The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1889-02-23
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
THEY WERE ''TAKEN IN" SURE.
CARROLL, 2lsT WARD,


MEssRS. EDITORS Gentlemen: --Since we be-
came part of the great metropolis this locality
has not figured very prominently in the columns
of the papers of our late county, and with the
idea that our former fellow citizens may wish to
know just how we are getting on under the new
regime we attempt this communication.
The great and all absorbing question before us
now is, rs not annexation a failurer" Indeed
it is hardly any longer question, but has almost
resolved itself into cold fact that it is not only
a failure but calamity, and especially so to the
citizens and property holders of this locality,
and from the present indications it is likely to
prove itself so to the minds of all. For has not
the edict gone forth from king Ferdinand of
the marble palace, that the Beltites are to have
no more money expended upon them than is col
lected from them? And yet this same monarch
was he of smiling countenance and soft words,
who made such astounding promises to our I'M
sophisticated citizens of paved streets, electric
lights, city water, fire department and an I'M
limited number of fat offices, and now coolly as
sertS that the city cannot afford to keep up the
expense that is now being incurred in the Belt,
while our citizens groan as they wade over the
muddy roads upon which not one dollar has been
spent since we came into the city and wonder
what will be the end of all this. The answer
comes from some that ere long we will have the
pleasure of paying into the city treasury the rate
of taxes as assessed for the city proper. We will
then no doubt receive in return the services of a
few more of the blue-cOated cavalry to watch
our hen-roosts and cabbage patches, while the
overwhelmed taxpayer calmly surrenders his
property for the payment of the tax to maintain
this great array of Splendor. OF course we do
not say that this would be the case throughout
UUc dHue4cu leTTllOTl, DlJ lOT ILLS particular
locality there is but little hope for anything bet
ter. situated as we are, two miles from the city
proper, ina village composed entirely of small
houses, populated by poor people, whose only
object in coming here is to escape the higher
rents of the city, and in order to get this they
willingly put up with the many Inconvenience
of the country, but with full tax rate cheap
rents will cease and depopulation is sure to
follow. Before annexation new houses were be-
ing built in all directions; since then not single
house has been added, but on the contrary many
of those now owning property are trying to UNI
load at very low prices.
The Checklist thing we have seen in the way
of newspaper comments on the subject of this
blunder of annexation was that made by the
Ne10S a few days since, when in an editorial en-
titled Cut down the estimates, it said, referring
to the Belt, Its acquisition was bad bargain at
the best, and the NeaCs did not hesitate to say
at the time" We have no recollection of the
Nears having made such statement, but we have
distinct remembrance of it having used all sorts
of arguments to get us in, and the day after the
election it told how proud and happy
ought to be that we had been taken in. Now,
like child that has eaten something that has
proved Sickening, it calls it bad names and de-
clares that il never wanted it nohow. But too
late, Mr.. NeaCsnldE. We have come to stay, cab
bage patches and all, and we intend to make as
much trouble as possible when you don't give us
just what promised.
To sum matters up we are in a pretty bad
muddle, from which we are not likely to be re
lieved soon. and like many other things in this
world. it is likely to get much worse before it is
better. And we fear the handwriting on the
wall indicates the downfall of the dynasty of the
great Ferdinand, to whom is attributed much of
the blame for this lamentable state of affairs.
Truly yours, BELTITE.