The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-01-05
WESTERN MARYLAND RAILROAD.
Its Completion to Mechanicstown.--Cel.
ebration of the Event.


the great enterprise OF connecting the western
counties of Maryland with Baltimore BY a d.
rect line has progressed, until now the iron
rails tou CHI the base OF the Catoctin Mountain
after trayersng three populous and fertile
counties. Wherever It's has come the people
have welcomed it; and when the busy track.
layers entered the thrifty little village above
mentioned, the joy Of the citizens found appro-
PIRATE expression in grand complimentary
banquet to the officers OF the Company and a
number OF invited guests, generally friends of
the ROAD. ~ Is quite an epoch In the history
OF an inland town when the iron horse comes
snorting up on his first trip. In this instance
the "animar' himself (if the term may be usedl
was hung with garlands, and his drivers
Keepers and owners were entertained at a feast
which, IN its richness, was eninently suEges-
tive OF the productive region which for the
first time has been brought into Immediate
connection with Baltimore city The people
were glad, and 50 were the officers and proiec-
tors of the road, aud there being a perfect CON
cord o. good feeling, II may well be imagined
that the entertainment was greatly enjoyed.
hecbanicstown isa thriving village situate
IN the northwestern part Of Frederick county,
about eight miles from the Pennsylvania line
and an equal distance from the Washington
county line. The population, as given in the
les, the one owned BY Messrs John and Martin
Rouzer, and the other by Henry Rouzrr; a
large planning mill and door and sash factory.
owned by Messrs. washea and Foreman, an
iron forge owned by Mr.. John Hoover There
are six stores, the largest being owned By Mr..
George II. johnson and Mussrs. Root 4 Black.
Since the Western Maryland Railroad began
to stretch its arms towards the village a new
impulse has been given to Improvement
street has been laid out at right angles To the
Enmettsburg turnpike, and reaching to the
railroad, on which some eight or ten new
houses have been erected, and in the course u {
time 1t VIII probably become the principal
street of the town.
The history Of the Western Maryland Rail-
road has been written often In connection
with the subscriptions which Baltimore city
has been called upon from time to time to make
Ia its capital stock, that il is not necessary to
refer tn u now. As is well kHown II belonged
Originally To the Northern Central Company,
and was at irst used rs 4 tributary to the main
item, the cars being drawn by horses from
owings' Mills TO the Relay House. About the
year 1855 it passed Into the hands of the pres
ent Company on the condition that II was ever
To be feeder to the Northern Central; and
upon the forfeiture Of this condition the North
ern Central Company was to take the road.
and pay for the improvements that had been
made by the Western MARYLAND Company.
After this agreement had been executed the
citizens OF Baltimore and Carroll counties touk
stock to the amount of SlO0, 900, aud the road
was built to Westminster. All that has trans
pired since thcn, in the varied and not ALWAYS
prosperous career of the road, is so fresh ia
the minds of the pepple that II is useless to re-
late il here.
The day was not such an one as would have
brcn selected for pleasure excursion had the
committee in charge been best with the gift
oItnreknowing the weather. From early dawn
till night the snow fell in scattered flakes. mot
fast or thick, but continuous. Notwithstand-
ing the unpleasant weather the special train
provided by the officers Of the Western Mary.
land Road Tor the transportation of themselves
ana friends to Mechanicstown left Calvert Sta
ton promptly at 7;45 A. NJ, carrying one hun
dred aud forty citizens Of Baltimore, intent gu
taking part in the opening ceremonies
The train sped swiftly along over the snow
covered track, stopping only few seconds at
the Relay House and Westminster. There was
some little apprehension among the more timid
passengers when informed that they had the
honor OF being in the first passenger cars that
had ever crossed theblgh trestle work at Rocky
lhdge'-an honor of which no one was partion-
larly solicitcus-but the next instant the train
was on the other side, and every body was i'm
tnediately convinced that there was not the
least danger The road trayerses a region as
beautiful as any in Maryland, but, looking at
the landscape through the falling snow6akes,
u had not the charm with which the bright
sunshine is wont to invest It, At all the sta.
tions little groups of men, women and children
had gathered TO see the excursion party pass,
and waved their hats and handkerchieis as the
train went rushing by.
