Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-10-10

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 $250,000 Tor the
construction OF the Shenandoah Railroad
criticised, and il may be that It deserves
some criticism, but, nevertheless, II 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 3 to b cents
more bushel for our wheat than the
farmers of Frederick county, Md, owing
to our direct connection with southern
markets. Five to 6 cents buShel on
10000 bushels of wheat is from $25 600
to $4,000 year, which is from 10 to II
per cent on $3.50, 900.
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
to 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 $3.50, ,000,w 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 $4,000, and still be
considered conservative by the trainers
OF our constitution.
MAY NOT BE NEEDED.
Even if you authorize this bond issue
the County Court may not consider It
necessary to issue if. The revenues OF
the county, at the present rate OF taxa
ton, have been ample to assist in build
ing a bridge across the Opequon to Berke-
ley county, to build commodiouS addi-
ton to our Court House with modern
conveniences ,and to considerably reduce
our public debt. SO if we, the people,
authorize this bond issue, if the County
Court find that they have the people back
of them by their recorded vote, they, the
County Court, may, and they can IN our
opinion, build this bridge without increaS-
ing our bonded Indebtedness. The roads,
as have heretofore stated, will be con-
structed without any expense to the
county. So much for the business and
financial side OF the bridge proposition.
It has another side. AS | have here
tofore stated, one-fifth OF our country
people reside on the east side OF the
Shenandoah River. If we consult our
histories we will find that the land on the
east side of the Shenandoah River was
settled earlier than the land on the west
side OF the river, but the communication
between the peoples being limited by,
at frequent times, an impossible river,
even our churches allude to the branches
that they established on east side OF said
Shenandoah River as mission churches.
Owing to the length OF the Shenandoah
River, fellow countrymau on the east
side may retire at night with the river
at its normal stage and having no rain IN
his vicinity for days, find after driving
five or SIX miles to ferry the next
morning, a swollen and impossible river
confronting him. This has occurred not
once, but dozens OF times yearly.
OBSTACLE TO TRAVEL.
Jefferson County Circuit Court has been
compelled to adjourn because in the trial
OF case the Judge had permitted the
Jury to go home at night, and the next
morning very worthy iuryman from the
east side has been unable TO return owing
TO the condition of the river.
For over five weeks last winter not a
team could cross the Shenandoah. River
between Harper's Ferry and the Clarke
line. Frequent stops OF communication
occur at other seasons or the year owing
to high waters or high winds, which are
if anything more dangerous than high
waters. Valuable lives have been lost
in Jefferson county among one-titth OF
its country population because a physl-
clan could not cross the Shenandoah
River TO administer TO the afflicted IN ser
ious cases of sickness.
Worthy citizens among one-fifth OF
Jefferson county'S country population
have been taken sick and died without
any ministrations from minister, priest or
physician, because we have no resident
minister, priest or physician on the east
side of the Shenandoah River among
one-fifth of the country people OF Jeffer-
son county, w. Va.
Jefferson county, the garden spot OF