West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-04-09
RowLEssuRo CITIZEN
Praises County Court for Manner In
Which Overhead Bridge yves Sc
eurod-court 10 composed OF Men
ofJudament and Business Ability
Rowlesburg, April 3, 1914.

Rowlesburg, April 3, 1914.
Editor Argus:
have been noticing in the columns Of
our county papers communications con-
corning the present county court. With
out taking sides or passing comment on
what has already been said pro and con,
| wish TO state that one OF the greatest
triumphs achieved by these commission
ers is the new bridge over the Baltimore
and Ohio tracks at the NJ. d K. Junction.
There was some delay in the construc-
ton oil this undertaking, but this was
due TO the exorbitant prices asked by
some OF the landowners, whose land was
necessary TO the building of the new
bridge and its approaches. One man, in
particular, asked five thousand dollars
for right OF way through his property,
the entire tract OF which cost him only
seven hundred and fifty dollars; on con-
domination proceedings being instituted,
a liberal jury assessed his damages at
about five hundred dollars. The court
Offered tins man double what his land
was worth in order that the bridge might
have been completed at least nine months
sooner. OF course it could pay no such
unreasonable figure as the one asked, and
had TO resort TO law; here there was some
additional hindrance caused by defective
titles and interlocking surveys.
However, the bridge is now completed
| and stands out as one of the best pieces
OF engineering in the county, one that
will stand for years TO come. 1t provides
an overhead way over both the b. d o.
and the NJ. q X. tracks and does away
with the dangers incident to the grade
crossing. This important improvement
is an untold benefit to both Union district
| and the town Of Rowlesburg. 1t allows
free and easy access to the citizens OF
this fertile township to the railroad and
ready market for the output of their
| cultivated acres; and this, of course, will
add materially to the prosperity of the
River City.
Much praise is due to b. L. Brown,
Allen Foreman and Julius X. Monroe,
the special committee appointed by the
court TO look after this proposition, and
also to A. G. Hughes, the prosecuting at
torney. Mr.. Brown, in particular,
gave gratis much of his time in order
that an unobstructed causeway might be
| secured for the residents of this end of
the county.
The cost of construction did not fall
upon the county but was borne by the
| railroad, and the thorough nature of the
work is worthy of approval. 1t is to he
noted that this agreement on the part of
the railroad to build the bridge, in return
for very little county road taken, WAS
secured without strife. Generally when
one of our public corporations undertakes
to negotiate with a railroad company
there is lot of kicking on both sides
Nothing of the sort, however, took place
this time; and its absence shows that our
present court must at least possess good
business tact and ability.
Regardless of the controversy between
Free Lance" and "Clover Hay" there
is nothing but the highest commentator
due the court for the successful compile
ton of this project.
| A CITIZEN.