Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-10-24
ATTENTION, VOTERS!
An Appeal and Warning to the Voters
of Jefferson County.

Inasmuch as you will be called upon TO
vote for or against bond issue OF $780,
600, for the purpose OF building ofioge
over the Shenandoah river at or near
1.-The Bloomery," and inasmuch as a
long if not a strong appeal has been
made TO the ladies', clergy and voters OF
Jefferson county by Jealous advocate
of the bridge, the writer desires to state
three good and sufficient reasons why
every voter should cast his vote against
the bond issue and to wan the voters
against the result OF indifference IN re-
gard TO the bond issue.
lst. The first reason Why every voter
should cast his vote against the bond IS
sue of $50, 1000 to build the bridge is that
the Jealous and deeply interested (finan-
ciaD advocate of the bond issue has great
" exagge. ated the importance and HeceS-
Sitv OF building the bridge. He states
that 400 people living on the east side
of the Shenandoah river need and would
use the bridge. Now, one who once Wis
tied every family that he could find llv-
ING on the east side OF tharlver between
Harper's Ferry and the Clarke county
line thinks that | 900 is a high estimate
for the number OF people living Wltnln
said territory; and when we remember
that these people are scattered along me
mountains for twenty miles, wnlch WouId
be about fifty to the mile, and when we
bear in mind that there are boats along
the river where these people can conVen-
iently cross, if is perfectly absurd and
preposterous 10 suppose that more than
one-half of them would walk, ride or
drive over rough and rugged roads dis
lance of from five TO ten miles IN order TO
cross on the bridge, when they could
cross the river much more conveniently
by boat.
II would be safe to say that not more
than three or four hundred persons, who
live within from one TO five miles, would
make much use OF the bridge, and then
parties would be mostly footmen, because
VERY few of the mountain people own
horses. So that instead OF the bridge
being built for | 400 people, 1t would re-
ally be built for the benefit OF three or
| four hundred ShiftleSs mountain people,
but especially for the benefit OF a few
land speculatorS to increase the value OF
their several thousand acres OF TIMBER
| land.
Mr.. H. c. Getzendanner in his article
published last, week writes: II own an
interest in 5000 acres OF land on the east
| side which is now assessed at about -
per acre. Build the bridge and Sl5 per
acre will be a fair assessment VI
course this statement, like others he made
| in the same article, is mere conjecture
or guess, and not tact. But II he be-
| Eeves his own statement, you can readily
understand why he is so very earnest IN
! his appeal to the ladies, the clergy and
voters OF Jefferson county IN oeilaf OF
| the bridge. For he as well as the others
interested in the 1900 acres Can well al
| ford TO spend much OF their time and some
money, TOO, if the value OF their SOU
acres will be increased SIS per acre, OF
$50, 900.
I'd. My second reason why the bond
issue should be Overwhelmingly defeated
| is because the amount asked Tor is en-
| tirely too much. A Jew years ago Clarke
county voted bond issue of $4,000 to
build two bridges over the same stream
on public highways, where they will be
| used ten times as much aS the bridge n
question, if if should be built. Why then
| should Jefferson county vote S5O,OOO toI
one bridge? was told today oy stock
| holder in the bridge over TIE Potomac al
| ShepherdstoWn that this bridge only coSl
| S45 900. Hence, the amount asked Tor Is
| too much.
Sd. My third reason why the bond issue
should be Overwhelmingly defeated Vs.
because the County Court has torewhneo
| the voters OF Jefferson county that the
said court has about reached the lawful
| limit of taxation, and that II the bond IS
sue is carried, al the election November
| 9Th, the interest on the bonds and sink
ing fund created to pay oil the bonds
when they fall due will have to be raised
by retrenchng or cutting the amounts ap-
| pTopriated to other causes. And as pub
i1c schools and public roads receive the
bulk OF the appropriations, these two
| most important objects will have to suffer
curtailment, in the amounts appropriated
| to them. Reduce the appropriations tc
public schools, and you will have incem-
| petent teachers. Reduce the approprla-
| lions to public roads, and you will have
bad roads-which will be calamity tC
the county. How long will the curtail-
ment laSt2 AT least 5 or 80 years, which
| VIII Hldke Tic UlluSC SOSl 4lOOJOVVO vi HiOiS
before the bonds are paid OFT.
Forty years or more ago Jefferson coun-
ty issued $3.50, 900 worth OF railroad bonds
We are told by the County Court that only
about 600 have been paid, while the
interest paid has been over $4,000
Now add $4,000 more 10 the railroad
bonds still unpaid, and how long will II
take to pay these bonds?
Therefore it is the imperative duty o
every patriotic citizen OF Jefferson county
to cast his vote against the bond issue
and defeat it by such large majority
that it will not bob up again.
A WARNING TO VOTERS.
| There seems 10 be an indifference or
the part OF many voters in regard to the
| bond icciIe arising from misunderstood