Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-11-12

The Railroad and the Hanger Farm.
Editor Statcsmau- Democrat: Inss.
much as there has been q good deal Of
discussion conccrning the condemna-
ton proceedings % the Cherry Run
and Potomac Valley Railroad Conn
psny as to the farm belonging TO the
Hanger heirs, near shepherdstown,
ard the owners Of the farm have, un-
derstand, been criticized for stubborn
cssn and an alleged spirit Of unfairness
toward the railroad, have concluded
to place the facts before the public, and
let the people judge Tor themselves a.
to who has been stubborn" or unfsir.
The proposed raiiFoad literally cuts
our farm Ia two, wiihan smhankment
across the entire place from IA 10 "a
feet IN height. In front Of the dwell
ing house the eueankment Il about "a
feet high, and the railroad takes the
land to within 20 feet OF the house.
This means, OF, cnrse, the practical
abandonment Of or the home, which
Ia n substantial stone structure, for
dwelling purposes. One scction Of the
farm isentlreiy cut or from tho watcr
unless = cuivert should be- made Of
sufficient sire to Permit the passage Of
live stock and vehicles, aud even n
this should be made II would probably
be at the puhilc road, sntaIllng par
petual Inconvenience.
No one knows farm better than
the man who lives upon It and whs
has pIowed AMI and worked II most
of his life. ResI Ting the serious DAM
age that the butIdlng Of the railroad
with high Hi from one end to tho
other, would Cause to the owners, We
demanded FROM the frat what We con-
sidered fair ompensation--but no
more. We asked for damages 10 the
amount Of 5000 The most that the
railroads agents ever offered u waa
", 5000, 1t may thus he seen that We
were hopslesslg apart. We stood for
eur rights, as VIC saw theM, and II this
be "stubborness, then we are open to
criticisrn. The railroad people sid
they would put 4 jury Of condemns
alton upon US, and TO this we raised
no objection. The commissioners,
after full consideration Of tile matter,
awarded US damrges In the sum OK
IS, $50. Thiy was but $3.50 less than we
had contended for, and $3.50 moro
than the railroad had offered. Who
was nearest right we or the railroad
peopIeg
We are willing to accept the award
OF the commissioners. The railroad
was unwilling, and though 1t deposit
ed the amount by the commissioners in
court on March u, 1903, IL at the same
time appealed from the award and
carried 1t to the Circuit Court. In
September, 1904, the railroad company
asked and we suppose, was granted
leave 70 Withdraw the money II had
deposited, stnting that II would not
take the land We made no objection
to this proceeding, las we much pre-
ferred to have our farm ~ 1t ID than
10 have the money and this farm ~ II
will be III the railroad Is built.
Recently the railroad agents have
again approached us, stating that they
must have the land. We again agreed
to accept what the commissioners
awarded, and even less sum. A form
of deed was presented to us that we
declined to accept, as II gave the rail-
road al rnfair advantage, demanding
that we shall forever absolve 10
from liability for any damage that we
may sustain from its construction and
operation. There WAS also small
difference In regard to what wethought
was sur right in regard to interest
money, but iris was Insignificant.
Now Mr.. Editor, this Ii : statement
of the facts a. see them. And / may
add that We are ready to sign today q
fair aud reasonable deed for the
amount Of damages named by the
commissioners. We contend that
are neither stubborn nor unren@on
able, aud we leave the matter to any
intelligent person al 10 who - right