The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-12-15
PROSPECTUS.
OF THE
Westminster and Union Mills ElGG-
trio Railway Company.

The Westminster and Union Mills Flee
tric Railway Company was incorporated
under the general incorporation laws of
Maryland, with the following directors to
manage the affairs of the company for
the first year-T. Herbert Shriver, of
Union Mills; Governor Frank Brown,
George r. Webb, of Baltimore, Charles
4. Stewart WilliamB Thomas, George
W. Albaugh, John L. Reifsnider, Edwin
j. Lawyer and Charles c. Gorsuch, of
Westminster. The capital stock of the
company is $3.50, 900, divided into 5000
shares of $50 each The object of the
incorporation is the building of an electric
railroad from Reisterstown, in Baltimore
county, via Westminster, to Union Mills,
in Carroll county, with all the privileges
to carry freight and passengersas other
railroads have The distance of the pro-
posed road is about nineteen miles, and it
will be connecting link between the cleo
tric line now being built to ReisteFs town
and the line from Gettysburg south, via
Littlestown, Pa. When all are complet-
ed the whole will form continuous rail-
way from Baltimore to Gettysburg, some
fifty-two miles.
The distance from Baltimore to Get
tysburg by steam railroad is about Il
miles the time three hours and the fare
81 By the proposed electric road
there will be saving of nearly 20 miles
in distance, one hour in time and about a
81. 20in fare. These advantages, added
to the more pleasant mode of travel and
the greater safety, will most assuredly
make the electric line the favorite route to
Gettysburg for the thousands who 90 there
every year from Baltimore, Washington
and the South Gettysburg is the most in
teresting historic spot in America, as well as
one of the most beautiful Aside from its
interest from military point of view the
monuments and statues are magnificent
works of art and the greatest collection per-
haps in the world, while for grand and
picturesque scenery few places excel the
battle field and surrounding country. The
government and states and surviving FEEDER
al soldiers have spent millions of dollars in
marking lines and Identifying the battle
field, and thousands more are to be ex-
pended, Congress recently having made a
heavy appropriation to mark the lines of
the Confederate troops. Gettysburg will
grow in attractiveness, and the stream of
visitors will grow also. While the travel to
and from Gettysburg viii be great source
of revenue to the railroad, the towns of Get
tysburg, Littlestown, Silver Run, Union
Mills, Westminster and Reisterstown, will
furnish much business to the road, and
people all along the line will use the cleo
tric cars in going from one place to an
other The frequency of trains, the low
fare and greater speed will develop travel,
and the company are of opinion that the
line will soon develop into a dividend
payer. The year ended June 80, 1894,
was bad one for railroads, yet the net
earnings averaged over SO, 600 per mile,
according to the report of the Interstate
Commerce Commission. If this road earns
half the amount per mile fair dividend
can be paid and n considerable sum carried
to surplus fund.
The road will stimulate trade and bust
ness its entire length, 1t will develop
suburban villages, that will be built up by
Baltimore business men who like to spend
part of the year at least in the healthful
air of the country, and every farm house,
nearly, can have its summer boarders
Boarding houses and hotels, now languish-
ing, will be rejuvenated Property on
and near the line will be enhanced in
value, and the small villages will grow into
smart towns and the larger towns will be-
come little cities. This is the experience
wherever electric railways have been built,
and in so healthful and beautiful coun-
try as lies between the termini of this road
-Reisterstown and Union Mills-the very
best results may be anticipated. Rapid
transit Is the demand Of the times, and the
section that does not have it must neces-
sarliy be laggard in the general advance
ment and development. The most desir-
able farms are those convenient to rail-
roads, and those on electric lines have a
preference. There is continual demand
for building sites. for small tracts for
homes, and for farms. The busy city
an likes the diversion of country life. He
likes to raise fine cattle, or sheep, or poul-
try, or experiment in crops.
The capital stock Of the company is
$3.50, 900, but recent estimates show that
the road can be built for less than 5000, :
900, and the company may be relied upon
% make every dollar count in its construc-
ion and equipment. The directors have
literally to the stock, and their
'wn direct, money interest viii prompt |
hem to exercise all possible economy.
they are serving without compensation and
re giving their time to the development of