The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-01-31
Total amount saved by Railroad

| VIC nave us worthy ana INDUSTRIOUS people
as inhabit any land We have inexhaustible
mineral resources-lime, iron ore, &c, which
have been lying in our hills for ages waiting
to be developed. We have slate quarries, the
most valuable in the world, whose production
will be greatly increased by the railroad-
You will also drain one of the fairest counties
of Pennsylvania, to feed your road and bring
it freights. This will be a farmers road
made by and operated by yourselves, with
board OF directors selected by yourselves
Let us all go to work and be as prompt as
VIC can in paying our subscriptions and in
| supporting the directors. Our work will be
blessing to our children, and under pro-
pitious heaven it will be completed.
Hon. Stevenson Archer, being introduced
by President Waters, said that the scene at
| the breaking of the ground reminded him of
the verse, slightly altered:
| 'The elephant walks around
| The band begins to play,
| The fellows in opposition
| Had better stay away"
Mr.. Archer said that as one ofthe directors
he intended to explain frankly how matters
stood The gentleman to whom we had
given the contract had turned his back on
us. That was damper. He came to us re-
commended by every city official of good
standing in Baltimore. Having been in poll.
tics at one time myself | regarded those re.
concentrations as rather doubtful. We then
enquired rs to his standing among the bank
directors and other men of means. The re-
ply in every case was, you can't get bet
ter man than John laugh" The contract
was drawn up by the board on his bid and
submitted to him. He asked for time to
show it to his counsel, which was granted
After two weeks for consideration the con
tract was deliberately signed by that man
and delivered 10 us. Last Thursday we re-
ceived notice that he would have nothing
more to do with it. The question of post
poning the meeting was discussed, but we
determined to come before you rs business
men, and tell you what has happened, with
out conccalmcnt TO day we have great
| big fellow, who looks rs though he could eat
an OK or build railroad, who has come down
here from Pennsylvania and taken fifteen
miles at better rates than the former contrac-
tor. Two other gentlemen have also taken
four miles at better rates too. Within ten
days active operations will commence on the
road. To make the railroad SUCCESS some
| thing more must be done. We have S1G4,.
600 of unconditional and $4,000 of condi.
tional subscriptions. OF the $1G4OOO we
must allow a small percentage, $4,000, for
those who will not pay. For engineering
expenses we have expended $4,000. We
have paid $500 for the graded roads between
Baltimore and the Great Gunpowder, one of
which cost $4,000 and the other $4,000
Deduct these amounts from the S1G4, 900 and
the balance will pay the whole amount of
the bids for grading, masonry and trestle
| wolk. Then we need superstructures, cross
| ties and iron rails These must be raised by
further contributions by the people at large
or by mortgage. We have 800 subscribers 10
this road. If $50 of these stockholders will
each subscribe 800, we will undoubtedly
have enough to finish the road. In order
to carry the road through each subscriber
must pay 10 per cent. of his subscriptions
month. The first two payments will go hard,
| because we arc not getting any of il back
among ourselves But after the contractors
get to work the other payments will come
easy. The money will begin to come back
in exchange for produce. 1t has been said
that Hartford and Baltimore counties can not
raise this money. Why, our taxes in Har-
| ford county are nearly 800 900 every year.
| 1t is hard to pay them, know, but we do
pay them. Mr.. Archer argued that the
money subscribed to this railroad by farm
er should be regarded in the same light as
money invested i'll bone dust or lime, for the
| benefit of the farm. We are in n common
cause, and it is not fair dealing if all do not
come up promptly and do what they have
agreed to do. With little effort the re ad
can be built and built ut fair rate Mr. Ar
| cher said that when he subscribed he did not
expect the road to pay, but he now believed
that if the subscriptions were promptly paid,
| the directors by being unembarrassed could
build it cheapy and it would pay dividends.
New railroads have difficulties to contendwith
but ifa man will take stock the day will come
when he will be remuncrated. On seven
miles of the Western Maryland railroad The
ripht pf wnv hoI poet S010 OO0 ,,b;I, ,,o -,
the right of way for nothing. We arc build |
ing railroad for the benefit of the people
along its routc-not n great through line, |
run in the interests of large cities at either |
end. All we expect is that it will be worked
for your convenience and economy, and when
IL is worked for other purposes, the people |
will put in another board of directors. Our
counties must adapt themselves to raising |
things which the West can produce and send |
here-garden truck, &C. We can turn our |
counties into vast gardens and supply the |
great city of Baltimore. Our miner wealth |
is not yet developed, but when il - il will |
give employment 10 hundreds of people.
Hon, Edwin III. Webster was the next
speaker. lie said the advantage of the rail.
road had been presented in such an eloquent
manner that there was little left for him to
say. His friend Mr.. Archer had made very
satisfactory exhibit of the affairs of the road.
lie had, in fact, turned it inside out, and so
we all understand its affairs. He regarded
this rs q remarkable demonstration. You
are not here from idle curiosity, but to find
out what is going on about the railroad:
what the directors are doing with our mon.
cy; whether it is being properly spent or
not. Mr. Webster alluded TO the unlimited
confidence which is felt in the directors. Int
said it was always well to look after those
who are entrusted with your money or bust
ness. | am fully satisfied with the exhibit
made. True, there has been some little mis-.
hap in regard to n contractor. Mr.. Boyd
used the right word when he said the con.
tractor had "fizzled" / am told that Hauqh.
in hunting up reasons for his action said he
had gone over the road and was satisfied the
people of Hartford county would not paw their
subscriptions He did not call in question
our friends of York and Baltimore counties,
What evidence had he to cast such a sandor
on your and my name? He certainly was
covering up some other motive and purpose.
The subscribers to this road intend to show
him and all others that they are equal to the
payment of their just debts, and that their
ability is equal TO their integrity Mr.. Web
ster expressed his firm belief in the construc
ton of the road within reasonable period.
For various reasons, and as much from the !
vast concoursc which had turned out in mid.
winter, over muddy roads, to inaugurate the .
enterprise. When you have graded the 90
miles through Hartford county there is no
possible way in which the road can be stop
PED The directors must have money to pay \
The contractors, and the stockholders must u
pay promptly what they have promised. II s.
IS fourteen miles from Bel Air to the mouth o
DttlI 10, |