The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-01-12
County Aid to the Maryland Central r. r..

suggestion has been started in several
| quarters lately, which although not novel in
its character, is one that in our opinion in
Vites the attention of the citizens of Hartford
to serious and thoughtful consideration of
it 1t is in regard to the building of The
Maryland Central Railroad The impression
is abroad that our people have lost all CON
trolling influence, SO far as the construction
of this work is concerned, and that if built at
all, it will be done by outside capitalists, IT.
respective Off any action upon our part If we
are in earnest in wishing to see the road built
this idea should be dismissed at once. Out
side capitalists, ifthere be any such interested
In the project, are like Jupiter in the fable
they help those who help themselves. If a
railroad is matter of paramount Importance
to the people Of this county, it is the extreme
ola short-sighted policy for us to sit down
and quietly wait for somebody else to build
it, without lending helping hand toward
its completion. But how can this be done !?
1t is in regard to this that the suggestion
above alluded to has been made-whicl is
that the county, in its corporate capacity
should lend its aid toward the completion of
the enterprise. 1t has been demonstrated
that private subscriptions along the line of
the proposed route are inadequate to the
work; but it is said that if these be at least
duplicated by the county, substantial results
may be arrived at. Zone thing, at least, is
tue-that no sources through which assist.
ance may be obtained should be neglected.
The right of way and private subscriptions
arc first to be obtained ; these proving mad
equate, the citizens of the county should be
called upon to consider the question wheth
er it would not be profitable investment
Tor The county itself to subscribe literally to.
ward work that would advance its pros
perity, by increasing its taxable basis to so
large an extent. Would not any outlay the
county might make be more than repaid bv
The enhancement in value of real estate and
the increased influx of wealth that would be
brought about by the building of the Rail
road ? Would this not almost certainly be
accomplished in ten years from the period of
VIZ SoipiS'ioii vi VIZ Woih, VI Ill less llmG
Should the two counties Of Baltimore and
Hartford take this action, and the private sub
scrlptions be again resorted to, together with
the aid Baltimore city will certainly afford
toward the enterprise, little doubt would re-
main but that the road would be built. Out
side capitalists would then feel more encour-
aged to take hold of it. In order to do this,
legislative action is necessary to be obtained
to authorize the Commissioners to take any
steps in the matter. Shall we suffer the Leg
islature to adjourn without endeavoring to
secure this? Will not our citizens, many of
whom are more capable of intelligently dis
cussing this matter than ourselves, give us
the benefit of their views upon the subject
If the suggestion is worthy of consideration
it should be acted upon promptly enough to
ensure results.
[Since.th the above was put in type we notice
that Mr.. Street,, one of our representatives
in the Legislature, has obtained leave to in
troduco bill authorizing the County Com
missioners of this county to subscribe to the
capital stock of the Maryland Central Rail-
road. We are glad to notice this action and
hope to see the proper legislation had at once
upon the subject. The matter was referred
by the Legislature to the Hartford Delega-
ton.