The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-04-29

financial condition Of the Washington
County Railroad, of which they arc
owners, and also against tho policy OF
building parallel lines. The following
letter on this subject appeared in the
lIOgerstown Nail, Of Friday last. |. is
from gentleman well versed in Rail.
road matters, aud we commend it to our
readers
BALTIMORE, April 10, 1860.
Nessrs Editors Your readers as well as
many Of our eitizcus have doubtless, been sur
prised at the report of John w. Garrett, Esq.,
President, To the directors Of the Baltimore q
Ohio Railroad, held here on "Wednesday the
l4th inst, in which he desparages and speaks
most discouragingly Of tho operations Of the
Washington County Railroad. Can 1t be pos.
sible-is the general exclamatiou-that work
has fallen so far short OF what was anticipated
for III
True. II is comparatively speaking, a new
enterprise, and therefore complete triumph
was not to be anticipated even during the iirst
and second year OF its existence. The Balti-
more Ohio, now so successful, had to strug-
gle many years against adversities. Mr.. Gar
rett knows this as well as any man living, yet
II was not his policy to discourage the friends
OF the road when 1t was laboring under embar
ressments. Fortunately the work here named
has trinmphed and Is a splendid success. We
OF baltimore, and every citizen of Maryland,
are now realizing Its almost untold dyantagcs
to our city and State in the way OF trade, com
merce and social intercourse. A brighter aud
more fortunate future, may in like manner be
anticipated for the Washington County road
with proper encouragement II is not exactly
fair for a father 10 deprcciate hi. oua children
before they have had either time or opportuni-
ty To develop their innate merits.
1t Is well known Mr.. Garrett turned a deaf
car to the importunings Of your citizens aud
the people Of Western MARYLAND when they
long ago-wcre anxious to have direct railway
connection with Baltimore. He never saw the
necessity OF accommodating them until II became
apparent the Western Maryland road was sure.
" and steadily making its way TO Ilagerstown.
Looking upon this rs a rival, and desirOus of
heading II of as 10 prevent opposition, In what
he terms "parallel lines" he then only saw the
necessity OF obliging the people Of Washington
county with railway. They have now OBJ
tanned this improvement aud he would have
them suppose II Is an expensive and losing con
Germ. The object Is plain. IL is to throw cold
water upon the recent proposition and move
ment In our city council, to supply means
whereby TO complete, beyond all contingency
or doubt, the Western Maryland road to Hag-
erstown and the Potomac. This accomplished
and extended farther westward, rs IL Is sure to
be, then indeed does ii become that rival par
slei line for the coal and other trade which
President Garrett so much breads and would
have its friends believe, IL completed, must
prove an elephant on their hands.
We will not undertake at present to gainsay
the figures put forth by Mr.. Garrett, exhibi.
ting what he wonld have appear, the doleful
condition of the Washington County road, but
may venture the assertion, u strippcd Of decep-
tive and cunning torture, that work can be
made TO show a much more encouraging status
II surprises many how, as Mr. Garrett says,
the actual expenses for repairs, irrespective
OF construction during fifteen months, have
amounted to S75, ?2j.03," for so short a road
just built. II this be so there must have been
some gross mismanagement, Such extrava-
gance on a new aud well built road Is unpre-
ccdented.
Now, to simplify this matter the Baltimore
Ohio Company lease the Washington County
branch for sir per cent ON the capital invest
cd, which at the rate Of $4,000 for fifteen
months, may be set oil against Sos, $50. 10, total
earnings during the same period. There would
then, surprising the earnings 20 be no more,
remain deficit OF trile over one thousand
dollars.
Il is amazing to hear Mr.. Garrett say that
the Cumberland Valley road, uniting ms II does
with those powerful rival lines, the Pennsyl-
vania and Northern Central, should afford an
outlet to Baltimore aud Philadelphia able 10
compete with this road, and greatly shorter
for the travel Of Western Maryland. This Is
preposterous aud could only be put forth TO
disguise facts and accomplish some Interior de-
signs-perhaps to discourage the construction
Of what Mr.. Garrett calls parallel but which
he knows aud means are rival lines.
Mr.. Garrett says sthe Baltimore 4 Ohio
Company has the satisfaction OF having met
the wishes Of that section Western Maryland)
OF the state" This Is not so. The people are
charged $3.50 fare from Hagersiow1 to Baiti-
more, when they bad hoped 10 get IL for lass,
and feel, IL the Western Maryland were COM
plcted, they could pass directly through, free
from dependence on other roads, at least dol
lar cheaper: The same may be said regarding
freight We OF Baltimore, too, IL the Western
Maryland were working at the canal at viii.
Transport, could get coal at two dollars per
ton below what We now pay. The design in
completing the Western Maryland is to have a
short direct, independent road which can sue
cessfully compete with the rival works referred
TO by Mr.. Garrett and prevent them from car
rying the rich products OF Washington county
and Western Maryland, 20 Philadelphia and
other northern markets. The iron ore and
other resources OF the country 10 be developed
BY the opening Of this enterprise must prove
vastly valuable, enriching both county and
stats.
Mr.. Garrett takes especial pains to show that
the Washington county road does not pay, an
would, therefore have IL inferred that a similar
bad fortune must attach TO the Western Mary
land. This be probably does to prevent our
City Council from supplying means 70 con.
railways to the points where bis road hopes TO
monopolize the trade. The Baltimore and Pc.
tomac Is another "parailel line" sure of COM
pietion, which he does not like.
IL Is BY no means a truism that parallel rail-
ways fail 10 being profitable. The Westchester
and phi'adelphia Railroad, running parallel
with the Pennsylvania Central and Philadel-
phia, Wilmington and Baltimore road, in 1850,
earned Sl2S,2 1855, and 1868 rose to s363, 900. II
Is now profitable concern. The Philadelphia
aud Norristown Railroad, running parallel
with tho Reading Railroad In lse2 earned
s2sS. $50, and In 1861, soos,sss, with Its stock
selling. at ~ per cent above par, The Yves
tern Maryland road earned in 1903 S5l 400,
and In 1868, Slt0,t07. These facts show that
all roads are sure to increase their business as
time progresses which will no doubt, prove
equally true regarding the Washington county
road, aud thereby enable Mr.. Garrett, at no
distant day, to give more encouraging ae-
count Of its finances.
To show there can be no successful compet-
ton with the Western Marylaua when compile
ted TO Hagerstown, we may state that the
passenger fare from baltimore via the Northern
Central and Cumberland Valley roads, is now
$l.G0, and difference In distance Of oyer sixty
miles. whilst via the Baltimore sad Ohio and
Washington county roads, II Is 80. SO per pas
senger, and twenty-ive miles further. The
Western Maryland being only about ninety
miles from terminus to terminus, can eford
easily to take S2.37 to S2.50 fare, with freight
in proportionate ratio. This will, unqaes-
tionably, be an accommodation to the citizens
both Of Washington county and Baltimore, as
well as those Of other points enroute, which
they do not now enjoy.
With regard to the Western Maryland be-
coming q profitable, paying concern, when
finished TO Haserstown and The Potomac, there
cannot exist even the shadow Of doubt. In
ten. years hence Baltimore will have over a
million Of population. and in twenty years pro-
babiy million and half So also must the
inhabitants OF other portions Of the State like