Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-12-18
The Railroad Question
4 CRITICISM REVIEWED.

\ writer in the Emmisburs Nronicl,
reviews the article that appeared in our last
issue and therein we find several statements
that it is oul pleasure to notice.
! Referring to the M. V. & F. II. r. the
writer says that 1t has not been ignored
/ simply unnoticel' for the differ, nee, we will
simply because il is out of the course and its
| interests and intentions are supposed to cover
different field" Just as we claimed of
course a different field and one less undula.
ting, and refractory and more prolific of
revenue producing crops.
OF course there are farmers in that the
lower roliel section who will decidedly differ
with The CLARION's views but THE CLAIR
ION is not in the habit of consulting indlvil-
llal interests when 1t is debating Il great
public movement: we are sorry for the
people along the lower route, that the argu-
ment and the f,cts should he SO decidedly
against thcm but being so, THE CLARION Is
content to he held responsible by these people
if its claims agains, the route are unjust.
The writer simply "bcys the question"
when he argues thus:
AGAIN, in the matter OF traffic, may ask
why the M. V. & F, projectors are 50 anx
io,ls to have their ncighbors join them on the
rich fields of orc that lie along the foot of the
mountain? Surely, if such deposits exist,
and furnaces are likely to spring up like
magic, the success of their project is assured.
Why not leave the not ovcr-productve
farming belt to the line projected from
Mldllctown to Rocky Ridge? Such mag.
nanimi,y is almost beyond comprehension.
That Corporations should be so unscltsh Is
one of the wonders, and but shows how
Frederick Capitalists hayc been misrcpre-
sentcd"
The suggestion that there be u road built
from Yellow Springs to Catoctin Furnaces
via Lewistown and another from near the
same point to Rocky Ridge via Lewistown
gives evidence Of the poverty of argument
afforded by the position of our critic.
We are really amazed at finding the follow
ing paragraph in the otherwise thoughtfully
written criticism
IF the marketable products of the upper
route will outweigh, twenty to one, those Of
the lower, and the bulk Of the local traffic of
the lower route will come to the upper any
how, why would not the same rule apply the
other way"
The traffic would not go from the upper
to the lower route for the very pulpaDc
reason that you cannot haul by team, ore
worth one dollar ton rs far as YOU can haul
wheat worth thirty dollars ton; simple
isn't it. when you once see 1t.
THE CLARION had taken the trouble to
investigate" and found that the Emmitsburg
Railroad stockholders hold to-day stock to
the amount Of fifty dollars for every hundred
dollars worth subscribed and paid for and
that on that basis even, it has paid small
diyldends and If cts every movement is
directed by the w NJ. Company" and still
the latter does not care to lease or operate
it, surely it can only be because 1t requires an
almost prohibltivc freight and passenger
tariff to render it possible to balance expen
ditures.
The endeayor to make 1t appear that the
w. M. and NJ. V. Il F. r. r would occupy
the same attitude the one toward the other
rs that now witnessed between the W. M.
and P. r. r. is simply an attempt to frightcn
or prejudice somebody. There Is not q
shadow Of reason for the statement and we
know the reverse to be true. The w. Nj. is
not interesting itself in this matter because
it has all on its hands that ii can do in the
way of railway construction, but the w. M.
gives The best Of facilities when il pays to do
so and there is no danger that it will refuse
them to the proposed new road whether it
taps its line at Mechanicstown or Rocky
Ridge.