Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1866-04-27
: LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.


NJ. FIELDS, ESQ., My Dear Sir 1t will be
seen, by examination Of the Maryland
laws Of 1853, chapter l94-ls56, chapter
327, and 1860, chapter IL, that it was not
within the intent Of The Maryland Legislature
to grant to the Baltimore and Potomac Rail-
road Company the power to build a new line
to Washington city.
!. Because the said road was interested, as
a line, in line from Baltimore to the South,
avoiding Washington. This, also, Colonel
Trimble, the Engineer, stated in his report
upon the road. :
2. Because it was also intended that the
road should serve as means of local COM
munication between Calvert ST. Mary 8,
Charles and Prince Georges counties and
Baltimore city only.
3. Because it cannot be imagined that the
State intended to create a new line between
Baltimore and Washington, free from the
cdPitation tau, cjtile itlett that tar on the Wash
lngton Branch road, in which the State is
largely interested otherwise
Yet Mr.. Mccullough has introduced into
Congress a law, authorizing the extension of
the Baltimore and Potomac Road into the Dis
trict and to Washington, which, if passed, will
have this effect.
Enough may be seen to know that it can
not be reasonably expected that the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company can have any
great zeal in p ughng its completion of the
road from the Point of Rocks to Washington,
through Montgomery, if it is TO be attacked in
Congress by refusal TO build rival line,
under Maryland auspices, between Washing
ton and Baltimore
1t cannot but be apparent TO all, moreover,
that however exclusively this project may he
supported by Mary land and county influence
at the moment, it must, if successful, owe its
business importance TO the connections which
it may form with lines of other States, which
may desire to avoid their dependence upon
| the Baltimore and Ohio Road and the tax
which the State has seen fiji to impose on
revenue from passengers received or such
| routes
| The lines of other States, with which it
would of necessity, be brought into counee-
| ton, are the lines of the Pennsylvan Rail-
road Company, operating through the North
ern Central Railroad Company. which is
dependant line of the Baltimore Railroad
! Company.
Under these circumstances Isuggest TO our
people that they exert themselves to bring their
influence TO bear against project which
will, probably, enure to the disadvantage Of
our own people.
| Our county ought to appreciate, of course,
the desire of the people OF Prince Georges for
Railroad, and all are anxious TO do what
can be done 10 bring them into more easy
communication with Baltimore city But for
| the same peculiar reasons which incline the
| people of that county to favor The new project,
many here resist it, and il our friends in Prince
/ Georges county will cease to press their pro-
ject until our road is secured! it will be our
duty and pleasure then to aid them in that,
and anything else which will promote their
| interest
| The measure will tend TO isolate these lower
counties from Baltimore interests exclusively,
as the lower counties of the Eastern Shore are
now Isolated from that relation by a Railroad,
which makes Philadelphia a competent rival
with Baltimore for the trade Of the Eastern
Shore. The interests of the State are divided
| enough already, without it being agreeable
TO see them further separated by railway en-
terprises which inevitably insure this con-
clusion.
1t has been ascertained that the proposed |
Metropolitan Branch of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, through our county, shortens
the travel by rail from the Point of Rocks to
Washington city sixty miles by measurement,
and, considering the advantage in grades and
curves, secures saving in time equal to
seventy miles. In view of this fact, it is mat
ter Of importance to the whole country that
this road should not be defeated by multiply
ing projects, however apparently desirable |
and to our county it is matter so important
as TO approach a necessity to renogate the |
vital hopes of our people.
MONTGOMERY.