Middletown transcript., 1893-03-04
PROGRESS VS.. REFRIGERATION.
A Citizens Views on the Electric
Railroad.

Mr.. EDITOR:
In the early days of the present session Of
the Legislature, bill having for its purpose
the granting of certain privileges to The
Middletown Electric Railway Company,
was presented in the House of Repre-
sentives. After mature consideration, the
bill was passed by that body. During
all the time the bill was before the House,
not one word of objection was spoken. AT
the present time the bill is before the Senate
awaiting the action Of that body. From
some cause not made plain, from some
motive not easily understood, some of
our townsmen have sent TO the Senate a
remonstrance against the bill, and there is
danger that such remonstrance may cause
the Senate to hesitate concerning the
passage of this measure, SO very important
to this community. This town and neigh
borhood are made up of a'peculiar class, or
rather several peculiar classes of per-
sons. First in Importance is that class,
the members of which are COM
PEELED to earn their daily bread. Sec
ond in Importance is that class commonly
known as business men Third, last, and
least comes that classe the members of
which are like unto the lily Of the valley,
''they toll not, neither do they spin The
latter class have persistently opposed every
improvement, every progressive step, ever
contemplated by those who would like to
see the town something more than refuge
for the infirm and retiring place for those
who have lived out their usefulness at some
other place. 1t is not strange thing that
men who break every day the town ordi-
nances by maintaining nuisances in the
exact business centre of the town should
oppose the building of electric railways
such opposition is to be expected; the
strange part of it all is that such opposition
should have weight. 1t is also reported
that other gentlemen who sought in vain
to be allowed to serve their neighbors in
humble capacity. but could not because
of their extreme mossback tendencies, are
also amazed, with this little host, against
progress of any kind Verify these are
relics of antiquity and need little attention,
except to nullify the effec of their efforts
BY line of action tending ever toward that
degree Of progress which will keep US
abreast of The times 1t is said that an cleo
.ric road might interfere with travel to |
certain extent and it is well that some at
ention should be paid to this matter In |
his town, from which all opposition arises |
here are said to be nearly sixteen hundred |
people; of that number possibly fifty are
lble to keep horses to drive. while the others |
ire compelled to get on the best they can
Suppose one Of the fifty wishes to drive out
n the country, he goes and the expense is
nothing but, if one of the fifteen hundred
md fifty is compelled to go he must pay
hree dollars for team; and withal the
gentlemen who oppose the road say their
lorses may be sometime frightened by an
electric car; suppose they are, have horses
lever been frightened before? NJ ust the world
tand still because horse is frightened?
That part of it is rather to be considered a
oke. The real Importance of this proposed
DAD is only apparent when we understand
What is likely to happen in the near future
ust over the Maryland line is the bed of
railroad already graded extending from
Glkton to the head of the Bohemia River
Down that line there will be built in the
lear future, a line connecting with the B q
}. road at Singerley, Md. Under present
two-thirds of the business
one in Middletown comes from beyond
he State line. With railroad passing
trough Cecilton and the adjacent country,
iiddletowns business interests would be
eriously impaired. By simply allowing
he eelectric road ordinary privileges we can
lake new business and hold all that we
ow have. By rem dering access easy we
an greatly increase our properly, by ren
ering access difficult, or letting it remain
) it is, we endanger. our own interests and
id nothing to those of others Let us
ave an electric road. Let US be progressive.
ELECTRIC.