Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-05-20

The SOUTHERN MAINLAND RArI-
RoAD.-The annual meeting Of the
stockholders of the Southern Maryland
Railroad Company was held in Wash.
ington on the 9th instant, and the fol-
lowing board of directors was elected
for the ensuing year SamuelS. Smoot,
John Van Riswick, E. N. Darling,
Frank Hume, Horatio Browning, Jas.
s. Barbour, Andrew Saks, Charles B.
Church and T. A. Cook, of Washington
city; Benjamin G. Harris and John NJ.
Bronze, Of st. Mary's county, Md, and
H. B. Beymer Of Baltimore.
The following is portion of the an
nual report of Col. s. s. Smoot, its pres
ident:
Owing to the continued effect Of the
panic of 1873, the general stagnation of
business, and the depression Of railroad
interests, the company has not been
able to negotiate its securities. Nego-
tiations are now in progress witha good
prospect Of successful termination
The road is now in such an advanced
state that it can be completed to the
Baltimore and Potomac railroad, near
this city, and with the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad where its line crosses that.
of the Baltimore and Potomac railroad
near Benning's station, within nine
months, thus furnishing continuous
line to the harbor of the st. Mary's riv.
er and Point Lookout, and q short
branch to the mouth of the Patuxent
river.
This past Winter demonstrates the
necessity of an early completion of this
road, furnishing as it does to the cities
of Washington and Baltimore = harbor
free at all times from any obstruction
by ice, and rapid and convenient out
let to the ocean, besides saving from
five to six hours over the present time
to Norfolk from the two cities named.
During the past session Of Congress
the importance of this road to the Gov
ernment and the commercial interests
of Washington and Baltimore was
brought to its notice, and the proceed
ings of that body have made q record
of its value and advantages which clear
ly demonstrates the great benefits which
must result from its completion, and
the establishment at some point on the
st. Mary's river of great naval coal
ing station. The attention of the in
dustrial centres of the Great West have
been attracted to the vast importance
of this great commercial outlet on the
Chesapeake waters, and the company
is in receipt Of many letters from prom
inent business men of the West and
Northwest, indicating the liveliest IN
terest in this enterprise, and making
inquiries for detailed information.
As yet no arrangement has been en-.
tered into with either of the great trunk
lines, but the day is not far distant
when the Southern Maryland railroad
will be in a condition to command that
attention that is due to so great an en-
terprise as this. The completion of
this line viii add greatly to the value
of property in Washington city, by OPEN
ing up \ country heretofore compare
lively unknown to our people, and Civ
ing them another rapid outlet to the
South, thereby cheapening the uecessa-
ries of living in our market.
My great aim has been, and is, to
complete this important road a. early
as practicable, thus furnishing great
commercial line, which must give per-
manent impulse to all the industrialin IN
terests of my native city, and / hope
that at the next annual meeting II the
stockholders i will have the great sat-
isfaetion Of congratulating the citizens
Of Washington upon the final accom-
plishment Of this great work.