The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-09-01
THE ELECTRIC RAILWAY.
Great Meeting Held in the interest of the
Enterprise.

A Great Meeting Held In the interest OF the
Enterprise.
Odd Fellows Hall, Westminster, was
packed on Tuesday night last as it has not
been filled for some time. The occasion was
a meeting in the interest of the proposed
electric railroad from Reisterstown to Union
Mills, the link TO connect the Baltimore and
Gettysburg electric systems, and give this city
closer connections with parts of Carroll now
without railrond facilities and quicker and
cheaper travel to and from Baltimore. The
attendance indicated an interest beyond ex-
pectation of the direct promoters of the enter
prise, and in the audience were persons liv-
ing along the line Of the projected road from
Finksburg to Union Mills. The Westminster
Band gratuitously gave their services on the
occasion and Gov. Brown was present to
speak of the advantages the road would be to
the section it would traverse.
The meeting was called to order by T..
Herbert Shriver, President of the WestInin-
ster and Union Mills Electric Railway Com
pany, who proposed the following officers
President, Mayor Jos. d. Brooks; vice-pres-
dents, Senator p. j. Bennett, Theodore Derr,
VIM. G. Rinehart. Edward Lynch, Nathan
|. Gorsuch, d. N. Henning, Milton Sehaeffer,
o. ID. Gilbert, DR.. Charles Billingslea and
n.
and Hugo +. Fidds. The meeting ratified
the nominations, and Mayor Brooks, in taking
the chair, said
consider the advantages to Westminster and Carroll
the building Of all electric railway from Reisters-
town. in Baltimore county, through this city to the
thriving village of Union Mills, some 5 or miles
above us on the Littlestown Turnpike, will be.
We must not start out with the idea that every,
body is going to put their money in the proposed
road No road has ever been bnilt without opposi-
ton. Some people will oppose this road simply To
be contrary. When closely questioned they cannot
give single good reason why the road should not
be built
Forty or fifty years ago this city was wagon ham
let composed of several hotels, repair shops. &c,
with no communication with the outside world ex-
cept by wagon road Very soon the Western Mary
land Railroad reached out from the city of Balti-
to this place. All the ground around the pres
eut depot at that time was under cultivation. Now
il is the centre of our city Since then the city has
been gradually growing until now il is four times
as large as it was when the first Western Maryland
train reached it,
Cities like people, must not sit down with their
hands folded and be eoutented with what has been
done in the past. They must be up and doing. We
are living in rapid age and must not be behind
! am glad TO say that Westminster has within the
last few years begun TO realize that unless she gets
outof the slough of dependency into which she
was cast by the late but not lamented Taylor Manu-
featuring Company she will be behind her sister
cities of Maryland.
New methods have been and are now being intro
dueed into the affairs OF our cities. The steam road
superseded the mule team gas superseded coal oil,
and Just as certain live electricity will super
cede them both. Many people are still living who
the first steam engine run the B. & o. r. R.
and many of these same people Will live to see
part at least of the B. & o. R. R. paralleled by an
electric road Westminster. am glad to say. has
within the last year taken quite step forward. She
has added one or two new industries and a COM
pany composed of Westminster capital is now erect
ing electric light plant With good streets, good
drainage, good water good light, good order, good
railroads. good health and good people Westminster
is and ought TO be one OF the sweetest towns in
America.
The building of the proposed road will give us
many advantages we do not now possess. 1t viii
afford us a frequent, quick, clean and delightful
transportation 10 and from town. 1t will attract
strangers to our city. 1t will enable to have one
of the finest fair grounds in Maryland and last but
not least it will put in close communication with
the immortal field OF Gettysburg.
The gentlemen who are to address this meeting
will be able think. to convince you that the time
for action has arrived
SPEECH OF GOV. BROWN.
Gov. Brown was the next speaker, and he
was greeted with applause. He said Mayor
and gentlemen; citizens of old Carroll 1t is
not often that have had the pleasure of
appearing before you, and then in political
way. | ain here tonight TO speak to you and
to cooperate with you in building up your
county and countytown. | was not prepared
to see such large audience and am amazed
at the attendance. and am glad, too, as |
take it as an evidence of your interest in the
building of another railroad. which will result
so greatly to your advantage The Gov
ernor then spoke of the development of cleo
trio railways, Of how they were supercedng
horse railways, of how they were developing
business and trade, and of the blessing they
were to the poor of the cities, who, unable to
90 to the seaside or mountains, took their
weak and sick children on the electric cars
and went out to the suburbs to get some re-
invigorating fresh air. He spoke of the
awakening in business circles in Baltimore
since the inauguration of rapid transit, and
prophesied an awakening in Westminster with
the advent of the electric road. And he said
he had no fear that the road would not pay.
He had subscribed for S., 900 of the stock,
and the projectors had very kindly put him
in the directory; and, while he could not give
the enterprise as much attention AS he would
like to do, still he would watch closely its
affairs and had no misgivings to proper
return for the investment. He had no prop
erty here, he said, but he felt an interest in
the development of the whole state, and par.
ticnlarly Of his native county and would
gladly do what he could to aid the people.
Steam railroads were u necessity, said the
Governor, but electric roads had advantages
not possessed by them. The people were
demanding them everywhere, and when he
sees capitalists, who own electric railways
in the large cities and suburban lines, pro
posing TO parallel such magnificent steam
roads as the Pennsylvania and the Baltimore
q. Ohio from New York to Washington, he
| knew there was great future for electric
roads. These men, he said, don't put their
money in wildcat schemes. and their judg-
ment is based upon experience in electricity
for rapid and cheap transit.
| In speaking Of the proposed electric road
| through this section. he said it was the first
/ long electric line out of Baltimore. The
division from Pikesville to Reisterstown had
been let to contract. The second division
would reach to Union Mills, and the road
would 60 from there ON through Titles
town TO Gettysburg. He spoke Of the great
saving of distance, some twenty two miles,
between Baltimore and Gettysburg; of the
| greatly reduced fare, of the more pleasant
travel and of the greater safety. In enumer-
ating some of the advantages, in the way Of
cheaper freights, cheaper fares, and general
awakening and enlargement of business, be
said power-house would have to be located
here, and very likely repair shops. as West
minister would be the central point ofthe road.
With repair shops here, said the Governor,
other enterprises would speedily follow. Civ
4 ing employment to labor and adding general.
ly to the prosperity of the place. He also
alluded to the fact that electric railways be-
came mail routes, and instead of having mails
several times day, they could be received
and dispatched hourly.
Again abiding 70 The probabilities Of the
road being paying one, he spoke of the vast
number Of persons who annually visit Gettys.
burg, whose numbers would be greatly aug
mented in 1897, by the many thousands o.
persons who would be attracted to Baltimore
to visit the great Exposition to be held there
which would be national and international ID
its character and second only 10 the Chicago