Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-21
FOR THE AMERICAN ORGAN.
Metropolitan Railroad.

In a letter from q gentleman in Montgomery
county, Maryland, to friend in this city, he OBJ
serves
" II appears astonishing that thisimportant work
does not meet with the immediate and enthusiastic
aid OF the inhabitants of your cty--a road that
must and will, when made, supply your markets
with all the rich products of one of the finest agr
cultural districts in the Union-which geographi-
cally, and by the time of this road, is but little
more than half the distance from you that it is to
Baltimore With this road open, the saving in
marketing alone to your housekeepers, would
amount to three times lat least) as much as any
tax they would have to pay towards its construc
ton; and as to the holders of unmproved lots &c,
the difference to them would be about as one dol
lar cost to hundred gain in the improved value
OF their property. No one can doubt this when
they look at Baltimore and other cities. Property
of this description there before their railroads were
made, went begging at merely nominal prices, now
command an advance Of one thousand per cent. or
more, in oash--and so it viii be in Washington
and Georgetown, when this road is made."
| could enumerate thousand other advantages
you will derive from this road, but for the present
will only mention that your adjoining county In
Maryland, montgomery is naturally adapted to
the growth of grasses, and the ease with which
lime could then be obtained, and the use Of this
mineral, (applied to the soil this would soon be-
come one Of the most productive counties in the
State which would enable the inhabitants to sup.
ply your markets with an abundance of pure fresh
milk, butter, cream, &C., for your tables, every
morning and evening; and surely such things
would add greatly to your comforts, particularly
they could be furnished at greatly reduced prices.
All those, however, are minor advantages, COM
pared to those presented 10 the very able report OF
Mr.. Grant, (acting) Chief Engineer of the road,
published recently in the Lfeiligencer Of your city,
and sincerely wish that every individual in your
community who has not seen 1t, would obtain the
number Of that paper containing IL aud by reading
satisfy himself that the road should be made with
out further delay. But you will possibly inquire
how that is to be doneY Nothing more easy, my
dear SIR IL you and few energetic individuals
viii 20 TO work in the right direction-and here
permit me to suggest one mode that | conceive
should not be objectad TO by any reasonable man.
for in our free American republic, It is universally
conceded that the will of the majority should be
carried out and in measure Of such vast mpor-
lance as the making of this road is to your citi-
zens, think their wishes should be consulted and
ascertaincd /; but, generally, what is everybody's
business is nobodys and consequently neglected
And therefore say, II a few energetic individuals
and friends TO the road would take the trouble TO
get up petition and see that il was placed within
the reach Of your citizens for their signatures re-
questing your corporate authorities 10 appoint
question:, unconnected with any other-subscrip-
ton or no subscription to the Metropolitan rail-
road this would place the responsibility where 1t
properly belongs-with the people themselves.
Surely, surely, there is nothing unreasonable in
this and II the majority are, Tor prove) in favor
of a subscription, Congress who legslate for your
District will, no doubt pass a bill authorizing the
| subscription to be made, and thus legalize IT,
From two 10 three hundred thousand dollars is all
4 r. IL -
can be made TO the junction with the Balu-
more and Ohio Railroad, near the Point Of Rocks
In from twelve TO eighteen months; when II have
no doubt, IL will pay handsome interest on
the investment and prove q source of revenue TO
your city instead of drawback upon her resour-
ces--particularly by obtaining an alteration Of the
Charter from the State of Maryland, that the earn
ings Of the road may be paid to the stockholders,
instead of being applied TO extending il until com
pleted to Hagerstown. This, however If properly
understood, Is not 80 odious rs many have i'm
imagined; as the dividends, It was intended, should
be given to the stockholders in scrip-which could
readily be converted into moncy--but, with many,
IL has operated inuriously In obtaining subscrip-
tions, and should therefore be, and no doubt upon
application to the Legislature win be repealed
When the road, unquestionably, will be one Of the
most productive as well as the safest stocks in the
Union. There is no time to be lost; Congress will
soon meet, and whatever is to be done, shoul be
attended TO speedily.
The question is plain one, and can be under
stood by every body and, as the interests OF all
classes is more or less involved in t. II is nothing
more than justice that all should be allowed to ex-
press their sentiments ON the subject ;ssnd, to
withhold such n privilege, | conceive TO be
anti-American, anti-Democratic, and should be,
anti-popular with every Washngtonian Your
Councils therefore, have everything TO gain by
leaving il to the people, and nothing to lose-for,
after the result is ascertained they can then de-
tcrmine for themselves upon the best course for
them to pursue. Let them do this, and they will
be entitled to- and viii receive the appreciation and
applause Of all good men and friends to popular
government
A contested viii case for the sum Of 81 900, 900
worth Of property, (now in the possession Of the