The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-05-30
Col. Longwen Resigns as Director of the
Wastarn MARYLAND Raiirnad

day, a letter Of resignation as director was
received from Col. John X. Longwel, of
Westminster. Accompanying the letter of re.
ggnation was letter to Gen. Hood in which
Col. Longwell says: 81 have the fullest con
iidence in the ultimate success of the Western
Maryland Railroad, if the management be
allowed to work out its present plans without
embarrassment from those who are inimical
to its interests, and who are, by every means,
seeking to throw obstacles in the way.
"The true interests of Baltimore city, in
my opinion, lie in the direction of permitting
the company TO consummate the work which
it has already in hand and in contemplation.
The city and company, alike, will largely,
think, profit by this course"
The resignation was accepted with regret,
and resolutions were passed which stated that
from the Organization of the road down to
the present time, through all its struggles
and varying fortunes, Col. Longwell has ever
been an answering and steadiast friend of
the road, assisting greatly by his wise counsel
and unflagging zeal, in its development and
progress, and never losing for one moment
his faith in its ultimate prosperity and sue
cess; and that it is with feelings of deep re-
gret we have learned that the inlirmities, in
evitable from advancing years, constrain him
to sever the official relation of such long con
tinuance with this board, and we feel con
scious his retirement will create vacancy
which cannot soon or early be filed
Mr.. John NJ. Littig, President of the Ma
tonal Marine Bank, was elected to fill the
vacancy caused by the resignation of Col.
Longwell.
With the retirement of Col. Longwel the
last of those who were connected with the
road in its early history have passed from ac.
tive interest in it. The road was chartered
in 1854, and Col. Longwell then in the Senate,
prepared the charter, in part, and carried it
through the Legislature. In 1857 he was
elected n director, and he has served IN the
board ever since, except two or three years
He was one of the original stockholders, OF
whom but few survive. No man, perhaps, is
as well acquainted with the organization and
history of the road rs Col. Longwell, and he
gave some account of it to an ADVOCATE re-
preventative on Thursday. The projectors
did not realize fully the magnitude OF their
undertaking. The charter provided for
railroad from the Relay, on the Northern
Central, to Union Bridge. Some thought the
cost would not exceed S25O,OOO. Subscrp-
lions to the amount of$l50, 900 were secured,
and the road was let to contract, Robert lr
win, father of Capt. P. II. Irwin, of this city,
and Col. w. W. Taylor being the contractors.
The subscribers were slow in paying assess
ments and work soon stopped. Up TO this
time the road had two Presidents, Robert
Magraw, of Baltimore, and Nathan Haines,
of Carroll. William Roberts, of Uniontown,
an uncle of Hon. Charles b. Roberts, was
elected president in 1857, the same year that
Col. I.ongwell entered the directory. In that
year another effort to build the road was
made, and Robert Irwin, W. W. Taylor and
George w. Norris contracted to build the
road to Union Bridge-the whole line then
H.. al IL, % fha
subscriptions, estimated at about Sl50,OOO
and 5000, 900 first mortgage bonds. Of the
latter Baltimore city endorsed 5000, 1000,
President Roberts died before the work was
finished, and was succeeded by Augustus
Shriver, also of Carroll. During his incum-
bency the road was completed to Union
Bridge. Mr.. Shriver served one year, and
was succeeded by John Smith, OF Wakefield,
now one of the oldest citizens Of Westminster.
Mr. Smith, who was one of the original stock
holders and had taken an active interest IN
the enterprise, found the road constructed,
but without equipment, money or credit.
Through his exertions he and forty nine
others endorsed note of the company for
$50, 900, to raise money to buy rolling stock.
Robert Irwin succeeded Mr.. Smith. Politics
then began to affect the fortunes of the road.
Mr.. Irwin served but one year and John Lee
dent Mr.. Chapman projected the extension
to Wiliamsport. The charter was amended
to allow of the extension, and second mort
gage bonds to the amount of 81 100000 were
issued to carry on the work. Wendell Boil
man succeeded Mr.. Chapman, and under his
administration the road was completed to
Williamsport. The other presidents were
George NJ Bokee, Robert L. Banks, James
l.. McLane and Alexander Reiman. Col. D..
NJ. Hood succeeded Mr.. Reiman about twenty
years ago, and through his energy and ability
the road has grown and extended its lines far
beyond the dreams of the most optimistic
protector.
The road has been hampered by debt
through all its existance and is weighted by. 1T
today. Still it is growing and increasing its
business, and in a few years will in all proba-
biity be able to meet its obligations.
The first secretary and treasurer was the
late J. Henry Hoppe, of this city. He was
succeeded by Col. J. Brooke Boyle, of this
city, also one of the early promoters Of the
road. He was succeeded by Moore, Parr,
Harden and George II. Baer, the present
treasurer.
Sale of the Gettysburg s. Harrisburg R. R,
Col. Fuller, who owned controlling in
terest in the Gettysburg and Harrisburg Rail
Reading Company.
The railroad running from Hunters Run
to Pine Grove furnace is not included in the
sale. The Pine Grove branch will be eX-
| tended five miles in order to reach the Fuller
slate quarry and brick clay beds, both OF
which are on the Adams county side of the
South Mountain. This part of the road will
still remain under the control of Col Fuller.
The Gettysburg Star and Sentinel of Tues
day says: Sol. Fuller came TO Gettysburg
this morning with President Mcleod and for
mally transferred to the latter the Gettysburg
4 Harrisburg r. Il. and that interest. Col
| Fuller states that he has kept well in mind
the interests of the minority stockholders
and that his principal reason for retiring from
the management of the G. 4 II. is the condi
ton of his health, and the large responsible
ties he has at Pine Grove. The active de
velopment of his two new enterprises in the
northern end of this county will occupy his
| leisure
If Col. Fuller is correctly reported by the
Star and Sentinel, he has given up railroad
ing and will devote himself to his other in
terests. and consequently has abandoned th'
proposed Gettysburg and Washington rail
road. This would seem probable, otherwise
he would not have sold out the road between
Gettysburg and Harrisburg.
warieldsburg Items.
An old colored woman, Charlotte loop, wa
buried at the cOlored church, near here, OF
Tuesday last. She claimed to be l0i year
old.
William Raynoul, prominent farmer o
this place, died on Friday morning of las
week, with complication of diseases. II,
had been confined to his bed for over two
months. His remains were inferred in tn,
Stone Chapel NJ. L. Church burying ground
of which church he was a member, on las
Saturday afternoon. He leaves three sons
Tomorrow, Sunday is Children's Day a
Stone Chapel.
Nellie, the only daughter of William Hem
ming, died at the residence of her grand
father, Mr.. William Stoner, near here, OF
= IL, L L. IL al. Il.