Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-01-03

sistant engineer; ]. E. Crawford
bridge engineer (; E. A. Blake, super
intendent Of the Shenandoah Valley
Division Major @. @. Taliaferro
claim agent; A. Bruner, assistant en-
gineer, and ]. R. Rufin, general freight
agent. These gentlemen came on 9
special train, and in response to invi'
tations previously extended, they
were met by our corporation officials
and a number OF the business men o.
the town, the conference taking place
in the directors room of the Jefferson
Savings Bank.
Mr.. Maher, as spokesman for his
associates of the railroad, explained
the object of their visit, which he
stated was to secure from the people
of this community cooperation in the
proposed improvements. He gave IN
detail the plans Of the company, but
said that they could be carried GU,
only with the help of the people in
giving the right of way and other
privileges at fair rate.
On behalf of the town people, Geo.
M. Beltzhoover, Esq, responded to
Mr.. Makers remarks, saying that
Shepherdstown from the very incep-
ton of the railroad had given it SUBJ
stantial aid and had always shown a
disposition to deal with it in a gener.
GUS spirit.
Mr.. Crawford, the bridge engineer,
then displayed the map showing the
proposed changes and explained the
plans that had been tentatively adopt
ed. The improvements call for new
line for the road through Shepherds.
town, beginning at point near the
Charles Town road crossing, north of
the station. This will go through
old fort Webster" taking part of
the garden of the sections house of the
Reformed Church, going squarely
through Joseph Turner'S dwelling
house, cutting off the rear end of
Henry Reynolds lot, taking TRAN
gular piece out of the old Lutheran
graveyard, thence through 81. @. Mar
tens lot, and across High street into
small house belonging to the late
Wesley Seibert, and from there through
John W. stipp's property to the river
bluff. The crossing on German street
will be four feet higher than the pres
ent crossing, but the engineers say
that it will be at better grade. On
High street the new crossing will also
be more elevated. but the grade to it
will be much easier. On the Mary.
land side of the river the plans con-
template an entire revision of the
track, and about a mile of new road
will be constructed. The curves on
both sides of the river will be elimi.
mated and the heavy grades taken
out, making an almost straight line
with easy grade between Shepherds
town and Antietam Station.
The bridge itself is to be of steel.
with viaduct on the Maryland shore
to carry the track until the hillside is
reached. 1t will be FIVE or six hun
bred feet east Of the present bridge,
somewhat longer and twelve feet
higher above the water. The bridge
now in use is almost a hundred feet
above the surface of the river, 30 an
increase of twelve feet in it's elevation
means that it will be a very high
bridge. Mr.. Maher said that the ex,
penditures would aggregate about
100000.
There was general discussion Of
the matter by the railroad officials and
the citizens of the town, and each eide
showed disposition to be fair and
considerable. In response to sug-
gestion that a new station in more
accessible location be made a part of
the improvements now contemplated,
Mr.. Maher said that this would be
carefully considered, and intimated
that if it were feasible it might be
undertaken. He stated that the need
of new station at Shepherdstown
had been discussed land that it was
the intention Of Che company to build
it sooner or later.
The conference was altogether a
pleasant one, and we have no doubt
it will be productive of good to both
the town and the railroad company.
The building of the new bridge and
its approaches, which will probably
be commenced in the spring, will
cause an increase in business in Shep.
herdstown that should be profitable
to our merchants and others and will
afford employment to many persons.