The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-04-23

Town MEETING IN BEL AIR-ENCoURAGING
ENTERPRIsE.-A well attended meeting of the
citizens of Bel Air was held at the Court House
last Saturday night, at which DR.. E. Hall Rich
ardson presided, with Mr.. &. E. N. Ewing Sec
rotary. The meeting was held in pursuance of
a call signed by a number of prominent citizens.
Its object, as stated by Mr. s. A. Williams, was
to hold out such inducements to Messrs. Henry
Reckord u Sons as would justify them in es-
tablishiug their proposed large roller process
flour mill in Bel Air.
Mr.. Williams said that in view of the damage
the firm had sustained by the flood of last Au-
gust they had abandoned the idea OF building
their mill on the Little Gunpowder. They pro-
posed to build one with capacity for pro-
ducing at least fifty barrels of flour day
This meant the expenditure of large
sum of money for the necessary build.
ings: constant employment for number of
hands in and about the mill; a market in Bel
Air for all the wheat raised for many miles
and a consequent benefit to the trade of the
place. Last fall committee, consisting of the
speaker and Messrs: o. s. Lee and J. M. Street,,
had waited upon Messrs Reckord & Sons and
pointed out to them the advantages of building
their mill in Bel Air. The committee had lately
ascertained that the firm felt compelled to estab-
lsh this branch of their business at Fallston,
where they have suitable building and site for
the mill. They would, he thought, come to Bel
Air If inducements were offered sufficient to
counterbalance the advantages they already
have at Fallston.
Mr.. Williams thought the enterprise would be
valuable to any community. Ii erected in Bel
Air in five years all or most all of the Messrs.
Reckord's business would probably be removed
here. Mr.Willams thought that no such oppor-
tunity to build up the town had been presented
for ten years.
Mr.. j. NJ. Street, said it was important to act
promptly. No one knows where they want to
locate, but they must locate on the railroad
We should see what amount of money can be
raised by subscription to make the advantages
of Bel Air equal those of any other point.
MIR. VIM. II. Harlan thought the proposed inn
provement, by increasing the taxable basis of
the town, would lessen the taxes. We can not
expect the firm to abandon a building they al
ready have and come here to erect one. Every
body having land to sell and everybody having
marketing to sell is interested in their coming
here. If the mill is built here there will be lots
to be bought and houses to put up, which means
work for almost everybody.
Mr.. @. L. Dallam said that the erection of this
mill would probably cause other factories to
be established here. Bel Air has not the popu
latiou or business interests that her climate and
agricultural resources entitle her to. Every
citizen of the town is interested in bringing this
enterprise here
subscription paper was presented and in a
time short 1867 were raised. A committee OF
three, consisting of Messrs WIN. ii. Harlan,
Allen Hoffman and ]. NJ. STREET. was appointed
to solicit further subscriptions. By Thursday
the amount had been increased to S94S, and the
paper being presented to Messrs. Reckord &
Sons, they accepted it and will at once begin the
erection of their mill at Bel Air.