The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-06-30
WHAT WILL WESTMINSTER o2
A Season of Prosperity is at Hand--Wnl
Westminster Be In TT

All indications point to near at-hand
season of prosperity. The country is fast
recovering from the depression that began IN
1891, and so far as financial and tariff legisla-
ton affects the country, these disturbing ele-
ments will soon be settled, for time, at least.
The tide has already set in and we believe
will gradually rise to greater height than
the country has ever known. We believe the
season of prosperity will be of longer dura-
ton than any for years. Legislation has done
something to put finances on better basis,
and recent experiences will result in more
prudent and conservative management of
business enterprises. The days of town booms
are over, and the developments that will be
made will be on surer foundation. There
will be no more wild speculations in town
lots, no more huge development companies,
with utopian purposes, and no more fictitious
values.
Where will Westminster be? Will our
people remain idle while the rest of the coun-
try is stirring? Or will we start in the begin
ming and get our share of the general pros
perity? Had the Westminster capital that
has been invested in other places been used
to build up our little city, we would have had
better transportation facilities, more popula-
ton and more general prosperity. 1t is
little surprising that men would invest from
one to two thousand dollars, and sometimes
much more, in distant towns where they have
no voice in their government, where they
have no business or property interest, and
have little or no knowledge of the men who
are conducting the enterprises, and then
grudgingly subscribe from $25 to 800 to a
home enterprise that has a fair promise OF
success, that will give employment to labor,
and add to the general prosperity.
But the past is gone. Let us look to the
future. There is still a plenty of surplus capt.
tai here, if it can be combined. If every
business man would put up little money,
considerable aggregate would result. The
capital of the ice company represents what a
hundred or more people could conveniently
spare from the proceeds of their own bust
ness. If the enterprise were total failure
no ones loss would cause him any embar
rassment. But the outlook is for fair meas
ure of success. The enterprise will be div
idend payer. Besides, it gives employment
to FIVE men, and it insures to the people pure
ice at reasonable rates. Two years ago ice
was retailed here at a cent pound. That is
what the people would be paying now, but
for the establishment of an ice factory, and
eighty cents out of every dollar would have
gone to Baltimore ice dealers and for freight.
Now every dollar paid to the company for
ice is kept at home; employment is given to
some who were idle; the taxable basis has
been added to, and the most pure ice is sup
piled to the people. just what is saved on
ice bills alone will be fair dividend to most of
the stockholders.
There is an idle steam Touring mill, with
elevator and cooper shop, in Westminster.
This establishment once employed fifteen to
twenty men. 1t only requires SIS, 900 to put
it in operation and the earnings will first be
devoted to paying a six per cent. dividend
on this $4,000. This capital could be sup
piled without the slightest inconvenience, if
all our business men would subscribe little,
as in the case of the ice factory. Its product
is a staple article of trade. 1t is used in
every household in the land, and the product
would be mostly sold out of the city, thus
bringing here money from other sections.
! This establishment could be put IN running
order in thirty days, and the capital would
not lie idle six months or year before 1t
began to earn something, as is generally the
case when new industries are started. Its
revival would give employment at once TO at
| least dozen men, would increase the market
! for wheat here, and the trade Of the town
also, for farmers generally buy their supplies
where they sell their products. The starting
of the mill should be taken up at once. Ii
| the shares We're put at popular price, with
easy payments, we believe the familiar whis-
tie of the mill would be heard before the
summer is over.
An electric light and power plant is under
| consideration. The stock is all taken, and
the enterprise will be carried through, so
the directors say. 1t will give employment
to some labor and will add to the taxable
| basis.
If the Touring mills can be started and the
electric plant be put in, that would be all
that could be reasonably expected this year.
But il. during the winter, some enterprise
could be conceived that would give promise
of being dividend-p and furnish employ
/ ment for women, it would be of great benefit
to the town. There are many women here,
and some with families, that would be glad to
work in an establishment where the labor
would be light and they could earn fair wages.
Let the mill project be taken up at once,
| and during the winter some other enterprise.