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

Jefferson county has almost $1,000 in
habitants. OF this number about 5000
are i'll the five incorporated towns OF Shep-
herdstown, Harper's Ferry, Bolivar,
Charles Town, Ransom and their imme-
diate suburbs, leaving about 5000 inhab-
ltantS 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 single bridge
spans the Shenandoah River for the ac-
commodatlon 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
10 the voters OF Jefferson county at this
fall's election a proposition to bond the
county not to exceed $50, 600 to build the
b.idge.
10 carry this proposition 60 per cent Of
the people voting must vote Tor the bridge
or the proposition fails. This is undoubt-
edly the proper position for the bridge, TOR
nine times out OF ten when one OF 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 rly-
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-
tical use, it is necessary to construct two
roads, one down the river 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, Tor 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 men,
bers OF the County Court estimated that
these roads would cost $1,000 to $40, ZOO,
so il will be seen that those specially
benefited are willing 20 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 Jetter-
son county SPENDS $l.0O for county pur-
poses, Charles Town pays nearly one
half. Why? Because Charles Town
district has nearly one-half the assessed
value of real estate and personal property
in Jefferson county.
Some people think and have sald that
the real estate on the east side OF The
Shenandoah River is poor and OF little
value. This is not correct. There 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 XIV
er is now assessed at very low figure.
Erect this bridge and you will increase
its present value over 500, ,0O0, which will
then pay its share of county taxes.
To increase the bonded Indebtedness
of Jefferson county $50, 900, pay interest
on same at per cent, and to pay II on al
LIle Idle vi TE,OOO pei fSoh, "hij "i'
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 be less. 400
To illuStrate-lf your taxes are SlO0
per annurn, the first year after the BOND
issue they will be $l02. If your taxes
are $50, they will be the first year $ol:
If they are SIS, they will be $3.50, and
so on. SO you see this will not be
heavy burden upon any one. Then,
again, in a 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
creasing 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 Jef-
ferSon county without benefitting all OF 1t
to greater or less extent. The State