Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-05-23
(Correspondenee Of the Beacon
Point Lookout
May 20sh 1879


Point Lookout
May 20sh 1879
Hope deferred makesh the heart sick. I"
sd this vas likely to become carunie If
longer dependent upon promises Of the
Southern Maryland Il: r. Co.. bat. Al
last. new hope. and healthy animation las
been given the community BY the unex-
pccsed appearance in our midst of q new
company. thoroughly organised in its Dr.
rcctors. Scientific. and labCring corps. un-
dor the caption of ."Point Lookout and
Washington Railroad Compsny." who.
with no broken promises to redeem hy
new ones. no buster of millions to back
them. and each citizens fortune secured,
have settled quietly down to steady work
upon the heels Of q survey now rapidly
progressing that from its eligible selection
Of .'Cornfeld Harbor" as depot has near
~ completed straight line to Mechanics
vile with only tsro abort cures Of little
over . mile radius each.
] do not propose to enter into an argu-
ment for the Point Lookout and Washing.
ton r. r. versus s. NJ. r. II. nor. vice
versa. but to state briefly the facts As they
exist. and which I have impartially gath
cred.
We know that four years have elapsed
since the Legislative appropriation Cor the
survey Of this road under the auspices Of
the 8. NJ. r. r. Co.. aad that $1,000
has been squandercd without the accom-
plishment Of even satisfactory survey
We know that in those past four years
ample time was provided for constructing
this road. whereas. not one act has been
accomplished, not one shovel-full Of earth
thrown until within q day or 80 ago they
were forced into deeultory action BY the
prompt and business-like commencement
Of earnest work BY the Pt. Lkt. and w.
r. r. Co.. and then. even. with an eye to
the 1852 900 appropriation which l fear
would follow in the wake of the first Jen-
efciary fmnd. We have every reason to
believe that the old company evinced
through its lobbyists at Annapolis during
the last Legislative Session. no intention
whatever to commence the road. nor could
it be ascertained by diligent investigation
the grounds upon which the S. NJ. r. K.
Co. had SO boldly Wanted their past or
present means to construct one. We know
but little of its directors, and that little is
neither financially, nor from experience.
encouraging to the prospect Of r. R.
1t is certainly discouraging to confidence
when We ask from Directors in person facts
concerning public interest that relate to
their proceedings and arc told they know
nothing Of the responsibility Of members
of their Board, nor Of their purposes in
regard to the road. and this. too. not an
evasion of curious enquiry but arising from
total darkness on their part Of what has
been, or asserted to be. done. We have rea-
sons to believe that the s. NJ. r. r. Co a..
offered to sell out their stock interest for
four thousand and some odd dollars to
the PIT. I.kt and w. r. r. Co.. and that
a check for such amount was drawn by
the latter company and would have been
handed over had the 8. NJ. Il. Il. Co.,
even in this fulfilled their agreement
What, after so long an interim of abor,ivc-
ness led to the sudden. has,y. and unex-
pected commencement with few borrow
cd shovcls, axes and ploughs, by the s.
NJ. r. r. Co? The earnest commence
mcnt by the new company forced them to
it. What better guarantee do they NOR
give the people of their pecuniary ability.
or permanent intention to build the road
should the new company retire? These
are questions vitality concerning the inter-
est of our people, particularly those direct
" concerned in the right Of way whose
property is damaged without single en-
dorsement that the road will be built BY
those who have failed US in their four
years pledge, or the damages inflicted be
Unidentified. These are some Of the points
hastily thrown together for the consider
alton of your readers. Now let US see
what the W. and Pt. Lkt. Company are
about
First, they give us such men as Gov.
Cooke. the integrity of whose financial
identity throughout this country and Eu-
rope can't be questioned f; as Col. Suit. a
self made, entcrprising, practical gentle
man of ample fortune. and large CONNER
cial connections, who is bound to the COM
pletion of the road BY very extensive
landed interests through which the road
will pass. aud now, question of pride
and principle with him; as Mr.. Shepherd.
a gentleman for years identified with the
labor interests Of Washington City; as
Gen. Walker. an able lawyer. whose bus
mess integrity and experience comes from
an antecedent of useful and distinguished
ancestry As well as practical contac. with
siwilar undertakings; as the Hon. Messrs
Downs and Chapman who have ever been
active where the peoples interests were at
issue and in no form connected with bam-
boozledom. These are the men that
pledge themselves to q road, and the proof
Aey give US of their good faith is. that
they at once commenced the work. and are
steadily, practically. and scientifically 60
ing on with it upon their own means
This company simply state "thcy intend
to build this road and give eevilish good
props so far BY the character Of their Board
Of Directors. their prompt engagement Of a
competent Engineer corps now hard at
work, their busy working parties following
in locating and grading, and their puncs-
ual payment as they so. l predicted
years ago. this road an inevitable couse-
quence. and aow it Is an established fact
that the work has been properly ooUmen.
ced. and I believe will Be thoroughly and
speedily completed by the W. and Pt. Lkt.
r. r. Co.. who certainly deserve all cred
it for the practical commencement that
has awakened from their Rip Van Wrinkle
le,hargy the s. NJ. r. r. Co, ifthey do
no more, and hence my own, as believe