The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1873-06-07
SATURDAY, JUNE 9TH, 1878.
Let us be Enliohte,eez Befo,e ,ye Act.

LetUS be Enlightened Before sUe act.
The questions that effect the suburbans are up
or will be soon-for settlement and they will
not be put down. They ask hearing and they
will have it. They will not be put off with quib-
bles and excuses. They are determined to have
the issue decided. The questions involved are
grave ones for both the suburbans and the balance
of the-county. Their gravity-their Importance
to all coneerned-demandst that they be discussed
calmly, considerably and on the high plain of
liberal argument, sound judgment and COM
prehensive knowledge of the entire subject
This and not prejudice and selfish or political in
terest should control the discussion and decide
the issue.
We must recognize the fact that those most
deeply concerned best understand the subject and
are likely to advance the broadest and most ma
tured views. Theseare the suburbans themselves.
They know just what effects them and how it
does it. They are on the edge of the city limits.
One hundred yards from some of these are their
neighbors in the city. The one enjoys certain
facilities and advantages that the other does not.
Those in the county are DESTROYS of having GER
tain facilities and to have their property improv-
ed and developed. This is the all important OBJ
Ject with them. And no one can allege aught
against them for that. II one owns land that
can be multiplied three, four, five or six times in
value by the expenditure of & small amount of
money upon it, be desires it to be done. He is
likely to go where be can get it done to the best
advantage, if he can get there. But some one
will say let him take his own money if a small
amount will multiply the value of his land so
much. But the moment he does that sharp
eyed tax collector comes around and very justly
reports his Improvements and enlarges his basis
of taxation accordingly. If he can place himself
under another jurisdiction and get it to expend
its money instead of his own to improve his
property-does he not show his good sense by
getting there if he can?
Do not misunderstood US. We are not advo-
eating the extension of the city limits We are
endeavoring to place before the public the infor-
nation that it is necessary to have in order to
pass correct judgment upon the questions in
volved. There can be no doubt that those who
cherish patriotic pride in Baltimore city desire
increased and facilities furnished for immediate
rapid advancement in wealth, population and
commercial Importance. We believe that this
sentiment prompts many Baltimoreans to desire
extention. This is noble and he who places
stigma upon it misunderstands the pride that
should animate the breast of every true Balti-
MORGAN. But we know people who are constant
ly engaged in business in the city, who reside
there during most of the year and who hold their
residence in the county, although they are extern
sive owners of proper in the city, who do not
desire the extension, because they consider it
detrimental to their interests as Taxpayers.
Some one says what does the city want to ex-
tend her limits for while she has so much land
within her borders? The reply to this might be
that no city or community can compel the occu-
pancy Of land. This is settled by tastes, fances,
localities, business advantages, healthiness sur
roundings and the interests and comforts of in
dividuals. The city is not built where its found
ers intended it should be. People locate where
it suits them best This is all there is to it. And
Baltimore will wait long to have her limits ex-
tended if she is compelled to have her undesira-
BILE lots occupied before she can do it.
We arew well satisfied that if the county will give
suburbans the means of developing their property
ndfurnish them with the same comforts in the way
of gas, water, &C., that they get in the city,
they would much prefer to remain in the county
They should hold meetings among themselves
and discuss the questions involved and develop
fboir idaoc nd h.
the county papers in order that those away from
their locality and unacquainted with the subject
may receive light and be able to act inelligently
and not as the machines of the politicians or as
the instruments of their own blind prejudices-
There is considerably more in the questions at
issue than most people are willing to admit
ct US not act precipitately, but let US seek light
and act accordingly. For this purpose our col
umns are open for the discussion of the question