Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-03-10

! Nicodemus, had chronic Cough ofslx years
standing. which NO medicine would relieve.
recommended Pan-Tina, and Its effect was
magical. 1t is a good thing.
J.ROSS NATTER. Altoona, Pm.
Pan. tina is sold at 25 and so cents at DIR.
J. X. Waters Drugstore.
A Sale Advised.
Questions asked of Baltimore Ci'ys FL
nance Commissioners by the City Council
and their answers are as follows:
Question No. I. what amount Of money
has been paid by the taxpayers OF the city
for the support of the Western Maryland
Railroad up to the present time tor each year
and in the aggregate; and further, report
whether any portion ofsad money has been
taken from the cty's sinking find to make
such payments, and how mucb:'
Answer.
Total Interest paid *9,935,937O0
Total paid bv sinking fund $l,759 649.O9
Question No. 2.-"Does the business of the
road q, this time, under its present manage
mcnt. justify u reasonable expectation that
the city will be repaid OF reimbursed in the
near future for these expenditures ?
Answer.-"It does not ; the utmost propo-
stion of President Hood was to pay the city
rather less than one half of the annual IN
tcrest due by the road. This would not only
not pay off any of the present debt of the
a., "a l,,,t x,,<>,,lA II hv
wards Of $4,000 per annum.
Question No. 3.-"Can the interest OF the
city in the road be sold or leased so as to ap-
proximately relieve the city in the future
from the continued annual payments, as
heretofore made on its account, and at the
same time preserve it under proper guaran-
tees az a Maryland corporation, and more e.
peclaly for the people Of Baltimore?"
Answer.---"Thls is precisely what the
finance commissioners have been endeavor
ing to arrange fora year and more, and they
believe that it might possibly he accomplish
ed
Question No. 4.-'What would be the com
mcrcial advantages to the city OF an indie
pendent railroad from Baltimore to the coal
fields of Western Maryland and West Nir-
ginia?
Answcr.--"The commercial advantages to
the city of an independent railroad to the
coal fields of Western Maryland and West
Virginia would be to largely Increase the
coal trade of Baltimore, which has fallen on
so much of late years. Baltimore is the
natural outlet for the coal of Cumberland,
Frosburg aud West Virginia mines. All
the Coal companies are anxious to ship TO
Baltimore, and have been unable to obtain
cars sufficient for the past two or three years.
The whole business Of the Cumberland and
Fros,burg region for the year was 4,22j,17O
tons. OF this the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road transported for its local trude to Baili-
more and Philadelphia and for its own use
1896 6l9 tons; the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad
took by circultous route around to Phila-
dc,phia, ttc, ,507,7j9 tons the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal, 5l,372 tons total 4,22J, 40
tons. For the West Virginia Central Road,
whose natural outlet is Baltimore, the total
output for the year was SS0,5ll tons, sent as
follows BY Baltimore and ONO to Ball'.
more 1872, lO2 tons; by Pennsylvania to Phil
adephia, etc, 4j5,24o tons by Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal, 2,157 tons; local, 3O,l10
tons; total, Ss0,5ll tons. And besides 81
296 tons of coke were shipped
These figures show that more than haf"f
our coal is taken around to build up other
places, and another road for coal Tor Bali.
more is absolutely required. Private parties
are going to build one without asking aid
from the CITY, and it would be for the decided
interest of the Western Maryland to have it
use their track from IIagerstown and not
build u competing line. The output Of coal
has increased from year to year. without any
increase in means of transportation to Balti.
more
Question No 5-"Hns any offer been made
to the finance commissioners for the par
chase or lease of the Western Maryland Rail.
road, and, if 50. by whom, and if any offer
has been made, do the finance commission
ers, under all the facts and circumstances,
regard it as reasonable or otherwise p
Answer.-"The only offer that has been
made was one by Mr. Bryant, but the amount
was much too low to be cons dcred We
would advise the advertising of the City's in
tcr,st for sale or lease, so as to see fany sat
isfac'ory offer is made. BY The official report
of the city register the Indebtedness of the
Western Maryland to the city December 81,
1901, was 1851 93l 81. This IS composed
Of 81 $50 for principal and $3,O77, 5000
for interest past due al in default. When
the above obligations were assumed by the
city for the benefit of the road it was, OF
course, under the expectation that tho an
nua interest to be paid by the city would be
provided for by the road. From the siaIt,
or near y SO, however. the road has been en-
trely unable to meet its obligation to the
city, and the taxpayers haye been assessed to
make up the deficiency of over three Millions
of dollars. This immense sum has grown
steadily from year to year. and will continue
to increase if the city permits its past and
present relations to the railroad to remain.
Ifthe latter course is taken the money nee
cssary to support the road should be put in
the tax levy, and not tax en- from the sinking
funds that are pledged for other purposes, "
THE policy of the city should be to become
free from all corporate connection with rail
roads, and if sale of the citv's interest In the
Western Maryland can be made at satsfac
tory price upon satisfactory terms, the fl
nance commissioners are of the opinion that