The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-03-18
MARYLAND CENTRAL RAILROAD.

payers of that place, asking aid in the con-
struction of the above named road. The
Committee of Ways and Means, to whom
the matter was referred on Tuesday last
made a majority report adverse to granting
the same. Their report as published in the
Baltimore Sun of Wednesday, is as follows
The majority of the committee on ways
and means, to which was referred the memo
rial of the Maryland Central Railroad Com
pany, asking subscription of 100000 to
the stock of the said road, and to which was
also referred the petition of John S. Cuttings
and others requesting that the desired aid
should be given, report that, after careful
consideration ofthe matter su omitted to them,
the majority of the committee are of the
opinion that in the present condition of the
undertakings and obligations of the city of
Baltimore, it would be unwise to recommend
that the city of Baltimore should subscribe
the $500, 900 asked for to the stock of the
road in question.
The council is aware that, in addition to
the obligations of the city, contracted in
former years, the city has within a few DAYS
past, agreed to become responsible for
$1,200,000 of the bonds of the Western Mary
land railroad, the interest on which, for q
tiiiC dI least, Sic lluSJ CApeCt 10 pay.
Second And then upon the gath of the
present month the people will be called on
to vote upon the propriety of the subscrip
ton of 81 100000 to the stock of the Valley
railroad of Virginia. Supposing this sub
scription is then authorized. it is certain that
the city must issue her bonds to put her in
funds wherewth to pay further subscription,
and it is safe, of course, to say that while
that road is being built, and until it has got
into successful operation, the city will have
to pay the interest on her bonds thus issued
without any return from dividends on the
stock.
Third. The people will also soon be called
upon TO vote upon an ordinance to authorize
the funding of about 100000 of the floating
debt of the city. This authority must be
given, or otherwise the rate of taxation this
year will be far in excess of that of the past
year.
Fourth. The ordinance authorizing the is
sue of $2,500,O00 for defraying portion of
the expense necessary to be incurred in i'm
proving Jones falls will also shortly be pre-
sented to the people for their endorsement.
Fifth To the above enumerated obligations
OF the city there is to be added, as necessary
to be provided in the near future, an addi-
tional issue of bonds wherewith TO provide
the requisite funds for the completion of the
city hall, and the Legislature has also passed
an act authorizing an increase of the "water
debt so as to provide funds sufficient to in
sure the completion of Druid Lake. the inter-
est on which, however, it is believed the rev.
enues of the water board will be amply sufi-
Gent to defray.
With this array of obligations thusalready
assumed or yot soon of nooossity to DO 40
sumed, we believe ourselves unauthorized to
recommend any further lending of the credit
OF the city, unless the object to which is to be
lent will clearly so increase the trade, COM
merce or prosperity of the city as to make it
certain that any money which the city should
invest would be repaid to her, at least
through the profits to be realized by her in
her corporate capacity through the means of
increased wealth brought here in consequence
of new trade being brought through the
means OF the railways or other avenues
which we are asked to aid. We do not doubt
that the construction of the Maryland Cen
trail railroad will develop the country through
which it runs, and as that country increases
in productivencss of course there will be
more produce to bring to Baltimore; but at
the same time we are not aware that the pro-
ducts of this country are thus far developed
and seek in the main other markets; while
therefore, under other circumstances we think
the city might bejustified in giving its aid to
the road and thus reap richer harvest from
The rich and fertile country between the city
and the Susquehanna, and perhaps attract
trade from beyond that river yet we do not
believe that the trade TO be commanded by
this road would be such as in the present
state of the city's obligations to warrant the
subscription asked for
Signed by w. III. Vickery, of the second
branch, Bernard Carter, George Wickersham
and M. A Mullin, of the first branch.
Messrs Kerr and Mccoy, Of the second
branch, submitted minority report in ref.
erence to the Maryland Central railroad
stating that while under no circumstances
would we consent TO a subscription to the
stock of the company, thereby increasing the
city taxation, we yet think that the interests
of Baltimore fully justify lis in lending the
credit of the corporation TO the construction
of an important work like the one proposed
by an endorsement of bonds secured by first
mortgage An ordinance embodying their
views, the minority of the committee state
will be presented as soon as it can be careful
ly prepared.
We do not concur III the reasons assigned
by the majority report for refusing to lend
the aid of the city to the construction of this
road. Perhaps it would be a task of little
practical importance to refute the arguments
used in the report, and yet it might be easily
done, for il is apparent to any and every per-
son who will take the trouble to investigate
the matter, that the increase of trade between
the Susquehanna river and Baltimore city,
that would be brought to the latter place by
the building of this road, would alone more
than compensate for the credit of the city
loaned for its construction. And it may be
that the minority report favorable to this
view ofthe case will yet be the one adopted
But, citizens of Hartford, is this not enough
to induce the laying aside of neighborhood
jealouses, and going heartily TO work in the
interest of q work within our own means to
accomplish? Is the Hartford county railroad
TO be suffered to die out without another
struggle in its behalf? We trust not
A PLEA FOR THE BIRDs.-We publish
to-day on our first page, an article from the
atlantic Monthy, in behalf of the birds, to
which we call the attention of our readers -
The importance of the subject, namely the
preservation of our inscctiverous birds, in.
duces us to devote so much of our space to
its consideration. 1t would be well, in our
n - ,