Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1913-07-08

/
cannot be reopened until quite sum
of money is spent in repairs.
But again, a period of great pros
perity is to dawn on Charles Town,
upon the completion of the bridge,
due to the inflow of trade from
Loudoun county. | have no fault TO
find with those who think this. They
are entitled to their opinions. | wish
only to inquire into the reasons for,
and the causes that would bring
about such a condition. There are
in Charles Town District, over the
river rs votes. Mail route No. 4, serv-
ing this section, serves 81 families on
| its route beyond the river. The 700
citizens alluded to by the Captain
must include every person living be-
yond the river from the State line 10
Harpers Ferry. Be that as it may,
the increased business expected to
come to Charles Town is due to come
from Loudoun county. What valid
reason can we possibly have for ex-
pecting it. No one, | take it, how
ever optimistic, will expect any trade
from that section of the country south
of the road leading from Keys Ferry
TO Hillsboro, or from the country east
of Short Hill Mountain. We are
therefore confined to the country
north of the road leading to Hillsboro.
between the mountains and known as
Between the Hills" Trade follows
the line of least resistance, and the
natural market for this latter section
is Harpers Ferry. Are we trying to
deprive Harpers Ferry of its ligiti-
mate trade? But what trade could
we possibly expect TO haul over the
Blue Ridge Mountains, and thence to
Charles Town, via our new bridget
What trade is Between the Hills"
to be hadl A good part OF the wheat
raised there would go naturally to
the roller mills at Hillsboro, and Hills
boro is only about five miles from
the depot at Percellsville, with Round
Hill little further off William Z
Reed & Son tell us that they have
bought most of the wheat from that
section the last two years, having it
delivered at Harpers Ferry. They
have bought each year about ten car
loads, out of this entire section.
From this outlook, can we expect
a commensurate increase in business
to justify the expenditure of so large
a sum. Mind you, we will have, in
my judgment to provide for an an
nual charge of about 100000 besides
a sinking fund, enough to pay for the
bridge in thirty-four years, and at the
end of that time, the Sbridge, as Mr..
Mcdonald tells us, would have to be
renewed.
But the Captain does not think as
we do about this matter, and thinks
my estimate of earnings far too small
At the time my estimate of $500 was
made, as per my previous letter,
was basing my estimate upon my
judgment of the proposed bridge
earnings, as compared with the one at
Berry's Ferry, and thought, as stated
that $500 was a liberal amount. | had
not at that time made an investigation
of the earnings at Manning's Ferry
find now, however, that the earn
ings reported for that ferry to be
$500 per annum, possibly $3.50 as an
outside figure, and that the earnings
are decreasing rather than increasing
This decrease is due TO the fact that
less wood is being hauled at this time.
The hauling of wood and rails in the
past has been the principal source of
revenue. How is it possible for this
proposed bridge to pay at the pro-
posed cost, when the bridge at Har-
pers Ferry to Loudoun county, built
by a stock company at a much less
cost than the sum proposed, does not
pay?
But again, the County's bonded in
debtedness as originally subscribed
was S250,000.00, but Of this amount
$4,000 were no. issued, but de-
Stroyed by order OF the County
! Court. 1t appears therefore that the
County's bonded indebtedness in
| 1872, the date OF issue was S241 900 co.
| These bonds were issued in payment
for subscription to Shenandoah VAL
ley railroad There is now outstand-
ing $172 10000 as per published state
ment of the County Court. Deduct
ing this amount from Sal, 900. 90, and
we will find the County Court has
paid and cancelled sos, 10000. Now
remember these bonds were issued
forty-one years ago. If therefore, the
great County of Jefferson, with its
/ SIS 900, 100000 and over of taxable as
sets, has taken forty-one years TO pay
sos, 10000, how long will il take this
! Charles Town District to pay its
school indebtedness Of $30,000.00 plus
the proposed bridge bond issue OF
SIS, 100000, making a total OF sos ,0002
Who can answer? Do you not see
that to add this SIS, 100000 to our
present bond issue, making sos 900 90
would be equal to placing an addi-
tional bond issue upon the County Of
| $195, 100000 that is, relatively to the
Districts capacity to pay rated against
the County'sl
/ Voters of Charles Town District
be alive to your interest. Do not be
too busy on the 10th day of July to
cast your votes against this proposed
bridge. It may cost you more to stay
at home that day than any other day
IN the year. Il. g. PAGE.