Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-10-31
To the Ladies,
To the Clergy,
To the Voters of Jefferson Co.

i o the NOleIS vi JSliCl oOll w.
Jefferson county has almost $4,000 in
hapltantS. Of this number about 9,UOO
are In the tive incorporated towns OF Shep-
herdstown, Harper's Ferry, Bolivar,
Charles Town, hanson and their lmme-
diate suburbs, leaving about 6,OOO inhao-
iianis thai are truly rural, or country peo-
pie. Or this 5000 about 200 OF them Il
In 81 are on the east SIDE or the Shenan-
doah River and al least one-flfth OF the
territory OF the county is on the east side
of the Shenandoah River.
From Harper's Ferry, w. Va, to Cas-
tleman'S Ferry, Va, NOT single bridge
spans the Shenandoah River tor the ac-
commodation OF nearly l-5 OF the total
number OF Jefferson county's country
people. The County Court has unani-
mously agreed 10 build one bridge near
bloomery, central point in this distance
OF nearly Is miles, 10 accommodate near-
ly l-5 OF the country people OF JEFFERSON
county. 10 do this tneY are submitting
TO the voters OF Jefferson county at this
fall'S election proposition TO pond lhe
county not to exceed O,OO0 10 oullo Inc
bridge.
TO carry this proposition 60 per cent OF
the people voting must vote ior the pridse
or the proposition fails. This IS undouot-
edly the proper position for the bridge, Tor
nine times out or ten when one OF our
countrymen on the east side OF the rlver
leaves his home his objective point IS his
county seat Charles lown). so wheln-
er he lives up the Tlver or down the NV
er when he starts tor the bridge he loses
no time or distance, as the site OF the pro-
posed bridge is nearly opposite the town
OF Charles Town.
To make this bridge effective, OF prac-
tical use, 1t is necessary to construct TWO
roads, one down the rlver to Keys fer-
ry road, the other up the 1ver 10 tne
Furnace road. Now the
OF these roads will not cost
the county one cent, Tor the men especial
ly beneiiled have signed an agreement
With the County Court agreeing 10 con-
Struct these roads under the supervision
and approval OF the County surveyor,
lanes K. Hendricks. One OF the mem-
berS OF the County Court estimated lhdt
these roads would cost $9,OOO to $lO,OOO,
so it will be seen that those specially
benefited are willing 10 bear special bur
denS.
Some have said that as Charles Town
district will be specially benefited oy Inc
OF this bridge she could con-
tribute more than the other dlStrlclS.
This is correct. She should contribute
more and she will Tor every time Jeiler-
son county spends $l.00 Tor county pur-
poses, Charles Town pays nearly one
half. Why? Because Charles Town
district has nearly one-halt the assessed
value of real estate and personal property
in Jefferson county.
Some people think and have said that
the real estate on the east side OF Inc
Shenandoah River is poor and OF Little
value. This is not correct. lnere are
several large veins OF limestone running
land on the east side OF the Snen-
andoah River and every Jefferson county
farmer knows that where we lind lime
stone we find firSt-claSS land. The land
on the east side OF the Shenandoah XIV
er is now assessed al very low fgure.
Erect this bridge and you will increase
its present value over $40, ,OOO, which Will
then pay its share OF county taxes.
10 increase the bonded Indebtedness
OF Jefferson county $5O,OOO, pay interest
on same at per cent, ana 10 pay II OH al
the rate OF $1,000 per year, Will, without
taking into consideration the Increased
value of land on the east side OF the Shen-
andoah River, only increase Our present
taxes the first year z per cent. Every
succeeding year II will DC less.
TO illuStrate-lf your taxes are SlOO
per annum, the first year after the oond
issue they will be Sl02. If your taxes
are $50, ihey will be the first year $5l.
II they are $25, they will be $3.50, and
so on. SO you see this Will moi De
heavy burden upon any one. men,
again, in very few years after bullolng
TINS bridge, the increased assessed value
OF the land on the east side OF the Shen-
andoah River, and the land between the
River and Charles Town,
and Charles Town itself, will much more
than take care OF the bond issue and Will
really tighten our burdens instead OF IN
CreaSlng them.
AT the present writing the grain dealers
and millerS OF Charles own are getting
about thirty thousand bushels OF wheat
from Loudoun county. Build this orldSe
and construct these roads, and we Will
get from eighty TO one hundred thousand
bushels of wheat from Loudoun, county.
Now, you cannot benefit any part OF JET
ferson county without benetlttlng all OF II
to a greater or less extent. / he otate
Normal School at ShepherdStoWn bene-
fits primarily ShepherdstoWn and vicinity
but at the same time II is d great Dement,
to the entire county.
THE RAILROAD BOND ISSUE.
So build this bridge and construct these
roads and the increased assessed value
of the land east OF the Shenandoah River,
the increased assessed value OF the land
between Charles Town and the river ana
the increased assessed value OF Charles
Town property caused by the building
of this bridge and the construction OF
these roads will more than take care OF
the expense caused by the construction
thereof. Now we have all frequently
heard the bond issue of $780, 600 Tor the
construction OF the Shenandoah Railroad
criticised, and il may be that II deserves
some criticism, but, nevertheless, II mas
and is still paying Jefferson county farIn-
erS over 10 per cent annually on the IN
creased price of the 500,O0O bushels OF
wheat that we annually market, owing to
its opening up the southern markets.
We are today getting from, D to Genus
more buShel for our wheat tndn ihe
farmers OF Frederick county, Md., owing
TO our direct connection with Soufnefn
markets. Five TO 6 cents a oushel On
500. 900 bushels of wheat is from So, 600
to $4,000 year, which is from lO to IL
per cent on $250,0O
county is Sl75,OO0. We are limited in
our State Constitution by the wisdom OF
tine farmers thereof to county debt not
to exceed 5per cent of our assessed value.
The assessed value of the real and per-
sonal property OF Jefferson county is
about SIS, ,000,O 600. This assessment en-
titles us to carry debt of $3.50, 600. which
the wisdom of the fathers OF our consti-
futon thought conservative. So you