The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-02-06
THE PROPOSED RAILROAD
The Preliminary Survey of the Extension of
the Green Spring Valley Railroad to West
minister Completed

The engineer corps of the Pennsylvani;
Railroad completed the preliminary survey:
for the extension to this city of the Greer
Spring Valley branch of the Northern Contra
Railroad on Friday evening of last week. E
Is. Farran was chief engineer, L. T. Morri.
and William Luther, assistants, and the bal
anee OF the corps was made up of John A
Macintosh, Morris Mitten, Milton Swartz.
baugh, Ed. kress, B. Painter and Brooke
Irwin, of Westminster, and Thomas Beasman
of Freedom district.
Two routes were surveyed, one by way o.
Beaver run, which was completed first, and
the other by way of Morgan run. The latter
route is about two miles and quarter longer
than the former, but the grades are asier and
the cost of building and operating it would
be less. Capt. Farran will report in favor Of
this route. BY the Beaver run route the
distance from Westminster to Green Spring
junction is about 20i miles and 224 by the
Morgan run survey. The distance to Bati-
more from Green Spring junction is fourteen
miles, seven to Relay and seven from there
to the city. By the surveys the distance to
Baltimore is 81 miles by one route and 364
by the other.
What the intentions of the Pennsylvania
railroad authorities are we don't know, but
they will develop shortly, we suppose. This
pose. About year ago Mr. Chas. Z. Fink,
of this city, laid before the officers of that
company map of this section, and pointed
out the large territory that needed better
railroad facilities. lie spoke of the probable
passenger and freight traffic and how it would
naturally grow and increase by the develop
ing agency of a railroad. He endeavored to
show, also, that by building a line connecting
the Green Spring Valley Branch and the
| Frederick and Pennsylvania Line road, both
of these roads would have increased business.
The Green Spring Valley branch must be
| operated, according to its charter, and it is
operated at a loss. The Frederick and Penn
| sylvania Line road is not paying very well,
and until recently all freight and passengers
| from Frederick to Baltimore had to be carri-
ed via York, and at a loss, for the road had
| to compete with the Baltimore q Ohio. Freight
| is still carried via York If Il line were built
as proposed by Mr.. Fink, from Green Spring
Junction, via Westminster, to the Penn
| sylvania road, ut or near Taneylown, the
| Pennsylvania Line road would have shorter
| line from Frederick to Baltimore there
would be considerable local business on the
connecting line, and the Green Spring Valley
branch would be paying instead of losing
one.
If the road were run from Westminster
via Union Mills and Weist's Mill to fancy
! town, there would be large freight and pas
senger business insured, and rapid and sub
| stantial development would take place all
along the line, particularly at Weist's Mill,
where there are large deposits of brown build,
| ing stone and fine water-power; at Union
Mills, where there is an extensive cannery,
Touring mill and tannery, and excellent water
power and at Oakland Mills. There would
be considerable development at Westminster,
| also. All this place needs is another rail
road to start it into activity again, and the
building of this road would do more to develop
the place than a road that would merely cross
the town, for its route parallels the place for
u full half mile, and would certainly have two
depots. around which business would centre.
All along its line in this city property would
appreciate and on both sides all land would
be eligible for manufacturing sites. The
people here, and all along the line of the
proposed road, are ready 10 give substantial
assistance to the enterprise and encourage it
in every manner. The right Of way would
cost very little.
Now that the preliminary survey is made to
this point, efforts should be made by our
citizens to secure the building of the road.
The survey has been made from here to the
Pennsylvania Line road, and request should
be made of Col. Fuller for the profile map of
it, as the cost of the survey was paid Cor by
the citizens of this city and vicinity.
If the West Virginia Central does not
succeed in purchasing the Western Mary
land road, there will be strong probability
of the new road being built. The West Nir-
ginia Central is closely allied to the Penn
sylvania system, and if it cannot buy the
Western Maryland it will probably build a
line from Hagerstown 10 Baltimore. Capt.
Corriel, ofthat road, has Just completed
trim Of observation from, Hauerctnyn n Ralfi.
more. The route he traversed comes up
Little Morgan run to Big Morgan run, and
strikes the route surveyed by Capt. Farran
for the Green Spring Valley extension at the
farm of Capt. Joshua Beasman. Should the
Pennsylvania road build line, via West
minister, from Green Spring Junction to
Taneytown, the West Virginia Central could
use the tracks of this line from Big Morgan
run to Baltimore.
Our people will await with interest the out
come of the negotiations for the purchase of
the Western Maryland road. If the Penn
sylyania system fails to absorb it, the new
lines spoken of above will likely be built. If
the sale is not consnmmated, our people
should organize to secure the building OF the
new lines.
Baltimore city should consider well before
it consents to a sale of the Western Maryland
road The road is rapidly advancing, and
with the completion Of its extension, from
Williamsport TO Cherry run, from Porter $ to
the Harrisburg X Potomac road, and from
Abbottstown TO Wrightsville, the earnings of
the road will be sufficient to meet all its
obligations. The Cherry run extension is
about completed, and no road ofsimilar length
has more assured traffic. And even without
these extensions, the price offered for the road,
81, ST5, 900 is far below its value. The road
ought not to be sold at all, and the building
of the proposed roads would in no way lessen
its business. The Baltimore & Ohio paralelled
the Philadelphia, Wilmington Baltimore
road between Baltimore and Philadelphia
For fifty miles, at least, they are not more
than four miles apart, and yet the new road
is paying expenses and the business OF the
old is increasing.
The extension of the Green Spring Valley
Branch to the Frederick & Pennsylvania Line
road, via Westminster, would not lessen the
business of the Western Maryland, and Col.
Hood we understand. will interpose no
obstacles to its building. Westminster is the
best paying station on the Western Maryland
road, and for the first year after the compile
ton of a competing line the Western Mary
lands business would decline, but thereafter
it would increase rs this town would not be
long in doubling its population and business.
We have the capital and enterprise here, but
it is about impossible to locate an extensive
manufacturing establishment on town with
a single railroad line.
Personal Notes.
Miss jackson, of Hartford county, is visiting
her sister, Mrs. Chas. 7. Wright at Western
Maryland College.
Rev. DR.. Lewis is expected home, from his
trip around the world, next Tuesday even
ing.
Mr.. j. Q. II. Smith left on Thursday for an
extended business tour through the West.
W., MauIehy epa,,f COW