Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-03-24
LETTER FROM MARYLAND.
APPLETON, CECIL Co., Nd,
Hnrch 10 1888.

SO.3 ND,
March 10, 1888.
Editor, Register-Some friend has pre-
sented me with second copy of your pa
per, and its perusal has given me much
pleasure. The "Bad Boy" selections are
interesting, and your editorials are good,
particularly when you say ''vote your
sentiments" Speaking Of your corpora
ton election, you say ""There is no use
talking about improvement unless you
vote for men who are known to favor it"
That remark is applicable to us here in
Cecil County, as well as elsewhere. We
say ignore party ties, and vote Tor men
and measures. The voter who splits BIS
ticket is often the most intelligent Voter.
This county is in the northeast corner
of Maryland, and Elkton, near the center,
is the county-seat. 1t has very costly
new jail, but since local option has pre-
vailed in this county (near two years now
it is said the inmates are less numerous
than formerly.
There are five newspapers published In
this county, one republican, one demo-
crat, one neutral, and two independent.
Every one Of the editors is first-rate,
clever fellow. They would have MS read
ers in political times pulling each other
by the ears, if our sober second thoughts
did not prevail; but we believe if one OF
them breaks his press or meets with any
hindrance in issuing his paper the other
always helps him out, then tight ION pa
per- again next week.
We have three national banks, churches
of almost every denomination, and almost
every kind Of religion. We have pubic
schools that should be free schools, only
they are not, because book fee OF 81 per
quarter is required, and parent who
sends three or four children to school the
wear around finds it costs him almost as
much as when we had the old pay school.
Admit that permit to attend school
without the 81 can be obtained, but it is
worth it to get it, and subjects the appli-
cant to an ordeal that many well-thinking
persons decline to pass through.
The great majority Of the people OF this
county are engaged in agricultural pur-
suits, and yet manufactures are right here
in our midst. The Big Elk and Little
Elk Rivers, flowing out of Pennsylvania,
about four miles apart, are dotted with
paper mills, grist mills, saw and set mills,
cotton factories, rolling mills flor sheet
iron), &C., from the Pennsylvania line to
their junction at Elkton, whence cometh
the Elk River. The latter, together with
the Northeast and the Susquehanna Riv-
ers, furnish thousands upon thousands OF
barrels of fish annually, herring, shad and
rock-fish being plentiful.
People in the rural districts spend their
winter evenings at lyceums, debating So
cieties, singing schools, parties, &C., and
In towns the same, with the addition OF
paid lecturers. All live questions, such
as local option, women's rights, tariff,
capital punishment, poll-tax and politics
are freely anu NSuiy 49,
it is SAID here "talk is cheap"
Notwithstanding our elevated ant
healthy location, and other natural
advantages in the way of mineral
wealth, we have some exceedingly
foolish and useless laws, and some good
ones that are not economically admins
tered. There are lots of places in this
county where men of capital might invest
and foster industries thus far uninterrupted
though badly needed. Machinery of al
most every kind in the known world is
used III this county, but very little OF it is
made here.
Our road system is pretty good, but is
badly executed-and in some cases not at
all. The repairing of road is sold to the
lowest bidder; hence every man may buy,
but it is not every man that knows how
to mend road when he does buy. But
pshaw! What's the use Of grumbling?
Let us join the old song
$50 let the world wag along as 1t will.
I'll be gay and happy still"
CECIL.