The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-01-26
SHORTENING ROUTES.
West Virginia Coal Fields Brought Closer to
Market. A Railroad Connecting Link
That Will Lessen the Distances to
Baltimore and Philadelphia.

/ Railroad circles Of this city and Baltimore
are looking forward to the completion IN the
near future of an important railway connec
! ton in the building of link between the
/ Western Maryland and the West Virginia
/ Central and Pittsburg Railroads. This viii
I be of particular importance in the bitumlnons
/ coal trade.
/ The Western Maryland Road, of which j.
/ NJ. Hood. of Baltimore, IS President, has
/ lately been showing particular activity IN the
( DEVELOPMENT of its system and lis traffic.
4 The main line runs from Baltimore to a short
distance beyond Hagerstown, ninety miles in
ALL From HagerStown to Cumberland, the
present terminus of the West Virginia Central
( and Pittsburg Road. the distance is about
sixty miles, and if the link should be COM
peted Cumberland would be brought within
$50 miles of Baltimore. By way of the Baltl-
more and Ohio Road the distance is now
nearer 200 miles 1t is believed that by this
connection the Elk Garden tW. Va coal
fields, which are now nearer tide water than
any others, will gain new ground. and get a
considerable ascendency in the soft coal mar
ket.
The West Virginia Central Railroad, with
which. it is expected, the Western Maryland
Railroad will make connection, Is a compare
lively new line with very powerful backing
Eek Senator II. G. Davis is President, Stephen
b. Elkins Is Vice President and among the
others whose capital Is in it are Senator j, \.
Camden, Senator Arthur p. German, VIII
liam Pinkev Whyte, Thomas B. Davis and
John A. Hambleton. Il passes through
maiden territory of West Virginia opening up
immensely wealthy coal and lumber tracts,
Whether the West Virginia Central Railroad
will ultimately absorb the Western Maryland
cannot We; be told, but there Is little doubt
that the necessary funds would be forthcom
ing
The building OF this needed lux would not
only make short line 20 Baltimore but wouid
also bring the coal fields very much nearer TO
Philadelphia. In addition TO its main line
through Maryland the Western Maryland has
branches in Pennsylvania. Lines are now
under construction which will afford q toleTa-
biz direct route between HagegstewH and
York. Pa II is understood that construction
viii not stop at York. but that operations viii
be pushed further eastward 10 the Susque
hama River. where connections viii be made
for Philadelphia and the East, presumably
through the Reading system. The Reading
Road touches the Sasquehsnna az Harrisburg
aud al Columbia.
By the completion ofihis project coal bound
for Philadelphia, which noW has to come by
way Of Baltimore or over n very eircuitouS
route by the Pennsylvania Railroad, woald
save very heavy mileage, The most impor.
taut obstacle in the way of this scheme would
seem to be The baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
This company, it IS generally admitted. vii
fight very hard sgsins, the whole project, as
the READ might 30 SOME respects become an
important competitor. Il Is the West tlr-
giniA Central Railroad with the Presidency Of
which she name ofcx Presileug Samael SPeu.
Ger. OF the Baltimore and Ohio. has lately
been associated
sprSH FEXN ROAD m "a HEtLr.
A dispatch oa Monday HisAi from Piitshgrg.
Pa. says ''lt Is stated upoa Information ~
eejvei from source sss4 ia b. uVss reliable
thsl Heyhrt1 Hosteiior has sold ta the Van.
derbslts al stesks aud Interests OF the late
Or. Hosses;er Ia the Pitssharg sad Lake ErN
Railroad This giyrs The Naa4erhsltx fua
e0u,sol Of the liuc. ani a. tAC suunsl meeting
81 the board some important ehangrs EIA BE-
raade. Herbert Hos.stser, sau Of ihe late bf.
Hostatier. gr,arae3 from Mes fnyk Mlih The
iufaFmaiiaa tAsi the sCoabis ~isb ihc lbushare
stock hoi,Igrs Of the Soasa @ean Railroad has
been scslled- All thc PsgsFhaFS stockholders
have siEusd the Caraegia agreement Bot u,
{. Fnek. asa he wsk stsn When tae ahdeF
hslts d0 ;he saae, whieh wili ~ easiY stSt
seek. Al the preliminary las wWfs has
heen sessied. sad mescaR ~Iis b. heid va
Seg York brzt seek. wAem arrangements
will he saade 80 STARR soyk GA the road eaF3g
ia April