The Baltimore County union., 1884-01-12
Corresponding Baitimore County Onion.
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
Horrible Weather-The General Assem-
bly-Important Problems to be De-
cided-Annexation and Local
Option, Etc, Etc.
BALTIMORE, January 9Th, 1884.

BALTIMORE, January 9Th, 1854.
Messrs. Editors We have another day-so far
as the weather is concerned-worse, if anything,
than any day hitherto since the winter season set
in. 1t is simply miserable and horrible. For
some days the weather has been freezing, with
slight snow on the ground and the mercury rang
ing from 6to 20 and 2S degrees above zero. The
ice on ponds in and outside the city is now from
to 6 inches thick, skating good and indications
OF good ice supply. Ice has been formed for a
considerable distance down the bay and on all
streams, rivers, &C., letting into it. The harbor
is also almost closed and very little business Of
any kind doing. Very great suffering, learn,
has been endured on vessels down the bay oyster
ing. A number of the men have been frost bitten,
and the vessels on which they are aboard are par
TALLY blocked up in the ice and with the present
terrible weather, getting worse. If the present
weather continues oysters will be very scarce, CON-
manding high prices. The snow last night fell
about two inches, with rain and sleet. It's now
simply miserable. Persons can scarcely pedestri-
nate on the pavements or streets, they so very
slippery and blocked up. The boats with passen-
gers to Annapolis could scarcely get along, and
were of course late. Nearly all the passengers
went by rail, and that too was bad enough
Not much will be done either in the House or
Senate to-day, though in session. 1t will simply
be preparation for the Inauguration of Mr.. Nc
Lane as Governor for four years, which takes
place to- morrow, though with no extra parade or
ceremony. There were some members and others
who will not be able to reach the State capital
until tomorrow, or possibly later, owing to the
bad roads and weather. Not much business will
be done by the Legislature this week. They will
bs cutting out work for the weeks to come, likely
to be begun earnestly in a week or ten days hence.
As there are but ninety days of the session in
which to work. it will be important to begin quick
ly, as there is much to do and that of high i'm
portance
A very important problem will be the prepara-
tion of bill of some kind whereby to annex the
Belt to Baltimore city. This is likely to be con-
cern of deep moment as we'll to Baltimore city as
to Baltimore county. It is becoming a question
that cannot be much longer deferred. city-a
new and highly important one-is now growing
up outside our city, in which, before many years,
there must grow up population of 10000 to 100,-
900 or more souls. This will become too large to
be managed and ruled wholly Independent of our
populace and ruling. The value too of real estate
in the Belt will very soon become enormous. 1t
will, eventually, instead of being adverse to the
deep and lasting interests of Towsontown, Waver-
y and all that region of country, prove greatly to
their favor-as l believc-in every way. 1t is
only question of time, nearer or in the distance,
for this consumation to eventually come. 1t alb
solutely must. The sooner, therefore, perhaps,
the better, as it will then be over out of the way,
and the people of the Belt-as also of the city
ment. With the Belt even now annexed Balti-
more will have population, before long, of half
a million inhabitants. Good lessons touching
this problem can be learned from New York, Phil
adelphia and some other cities.
I have heard it limited that instead of passing
local option and prohibition temperance laws by
the General Assembly of our State this session,
there is strong probability that motions will be
made to annul some of the local option laws al
dv ad bv already
existing. A principal reason is that those now
ruling in of the counties and parts of Others
have failed in accomplishing really the kind of
temperance they were hoped to bring about -
Especially so is this the case in Prince Georges
Hartford and some other counties. 1t is now said
that there is really more whisky-and bad whisky
drank in many parts of these counties than ever
known before. 1t is bought by hundreds of gal
Ions and taken over the railroads to different
parts of Hartford county than hitherto thought
of. 1t really causes the use of stronger alcohols
because of its being more condensed and easy Of
obtainment than when ale, porter, brown stout,
lager beer and less injurious drinks could be
easily obtained. People therefore caused to
swallow "pizen," as the Havre- de- Grace man says
instead of good malt liquors which are less injuri
Gus at any and all times. 1t is, admit, well and
proper to be temperate in all things but if people
will have something give them that not so apt to
injure. Nevertheless again say to every person,
be temperate in all things, unless absolute prohi-
bition in manufacturing, selling, importing, ex-
porting and such other things can be finally
brought about so that nothing of the kind can be
had at ALL Thequestion is, can this ever be done?
From now hence forward we in all probability
will have quite stormy time-growing in intensi-
ty-until after the next Presidential nominations
and their election. 1t will, therefore, be the duty
of all to be on the sharp lookout. From all
can thus far see, the Republicans have-say what
may be said-by far the best, most hopeful chances
of ultimate success. All it wants is care. The
time has not yet come for Democrats to be entrust
ed with the control and management Of so great
Government ours - EsroR.