Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-06-05
The Southern Maryland Railroad.
EDITOR PORT TOBACCO TIMES:

EDITOR PORT TOBACCO TIMES:
Dear Sir: Ihave noticed several articles
in the Times, Of late, in regard to Smith,
the contractor, and the Southern Maryland
Railroad. Now, in regard to Smiths in
'debtedness to your people, can only say
that they themselves are to blame, and not
Smith or the Southern Maryland Railroad
Company. If they were foolish enoug to
trust either of the above without first find
ing out their responsibility, they must
bear the consequences.
Smith and President Smoot are bosom
friends, and they understand each other,
no doubt. It would be rather an easy task
to build a railroad by the Smith patent
It is quite advisable that the railroad and
its contractors should pay off every fifteen
days. By so doing the employees can only
loose, by them, fifteen days work We,
in Prince Georges, do not understand ex-
actly the situation of the S. M. R. R. We
see by the papers that the contractor, Chris
tie, has brought suit against them for some
$20,000 Starr 6 Ridenour for about the
same amount, besides other suits, making
grand total of 5000 to 100000. We
also hear, that since they got the cash from
St. Mary's county, that they have virtual
ly, if not actually, stopped work. The
President, Col Smoot, promised, over his
own signature, that he would have cars
running by May 1st; this is the 25th day
Of May, and, as yet, they have not one inch
of the road-bed ready for the ties. I, once
in awhile, invest few dollars in securi-
tiles, and, like other investors, generally
scrutinize the security offered before max
ing an investment. As I have seen one of
the s! M. R. R. pamphlets, and as the in
ducements offered in that rare document
are great, I believe it proves, beyond a
doubt, that the investor will get his money
back and the common stock will pay two
for one in twelve months.
Now I wish to ask Smith, or Col. Smoot,
the youthful" President, by what act of
the Legislature or by what authority I'M
der the laws of Maryland, can he issue 7
to every man, who can read and write in
this State, that per cent. is the legal in
terest? I also wish to ask the same par
ties how they expect to negotiate illegal
bonds to the amount of $2,200,000 on a
road, not over SO miles long, which will
not cost one cent over $4,000 per mile,
making grand total of $87O,0OO. 1t is to
be seen at a glance that the difference be-
tween the actual cost of the road and the
amount of the bonded debt amounts to a
little over 81, 100000, besides the little St.
Mary's county grab of 100000.
Now, Mr.. Editor, there is something rot
ten in Southern Maryland. I do not say
it is the s. M. R. R., but do say the sub
ject ought to be investigated to the bot
tom, and I predict if the investigation is
made it will be found that the rotten place
is, as when they cry from the bow, "no
bottom, no bottom" Fine offices, good
promises, blarney, and contractors by the
dozen, with no money, no credit, will not
build railroad that will cost over one
million of dollars.
1t is due to the people Of Southern Mary
land that they should know. the exact sit
uation and condition of the Southern Ma
ryland Railroads Would it not be adyis-
able to cali a meeting of the creditors of
the contractors and of the road, and APP
point a committee to visit Washington
and ascertain the true condition of its af-
fairs. If the committee is appointed, and
if they will call on Gov. III. D. Cook, who
is advertised as Vice President of said
road, am confident he will tell all he
knows about it, which will be nothing.
Let the committee find out what has
become Of the $163, 900 for St. Mary's coun-
ty; how the appropriation was obtained;
what discount was made to get portion
Of the money from the bank, and what dis
position has been made of the money. The
youthful" President may have old and
naughty ways that care dark, and tricks
that are vain," but we, of Southern Mary
land, must keep our eyes open to any fur
ther transactions where money or credit
are call for. Many years ago, remember
a railroad being built by contractors and
subcontractors, when payday came the
contractors would not be on hand, and the
creditors would go to the company, who
invariably would state that they had moth
ing to do with the contractors, except to
pay them their money, which they had
done, and by that method about one-half
of the road was built by the people, and
the company had that much work done
without spending dollar. Will not the
same trick be played in this, my case?
x. Y. q.