Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-10-24
To the Ladies,
To the Clergy,
To the Voters of Jefferson Co.

are III tne llve incorporated towns OF Shep-
herdstown, Harper's Ferry, Bolivar,
Charles Town, HANSON and their imme-
diate suburbs, leaving about 5000 inhab-
itantS that are truly rural, or country peo-
pie. OF this 5000 about 200 OF them Il
IN 81 are on the east side OF the Shenan-
doah River and at least one-fifth 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 a single bridge
spans the Shenandoah River for the &C
commodation OF nearly l-5 OF the total
number OF Jefferson county'S country
people. The County Court has unani-
mouSly agreed TO build one bridge near
Bloomery, central point in this distance
OF nearly Is miles, to accommodate near
lY l-5 OF the country people OF Jefferson
county. To do this they are submitting
to the voters OF Jefferson county al this
falpS election a proposition to bond the
county not to exceed $50, 600 to build the
bridge.
To carry this proposition 90 per cent OF
the people voting must vote lor the bridge
or the proposition fails. This is undoubt-
edly the proper position for the bridge, Tor
nine times out OF ten when one or our
countrymen on the east side OF the river
leaves his home his objective point is his
county seat Charles Town. SO wheth-
er he lives up the river or down the nv
er when he starts for 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-
tlcal use, it is necessary to construct two
roads, one down the rlver to Keys Fer
ry road, the other up the river to the
Shannondale Furnace road. Now the
construction OF these roads will not cost
the county one cent, for the men especial
ly benefited have signed an agreement
with the County Court agreeing TO 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 that
these roads would cost 5000 TO $4,000,
so it will be seen that those specially
benefited are willing to bear special bur-
denS.
Some have said that as Charles Town
district will be specially benefited by the
construction OF this bridge she could con-
tribute more than the other districts.
This is correct. She should contribute
more and she will for every time Jetfer-
son county spends $l.00 for 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 The
Shenandoah River is poor and OF little
value. This is not correct. lhere are
several large veins OF limestone running
through land on the east side OF the Shen-
andoah River and every Jefferson county
farmer knows that where we find lime
stone we find firSt-claSS land. The land
on the east side OF the Shenandoah RiV-
er is now assessed at very low figure.
Erect this bridge and you will increase
its present value over 800, 900, which will
then pay its share OF county taxes.
To increase the bonded Indebtedness
of Jefferson county $4,000, pay interest
on same at per cent, and TO pay it OFT at
the rate of s., 900 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 2 per cent. Every
succeeding year it will be less.
To illuStrate-lf your taxes are 800
per annum, the first year after the bond
issue they will be $l02. If your taxes
are $50, they will be the first year SOL.
If they are $25, they will be $3.50, and
so on. SO you see this will not be a
heavy burden upon any one. Then,
again, in very few years after building
this bridge, the increased assessed value
of the land on the east side of the Shen-
andoah River, and the land between the
Shenandoah 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 Town are getting
about thirty thousand bushels OF wheat
from Loudoun county. Build this bridge
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 beneflttlng all OF II
to a greater or less extent. The State
Normal School at ShepherdStown bene-
fits primarily ShepherdstoWn and vicinity
but at the same time il is great benefit
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 and
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 $3.50, 600 Tor the
construction OF the Shenandoah Railroad
criticised, and it may be that II deserves
some criticism, but, nevertheless, It has
and is still paying Jefferson county farm-
ers over 10 per cent annually on the In
creased price of the 100000 bushels OF
wheat that we annually market, owing to
its opening up the southern markets.
We are today getting from 5 TO 3 cents
more a buShel for our wheat than the
farmers OF Frederick county. Md, owing
to our direct connection with southern
markets. Five to 6 cents a bushel on
500, 900 bushels of wheat is from So 600
TO $4,000 year, which is from 10 TO II
per cent on S250,000.
The present Indebtedness of Jefferson
county is $l75,000. We are limited in
our State Constitution by the wisdom OF
the farmers thereof to county debt not
10 exceed 5per cent OF our assessed value.
The assessed value OF the real and per-
sonal property OF Jefferson county IS
about SIS, 100000. This assessment en-
titles us to carry debt of $50, 600. which
the wisdom of the fathers OF our consti-
tuition thought conservative. SO you
see we could increase our debt over
$500, 900, ten times $50, 900. and still be
considered conservative by the trainers
OF our constitution.
MAY NOT BE NEEDED.
Even if you authorize this bond issue
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