Montgomery County sentinel., 1888-03-16
MEET THEM HALE W. Y

The talked of extension of the Baltimore
and Catonsville Railroad to Ellicott City
and from thence to Rockville should be
met by the people of this county with un-
qualified favor. We should do all in our
power to encourage this extension both by
subscription and granted right-of way. The
road would be of immeasurable benefit to a
well-settled and thriving portion Of the coun-
ty, whose only bar to great advancement and
increased prosperity is its distance from
ready communication with market and
the cost of transportation of fertilizers, lime
and supplies.
The country between Rockville and Eli
colt City, even under its existing drawback,
has developed greatly in the past few years
and railroad would undoubtedly develop
it to an unprecedented degree.
There is no question on the other hand
but what such read would be a paying
institution, Baltimore naturally being the
market where our people would purchase
their supplies and sell their products. The
local trade would In a short time be very
large and it is a well known, approved fact
that the local trade of road is that which
adds most to its revenue and prosperity
Take for instance the Metropolitan Branch
of the B. s. o. fifteen years ago when it first
started through a poor and comparatively
unsettled portion of the county. Its first
schedule consisted of local wayfreight train,
with one passenger car attached making one
trip per day. To-day it is running three
freight trains each way and fifteen local
passenger trains, each being to accommo
date the increased business.
Land has increased ten fold in value and
greatly in productiveness. The whole line of
the road is fast being settled by people of
means.
The proposed road from Ellico:t City
would start under much more favorable
auspicies. 1t would go through well de-
veloped country-would be direct line of
communication to Baltimore and the North,
and would bring to the public notice the
prosperity and resources of this county and
soon build up the country all along its line.
Besides, the road weud not stop here, but
could and should be pushed through to the
Great Falls Of the Potomac, where water
power now undeveloped is unsurpassed by
any to be found east of the Mississippi
River and from Canada to the Gulf with
ready means Of communication to the port
OF Baltimore. Is it not reasonable to sup
pose that much capital now idle would be
attracted to invest in and utilize this power
In the judgment of experienced and intell-
gent men, large mills and manufactures
situated as they would be at the Great Falls
away from the turbulent and unsettled labor
centers, among conservative population,
with unlimited water power and within
easy reach of the seaboard are those things
most desired by the investors of capital.
West Virginia and ether States are being
active in bringing their resources to the pub
lie notice and inviting capital to develop
them, and our people would do well to fol-
low their example, and with natural re-
sources at hand such as ours Montgomery
county should not be backward in the race
for prosperity.
Would it not be well if some of our public
spirited citizens would take this matter in
hand and prepare an accurate description of
our resources and publish it for distribution?
We know OF no one who could better do this
than Henry @. Hallowell, who we under
stand has already collected statistics and
matter bearing on this subject A pamphlet
of this sort would do much good for the
whole county, aid. the land and immigra-
ton department Of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, which have offered to distribute
all such matter throughout this country
indeed placed wherever it will do the most
good.
We suggest a public meeting of the coun-
ty to be called at some seasonable time and
this matter thoroughly discussed and means
be subscribed by which this knowledge can
be gathered and disseminated
Let us be energetic and animated in this
matter and rich benefits will, undoubtedly be
derived from it. Increased wealth and popu
lation, development of our great resources,
and the building of railroads will sure to
follow. Aboee all, do not let US lose sight
of the fact that the increased prosperity of
part is of benefit To the 9nLoLe