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<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">Bluefield Daily Telegraph<BR>September 5,
1909</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4>CONTRACT LET FOR SHOPS AT
PRINCETON</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman">------</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman">Virginian Railway
Declines Offer of Freedom From Taxation, Wishing to Pay Its Share for
Improvements</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"> The following
letter, which comes from headquarters of the Virginian Railway to the mayor and
council of the county seat, leaves no room for further doubt about the shops and
the position which the Virginian takes in regard to the building of
Princeton:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman">Hon. Geo. W. Lazenby, mayor; J. E.
T. Smith, recorder; H. G. Thorn, councilman; I. F. Saunders, councilman; R. C.
Honaker, councilman</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"> Princeton, West
Virginia</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman">Gentlemen:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"> On the 6th day
of April 1909, the council of the city of Princeton adopted resolutions that if
the Virginian Railway located, built and operated the general shops at
Princeton, the said railway company would be relieved from the payment of all
municipal taxes for a period of ten years.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"> You were kind
enough to hand me a copy of this resolution which I duly acknowledged on April
19, last.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"> The executive
committee of the Virginian Railway Company has authorized the starting of shops
at Princeton and contracts have recently been let covering the erection of five
important buildings, and the executive committee after duly considering the
generous offer contained in the resolution hereinbefore quoted, desire me to
thank the council of Princeton and you gentlemen personally for the offer
contained in the above resolution, but to say to you that we think it better not
to accept the said offer.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"> Princeton is a
growing city and will grow very much more, and we are unanimously of the opinion
that it is better policy for the railway company to pay its just and fair
proportion of the municipal taxes necessary to enable the city to put in an
adequate water and sewer system, pave the streets and make the necessary
improvements demanded from time to time to properly protect the health and
expand the business of the citizens of Princeton.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"> All the railway
company wishes from Princeton is fair, reasonable treatment, and with that given
us, I see no reason why our interests at Princeton should not grow and increase
in a most satisfactory way to all concerned.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"> If you think it
proper I have no objection to having this letter made public in order that the
citizens of Princeton and Mercer county may fully understand our position in
this matter.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"> Yours very
truly,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman">
RAYMOND DUPUY </FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman">------</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman">[<EM>How many companies in modern
times would have turned down a offer of no taxes if they would locate
in a community? Some council initials and names as well as the date in
April of the council resolution were blurred on the microfilm so the best
interpretations are shown.</EM>]</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Script size=6>Gordon
Hamilton</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>