The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1873-06-21

EXTENSION OF THE Cry LIMITs.-A correspon-
dent of the Woodberry Gazette, signing himself
'Rural Gentleman" furnishes that paper with
the following as his views on the extension
question: ..,o.a o,u
thoughts upon the great questions that will be present
ed before the next Legislature the coming winter viz
the extension of the city limits Now as the matter
will be presented to the residents within the district 10
be "taken in and those outlying districts Will be
joint sufferers, it is question that every man IN Ine
county who paws who expects to pay one cent aDes
should carefully consider The whole question has re-
duced itself to of profit and loss and this being the
fact, should carefully weigh the evidence OF pot
Sides and if to loose more than we GAIN think
we had better let well enough alone and remain where
we are. Now first will look at the gains or advan-
tages to reap, or in other WORDS the advantages
we are promised The first is protection If to have
the long list of crimes that committed in the very
heart of all Cities for one prefer to remain without po
worth anything the city is not prepared to give IT, Tor
it is wellknown fact, that the city cannot properly
police its present dimensions for let any one ride or
walk around the outlying portions of the city, and il
he meets any one but police oicer ne VIII nave
lonely walk indeed. There is law requiring the city
to keep twenty officers in Druid Hill Park and upon my
asking the officials why they did not give the Park
more than five men, the reply was I'VE Cannot spare
them" and still we have the force up to the maximum
number Now if the city cannot spare twenty men for
the work, how can they police two milesY DO you see
how much the promise Of protection is WORTH II we
forcement of the laws. II parties who come into our
territory commit depredations and are brought to con
vcton will only be given the full extent of the law by
the court we will have all the protection want We
have sufficient protection if the laws rigidly en-
forced The arresting of criminals by police Is not
diminishes crime, but the severe punishment OF al
eyildoers will do it, Now what is the second advan
tage we are to gain by being taken in ?" We are
promised the privilege of water. WE'LL that rich in
deed Now my dear readers just look to only last sum
mer and all Baltimore painting and trembling, won
derng each day where the next days supply OF water
was to come from Now the idea of man promising to
support families when he does not have one DAY
supply in his own house. And again, where does Bal
tmore get her water? Why every drop she uses comes
from Baltimore county and as far as the county Is con
cerned she nor her inhabitants pay not one penny Du
they want us to into their household and buy
them this same that give them after 1T is run
through their pipes and becomes s.agnant in theiI
ponds Now, this second promise they cannot fulfill
and if they could there is no necessity to go into the
city to get what already have in its purity
dNow we will consider the third advantage we are to
gain by being ataken in" We promised that oui
streets shall be opened graded paved Whatis the
modus operand of doing this First they make up an
estimate of the cost of doing all the work. they assess
and collect this cost from the property owners along
line of said street. and keep and use the money aDom
two years. and after being urged necessarily they VIII
probably do the work There are streets in Baltimore
the money for opening of which has been paid in oye
two years and not days work has been DONE Now
property holders to the expense OF opening
we can Just well do it by remaining in the county as
by going into the city, We have Street Commissioner;
who are actively at work laying out Streets ana tht
County Commissioners will open and grade any stree
upon application of the property holders ana whist VIZ
in the county we can open grade and pave our OWL
done by the "City Fathers" that they may have some
patronage to give out which will help to return them
seat in the coveted place. As have this third
advantage without going into the city, that promise will
fail to induce us to go in.
"Now the fourth advantage are to gain by being
taken in" is the benefit of gas II it is the kind ex
pended daily in the council chambers, we do not wan
it, if it is that dispensed by the two gas companie:
in the city, have that upon the same terms as
though we in the city. Every citizen of Baltimore
has to pay his gas BILL and has to pay to have II
introduced into his premises, and we citizens OF the
county can have it of our citizens now have by
paying for it will have to do if in the city 81
this advantage have by remaining where we are
These the four and only ever urged by any
one why we should allow ourselves to be swallowed III
by the city, and think we have shown that we gair
nothing that do not already possess. Then why the
change?
Let look at the actual losses. First We loose one
third of the basis of taxation without diminishing
our expenses, and thereby double taxes End, We
loose third of population consequently reduce
representation and instead of having six Delegates
we will have only FOUR giving the other two to the city
and instead of being the first county in the State, We
will only be second rate 3d. the increase of crime will
be very great in the portion lost for as soon as we &c
into the city will become demorazed and corrupt
and will be known by the company we keep. Weagree
Mr.. Editor, that great change is needed in Baltimore
county, but that change is not to send portion into
the city, but with you permission will in your mex
give our views Of the change needed