de-
veloped. 1t is also the expressed intention
of the capitalists to erect large all-year
hotel nearby and surround it with park.
Former State Senator James G. McCune,
who represented Frederick and Shenandoah
counties in the Virginia legislature several
years ago and gained notoriety by introduc-
ing an anti-kissing bill, is a candidate for
the position of United States marshal for
the western district of Virginia. S. Brown
Allen, the incumbent, is seeking reappomt-
ment. Another candidate is State Senator
Noel of Lee county.
"Eugenia" Colby, supposedly eccentric
old woman, who spent several weeks tramp
ing through the valley of Virginia few
months ago, accompanied by several dogs
and rony, ii is declared. was a detective
in disguise on the trail of man wanted for
murder in Texas, and for whom a reward
of 81, goo is said to have been offered. Colby
was a picturesque figure, with long hair,
and carrying two big pist9s. People who
conversed with the supposed woman be-
Heved her insane. The alleged murderer,
it is reported was captured in Kentucky
few days ago, and before he really knew
what had happened Colby had him in irons
and the way to Texas. The detective
left orders here to have his pony and dogs
shipped home.