The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-05-20
Western Maryland Railroad.
RPort TO he City Council--Hs Fnan.
cidt Condition, dc.

first branch Of the city council last evening,
Mr.. Carter, chairman Of the committee of ways
aud means, made the following unanimous re-
port Of the committee,
The joint standing committee on ways and
means 10 whom was referred the communica-
ton Of his honor, the mayor to the city conn
ell enclosing the memorial Of the Western
Maryland Railroad Company asking the aid OF
the city Of Baltimore TO enable il to complete
its railroad to williamsport, in the State Of
Maryland, beg leave respectfully to report:
That the committee, under the authority for
this purpose given them by both branches of
the city council Of Baltimore, employed com.
petent person TO examine into the present inan-
cial condition of the Western Maryland Rail.
road Company, and also employed Mr.. Charles
Manning, an engineer well known to the citi-
Eens of Baltimore from his connection with the
construction OF the existing water-works ofthe
city Of Baltimore, and who is at present in
charge Of the Construction of the Pittsburg and
Connelsyille railroad, to inform the committee
what sum of money is required to complete the
Western Maryland Railroad to the town Of
Williamsport, in the State of Maryland, (situ.
ated on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and
to equip the same.
! The committee hereto annex as part Of this
their report the statements made to them by
Mr. Manning, the engineer, aud by Mr.. II. P.
Mownckel, the present able chief clerk In the
Office Of Mr. J. u. Barney, city collector, the
statement of Mr.. Manning showing the amount
necessary To complete the said railroad to VIII
| Transport, and the statement Of Mr.. Mowinckel
| showing the present financial condition OF the
| company.
| The committee do not think il necessary 10
refer in detail to these reports; the member. of
| the City Council will doubtless examine these
very clear and satisfactory statements Ter them
selves. The committee do not hesitate 90 affirm
that, 10 their judgment, the report Of Mr. Engi
neer Manning shows very conclusivcly tina, the
| Western Maryland railroad can be completed
u WiIliamsport and thoroughly equipped for
an active transportation for the sum OF one nil.
lion OF dollars.
| 1t will be observed that the estimate o. Mr..
Manning is even less than that Of Nc. liollman
the President Of the Western Maryland Rail.
road. Neither Of these estimates seem To the
committee to underestimate The cost Of the
completion Of the road.
If the committee are correct in these conclu-
sions, they are firmly convinced that the inter.
ests Of the city, looking as well 10 what la,
been already invested b, the city in dis road
as To the increase Of the trade and commerce ul
the city consequent upou the completion Of thi,
railroad, would be immensely subserycd by the
completion Of this railroad.
The committee, in company with hi. Honor,
the Mayor, have, within the last ten DAYS,
| passed over the whole line OF the Western Ma.
ryland Railroad, and carefully inspected the
road, as we'll that part actually finished aud in
operation as that part not yet completed and
10 operation. Daring this visit aud inspection
the committee we're impressed with the accura.
| cy OF the report as made 10 the committee by
! Nc. Manning as to the condition of tho rail-
road, and as to what ROMANS TO be done upon
it; and they beg the attention Of the members
OF the council To this report.
The committee were moreover strongly I'm.
pressed with the fertile and magnificent char.
acter of the country through ~hich this rail.
road passes. The committee do not exaggerale
when they say that it seems to US that every
mile OF country through which this railroad
passes, from the point to which it is now fin
isbed to WillamsPort, will prove tributary
either In agricultural products or in minerals,
u the trade and commerce Of Baltimore. The
committee have not time here TO refer in detail
to the immense agricultural products of the
country which is drained by this railroad, and
which are now carried to Philadelphia and
other markets, only for the want of an Quite,
TO Baltimore. Upon this subject they refer to
the memorial Of the President of the railroad,
Wendell Bollman, Esq, as communicated to
the City Council Of Baltimore, by his Honor,
the Mayor. in his communication to the coun-
Gil, dated March 80, 1869.
If the railroad is completed to Williamspor,,
the council are aware that here the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal Is tapped, and from this source
great and profitable addition to the coal trade
IL Baltimore must, as matter of course, arise,
with this coal trade, and the transportation OF
the agricultural and mineral products Of Fred
erick and Washington counties, which now 20
elsewhere or over other roads, there can be
little doubt that the Western Maryland Rail.
road will be profitable aud remunerative
road, and add much to the commercial trade
and prosperity Of Baltimore.
| The committee herewith report an ordinance
which they think contains the provisions which
will afia7d the relief required by the Western
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