Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1868-12-04
The Potomac and Point Lookout Rail
Roads.

Roads.
I'VE learn from the Port Tobacco
Times that the County Commissioners Of
Charles have recently had under conside-
ration the interesting question. whether
the fund accruing to Charles under Sec
ton "a of article III of our State Consti-
tuition should be invested in the Potomac
or Point Lookout Rail Road Such was
the diversity of opinion in the Court upon
this question, says the Times, that the
whole matter had to be indefinitely post
poned.
eve are not sufficiently acquainted with
the merits of this controversy to venture
q very decided opinion at present, one
way or the other. According to our poor
recollection, however, the Potomac Rail
Road Company obliged itself, in conse-
quence of valuable consideration, which
it has received, to continue its road from
Marlboro, onward through Charles county
to point upon the Potomac opposite or
nearly opposite Aqua Greek. If it really
intends to fulfil its contract, it is bound
morally, and We should suppose, legally,
also. to build this road whether it receives
a bonus from Charles or not. 1t GER
isinly engaged itself to do it without any
bonus from Charles. and the consideration
for PROMISING to do it. it has received.
Besides. is it not very nearly evident. con.
sidering the millions that it will be neces-
sary to spend to complete the road to the
Potomac. that. if the Potomac Company
will not complete it without the bonus
from Charles, that it will not complete it
with the bonus But whether it will or
not. it should be held rigidly to its original
obligation or the consideration in that OBJ
legation should be forfeited. This being
the situation. it seems to US to be to the
interest of Charles to invest her fund
in the Point Lookout road. This road
would open up portion of that county
the Bryantown section-that would only
be remotely benefited by the other road.
Ii this fund should be given to the Poto-
mac or be withheld from the Point Look
out road, will not the Bryantown section
have just cause to complain? We GER
tainly think so Besides, if rail roads
are good things for community, would
not Charles be better off with two than
with one? But our limited space forbids
US to pursue the subject further at pres
ent."
Without undertaking at this time to
controvert the views of our friend of the
Beacon, We can only express the hope
that. whatever action may be taken by the
County Commissioners in reference to the
disposition of the Charles county fund, it
will be such as to promote in the highest
degree the interests of our county. AS
this is the FIRST appropriation ever receiv-
ed from the State, by our county, for pur-
poses OF internal improvement, we hope
the fund will =be invested in some enter
prise that will prove profitable. But as
we have said before, the time has not yet
arrived for action in the premises. The
survey of neither of the roads is as yet
completed. and hence the line of route of
both is undetermined. When the routes
of these roads are actually located and the
work upon the same fairly underway, our
Commissioners can better determine the
merits of the question which is now divid-
ing our people. Again. We cannot exact
~ understand how We can, in accordance
With the provisions of the law. take action
1t ehts time upon the matter. The money
can only be appropriated under the speci-
&c provisions of the law of the last ses-
sion. This law is certainly very exact
and precise in its details. To our mind
q strict adherence to its provisions is all
that is necessary to fully protect and guard
our interests. We must wait patiently
until the proper time arrives and then, We
doubt not. our Commissioners will take
such action as will best promote the int
rests of our whole people. The sum &C.
cruing to US is small indeed for the pur-
poses of constructing railroads, therefore
it behooves US to exercise the more cir
cumspection in its disposition. It is in
deed our first investment, and for this
reason, if no other, we are disposed to
consider the question in all its aspects,
calmly and dispassionately, with an eye
single to the interests of our whole coun-
ty. This we believe to be the view taken
of the matter by our Commissioners. and
we doubt not in this they will be sustain
ed by the people.