Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-07-30
WOULD RE TURN TO
THE OLD DOMINION
Counties Of West Virginia
Desire to Come Back to
First Love.
WAY TO SETTLE DEBT.
Panhandle Largely Democratic and
Has Been Nonentty at Pow Vows
in New State.

Martinsburg, w. Va, July 3d.
Leading residents of the Eastern Pan,
handle of West Virginia, embracing
the counties of Jefferson, Berkeley
and Morgan, have within the past few
days become aware that the PROPOSE.
tion for West Virginia to square
the old Virginia debt case by cedine
to the mother State several of the
eastern border counties, is being seri.
ously considered by certain interests
in the State, and discussion of the
"deal" us rapidly coming to the
seething point throughout this sec.
tion.
1t is reported that two separate
propositions of the same character
is being considered --one involving
the counties of Greenbrier, in
which is located the White Sulphur
Springs resort, owned by the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railroad Company;
Monroe, Summers and Mercer, and
other propositions involving the coun-
ties of Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan,
Hampshire and Hardy.
1t was further stated that the form
er proposition had it's inception with
high officials of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad, and that they were in
fuenced to take hand in the "deal''
by reason of the fact that if Green
brier county remains in West Virginia.
their White Sulphur Springs resort.
where many million dollars have and
are being invested, will, after July,
80, 1914, be in territory as "dry as a
bone" under the most drastic prohibi-
tion law ever passed by state.
1t is we'll known the United States
Supreme Court some months ago de-
cided the old debt controversy in ia
vor of Virginia, fixing West Virginia's
liability at $7,15O,OOO. The question
of interest was left to mutual
agreement between the States. This
interest, running for so years, would
bring West Virginia's Indebtedness
to the mother state to approximately
S2O,OOO,OOO at the present time. II
has been suggested that this amount
with interest at 4 per cent, be palc
off in thirty years, and this would
mean that West Virginia would bt
compelled to pay to the holders OF tn
old bonds the staggering sum o:
more than $3o,OOO,o0O, principal ane
interest. Heavy taxpayers among tn
individuals, firms and corporations O.
the state do not view this prospec
with any degree of complacency, ant
if this vast debt. could be discharg
ed without any cost to them it woul'
be most desirable arrangement a
they see it.
But nowhere is the ipropositIoi!
meeting with more hearty suppor
than among the residents of the coun
ties that would be directly affected b,
the "deal'. 1t is well known fac
that a number of the eastern borde
counties of this state would rathe
be, by every argument of geograpnl
cal location tradition and sympathy
a part of the old Commonwealth
than remain in West Virginia. Ihl
sentiment is particularly pronounce
in the counties of Jefferson, HamE
shire, Hardy and Greenbrier, and eS
lists in lesser degree in Berkele
county.
1t is urged by many residents ths
the Eastern Panhandle and the az
jacent counties have never been MOI
than political nonentties. ever sittln
below the salt at the political feas
of the State, and long years of tn
treatment, has served to .brede rance
disappointment, and resentment
among the people of this section.
is declared that were such prop
sition left to the people of the count
mentioned, it would be ratified by
overwhelming majority; and it IS
so believed that if the "deal" shou
ever come to vote of the people
the whole state, it would likewise
ratifed-such an election serving t
double purpose of discharging sta
gering debt and of getting rid of ST
eral counties that have the disco