Ten minutes before II O'Clock A. NJ. the iron
horse stopped In front Of the station at Mechan-
iestuwD, aud was welcomed with salute from
a small piece Of artillery placed on the hill
above, and the cheers Of the assembled citizens
The excursionists stepped from the train and
Tor bali an hour were engaged in corning the
"A IVnn md uan ft,.r tb..
engine house and other improvements spper-
tanning to the railroad. The track-layers were
still at work on the "Y" switch for turning the
engine. tJl .JE
The guests were conducted to the large
warehouse occupied by Messrs. Chew aud
Stockdale, where they were formally welcomed
by Mr.. Frederick White, Chairman OF the Com
mittee of Reception, who said:
Mr.. President addressing Mr.. Bokee) and
late President Ex.Mayor Chapman, and your
Honor Mayor Banks, and all the noble men
who have aided the Western Maryland Rail-
road In reaching its present terminus, on be-
half of the citizens Of Mechanicstown | well
come you. We have this day the proud salts
faction OF seeing the iron horse enter our viii
lage, aud bring IN his train great company
OF our friends from Baltimore city, from Balu-
more county and from Carroll county. We
welcome you all with open arms.
The committee in charge of the banquet were
".
Washington Stockdale, George W. Foreman,
and V. b. Oslcr, OF the Board of Town Com
missiQncrs, and Messrs. Martin Rouzcr and
James A. Gornaud. The dinner was prepared
by Mr.. George Snyder, aud did infinite credit
to his skill aud judgment. There was n super
abundance Of all the luxuries that might be ex-
pected at great country feast The dinner
was served with coffee, no spirituous liquors
being on the bill of fare.
His Honor Mayor Banks presided. On his
right sat Mr. Bokee, and on his left ex-Mayor
Chapman. Upon the conclusion of the dinner,
Mr. Bokee was introduced, who spoke as fol-
lows: .@
We are here to-day to redeem the promise
made some three months since, before even
active operations had been commenced upon
the superstructare that now spans that hitherto
impassable stream = the MOuncacy or the
thunders Of the blast had again reyerberated
from the remaining solid rock in those terrible
cuts at Rock Ridge. hut, thanks to the wis
dom aud energy of Chief Eogineer Osbarne,
Superintendent Rigncy, Bridgebuilder Pla-
eide, Contractors Lyon aud Smith, and their
able corps of assistants, the seemingly insur.
m0untablc difficulties have been overcome, the
last tie adjusted, the last rail laid the last spike
driven home, and the long-loUked for and aDx-
iously expected iron horse Of the Western
Maryland Railroad Company, driving its train
OF invaluable living freight, has come at last,
and the promise has beea redeemed Those
WIN accompany me on this occasion, in re-
Spouse To your cordial Invitation, are portion
of the earnest, zealops friends Of the Western
Maryland, have left their euunting rooms and
workshops to bring you good udings Of great
joy, and at this universal festive season to re-
joice with you aud with me that kind Provi-
dence has smiled upon our labors. To rejoice
with you that the days journey of yesterday
to our great commercial city Is now reduced To
one OF less than three hours, and whom our in
dependent line shall have been completed land
1t will be before another return of Christmas
grectiugs) you will then have been brought
within two hours travel Of all the advantages
Of location now enjoyed by themselves. To
rejoice with you that you are now connected
by railway with all portions OF our happy and
prosperous land, AMI by our Bremen and Liver
pool lines OF palatiai steamship s with the reno
test parts Of the earth. 10 rejoice with you in
your happy homes and the possession Of 80 love-