The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-07-17
LOCAL ArFAIRs.

A TRlPm cARRoLL CouSrr.--F w, Baker,
ESQ.,, editor Of the Belair, Nd, A7gis ana
IRtetligenccr, who visited Westminster Last
week, thus speaks Of bis visit here. in his
paper of the 9TH instant:
We had the pleasure, this week, Of paving
n visit to the bright and busting little civ OF
Westminster, the county seat of Carroll coun.
~. Il is situated on the Western Maryland
Railroad, thirty.three miles from Baltimore,
in full view Of the Blue Ridge, and ia the
midst Of highly improved agriculturalregio
The city contains about 3,20O inhabitants, all
Of whom appear TO have something to do, the
number ofidlers apparently being small. The
buildings generally are neat and substantial,
being constructed mostly Of brick made in the
neighborhood. A number OF enterprising
merchants supply the inhabitants with dry
goods, groceries and notions, and at prices.
too, below what they can be bought for ia
Baltimoreand freightedt 10 Westminster. Some
Of the stores are handsomely fitted up, in n
style that would do credit TO large city.
On Monday night the patriotism Of the PEG
pie of the county overtlowed in a celebration
Of the National Anniversary, by inangurating,
In the evening, Fete Champetre. The ex
ercises were held in the beautiful lawn sur
rounding the Court House. This was bril-
liantly lghtedup with several hundred gas
jets, and gaily decorated with numbers Of
Chinese lanterns, American Gags, &c, the
whole forming one of the most picturesque
scenes we have ever witnessed. The fete was
under the direction Of the Amphion Orchestra,
musical club Of the place, assisted by ladies
and gentlemen Of the neighb0rhood. The
patriotic element Of the occasion found vent
in the reading Of the Declaration of lndepeu-
dence, BY DIR. c. Billingslea, a son Of former
citizen OF our own town Abingdon; while at
intervals, before and after this part of the pro-
gramme, the national airs were effectively
rendered by voices and instruments. Other
attractions of the occasion were the ice cream
tables, Jacobs well, Floral Temple, &c,
presided over by the bellies and beauties OF
Westminster. There was also fine display
of fireworks, and beautiful fountain did its
best TO cool the air, the dripping, sparkling
water being refreshing to the ear at any rate.
The fete is to last until tonight. The pro-
eeeds are for the benefit Of the orchestra under
whose auspices it was gotten up. The princi.
pal object Of the ENTERTAINMENT however, was
TO afford a means Of pleasant social reunion,
rather than to make money. Taken altogeih.
err we have never seen anything OF the kind
more handsomely and tastethily arranged.
The attendance was very large, and included
not only citizens Of Carroll county, but visitors
Hartford was represented, in the persons of
Hon. Stevenson Archer and Mrs. Archer, !
Major Vim. H. Dallam and wife, and the |
writer.
We met at Westminster several natives of !
Hartford, who still cherish afectionate remem
brances of their childhood's home, although |
they left her TO take care Of herself, while |
they sought home in Carroll. Among them |
was Judge William p. Maulsby, whose heart |
never fails to warm when he recalls his early !
days at Tulip Hill, with his many brothers |
and sisters, now scattered in different parts |
Of the country. We also met f. |. Wheeler,
the hospitable host of the Westminster Hotel, |
who left Hartford county many years ago and |
after sojourn in Baltimore county, finally |
took up his residence in Westminster. Mr.. /
II. A. Macatee, member Of the bar Of Car !
roll county, also drew his first breath among 4
the Deer Creek Hills, aud has not forgotten |
his friends and relations here.
The crops in Carroll county are about as /
they are in Hartford; and farmers have about |
the same troubles to contend with. Potato
bugs did not appear to be quite so plentiful /
as with us, but their absence is more than
made up by grasshoppers, which have, in
some instances, wrought great havoc to crops
of all kinds.
The population Of Carroll county embraces
a considerable number Of Germans, who have
brought with them the habits of economy,
thrift and good management learned in the
Fatherland, and under their hands they have
made the country blossom as the rose. The L
farms are generally small, and most admra.
bly, cultivated, the rate OF production per acre
Of wheat and corn especially being large.
One of the finest farms to be seen anywhere
is the County Almshouse property, containing
ia acres. This institution, from requiring a
large annual outlay for its support, has under
judicious management grown to be selfsup-
porting one. The crops looked as well or
better than any others we saw The snperin
:eudent expected to realize fifteen bushels of
wheat to the acre, but this crop. he said, was
cut short by the rayages of the fly last fall,
and the severe winter.
The Almshouse is a large brick building, in
front Of which is q pleasant lawn. The house
itself is somewhat out Of repair. but is com
Portable, aud kept scrupulOusly clean. It is
heated by hot air conveyed through the build
ing IN pipes, thus making every portion of 1t
warm and comfortable. A commendable
feature Of the establishment is n bath room,
furnished with the needfnl appliances. All
the inmates are required TO take a bath twice
a week, those who are ayerse TO the operation
being gently constrained to submit to IL The
stables and barn are conveniently arranged
and supplied with improved labor.saying ma
ehinery. A number of hogs are fattened
every year, the product Of the institution last
year having been 10000 lbs. Of pork. A pen
of twenty-one enormous porkers especially
attracted our attention. Any one Of them
would at this time dress 800 lbs. and but one
of them was more than eight months old.
They are expected TO average 400 or 800 lbs.
IL eli T..
deed Carroll county seems to be famous for
large porkers, as we saw others which would
have been sight even ut cattle show. We
were greatly indebted to Mr.. John Tracy, the
excellent Superintendent Of the Almshouse,
for the opportunity to fully examine the build.
ings and grounds.
Westminster has two newspapers, the Sen
fiaei, Republican newspaper, and the Dem.
0erdfic 1drOcdfe--the name of the latter
indicating its sentiments, which are Demo
cratic to the core. 1t is ably conducted by
Mr.. VIM. II. Vanderford who is assisted by
his father, Mr.. Henry Vanderford, one of the
oldest and most experienced newspaper pub
fishers ofthe State. The Adcocdte has large
circulation, and is power in the State. The
printing oifise is.on Of the neatest aud best
ordered country Offices we ever saw, and
would serve as a model for careless and indf
ierent members OF the craft anywhere.
Taking Westminster altogether, from one
end Of It to the other, it is one Of the most
charming places in the State Situated in
the midst Of lovely country, at the head of
Wakefield Valley, which Is said to be the
nearest approach to Arcadia 10 be seen out
side Of Ultima Thule; with ahospitable thrifty,
honest, Industrious and intelligent population,
no wonder its citizens feel proud of their city
and lis surroundings. Indeed, we are almost
tempted ourselves TO say, that If we were not
so fortunate rs TO live in Hartford county, we
should as the next most desirable place, SCI
lect home in Carroll.
MANCHESTER IrEMs.--0n Thursday night
OF last week some person entered Mr.. Jacob
Campbell store, and carried away the change
that was left in the drawer, amounting to
about two dollars. BY some means the burg
lar effected an entrance into the cellar,
through the door, which wns fastened inside, I
and by boring several holes through the door
leading from the cellar 10 the store-room,
opened his way into the store. The thief I
doubtless expected to make good haul bnt 1