The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-03-02
The Democratic Advocate.
WESTMINSTER, MD.
SATURDAY. MARCH ,, 1895.
The Electric Railway.


battlefield and to put the wires under ground,
and to run the road to Gettysburg Springs and
TO Lttlestown. They say, also, that the road
last year was operated under embarrassments.
vet it carried in August alone 100. 600 passen-
gers. earning both interest and dividends
while the light plant virtually paid the opera
tive expenses.
The ten miles of road is now bonded for
500, 900 and it is proposed to bond the fifteen
miles to be built by MAY LIST, next, to Litttes-
town. for $500. 600 This Is at the rate of 500
600 per mile. and the purchasers expect a
dividend on the stock. for they would not give
their time and attention to the enterprise
merely TO earn six per cent. interest for the
bondholders.
The purchasers of the Gettysburg railroad
are not inexperienced men. They own. CON
trol and operate electric railways in various
parts of the country. They know the earn
ing capacity of such roads, and after looking
over the route last year they gave ont the
opinion that the road from Gettysburg to
Baltimore would be the best paving long-d
lance electric railway in the country, They
have backed that opinion by their cash. for
thev have purchased the road and expect their
earnings from 1t after The bondholders get
their six per cent. interest, at the rate of SO
900 per mile And the bondholders have con
idence in the enterprise too. for they other
wise would not invest in the bonds.
The line from Baltimore TO Reisterstown
cost a little over $50, OO0O mile, and the
bondholders and stockholders all expect 10
realize from the investment otherwise they
would not have taken either stock or bonds.
The link to connect the Gettysburg road
with the Baltimore division Is the We>tmiu-
ster and Union Mills Electric Railroad. The
officers Of this road have very fully inyestigat-
ed the cost Of building and equipping it. and
the figures are only slightly in excess Of $40,
eco mile. In fact an engineer said he would
contract to build and equip the road for about
81. 900 per mile. That was last summer,
Everything Is cheaper now. and It Is thought
the road can be constructed and equipped for
about $40 900 a mile. or $4,000.
Here IS an opportunity for investment and
enterprise that the citizens of Carroll have
never had presented To them before-an OPP
portunity to invest in an enterprise thar Will
cost one-half what similar enterprises are
bonded for If the roads north and south Of
Ms will pav a fair return for the investment.
over SO 600 a mile the Westminster and
Union Mills road will pay twice as well, for j.
will cost only half a. much. y bHib ~ halaf
people.
IfSlO0OOO we're raised in stock Sub>crip-
tions. $40. 900 in FIVE per cent. bord, could hc
sold at par. and the road could he built and
equipped The stock, in reality. would be
worth more than the bonds. because the rate
Of interest would be fixed and the dividend
on the stock would be regulated according 90
the earnings. II the roads north and south
OF US will pay interest on six per cent. bonds
al $50. GOO per mile, and something 10 stock
holders. the Westminster and Union Mills
Railroad stock ought to be an attractive IN
vestment.
Let the citizens of Carroll. particularly
those along aud near the route Of the road
from Reisterstown to Union Mills, take hold
Of the enterprise and push it To a successful
conclusion. all sho are to be benefited hy
the road viii help little the necessary 500
600 in stock will be raised. And every person
living on and within half mile Of the road
will be benefited.
As the stock subscriptions are not payable
until the road is completed, no one incur, g
risk. No money will be lost in experiments.
surveys or IN any other manner
The ADVOCATE has pretty thoroughly stud
led the enterprise and It does not hesitate Co
express the opinion that the road can be built
for about $40. 600 a mile and that II SI0o en-
he raised in stock aud $40, coo IN FIVE per cent.
bonds he floated, the stock viii pay much bet
ter than the bonds. The ADVOCATE takes
hold Of every enterprise that looks To general
improvement aud progress. aud suhscribes tn
the stock 10 the extent Of It's ability. II hiss
subscribed 10 the stock Of the Westminster
and Union Mills Electric Railway, ard T.
ready to increase its subscription Il other sub
scribers will This Is said only in the light of
am investment We firmly believe that the
investment ,rU pay, and that is one reason
we are willing 10 increase our subscription, for
We have no surplus to waste.
As an investment that will yield fair return
we know Of none better. II The road Is built BIZ
the company as no,r organized. And We know
of no enterprise that promises SO much in the
way of general development. Every piece Of
property on and near the line of the road vii
be enhanced in value; there will be a market
for building sites and for farms: rents viii APP
preciate. and all values increase. The road
will be worth 500. 600 to Westminster alone
in the increase Of business. It will be worth
many thousands Of dollar, to the people all
along the line.
Let the people Of Carroll build this road.
They viii not only get a fair dividend On
their money. but viii get far more in the
general prosperity resulting. Everybody in the
county should be interested. lfSl90,OO0 be eN
pended in the enterprise, nearly that much
will be added to the taxable basis, and the
building of the road will aid development and
improvement that viii add still more largely
10 the basis Of taxation. As the basis in
creases the tax rate decreases, aud the PEG
pie throughout the county ought TO DE inter.
ested in the building Of the road. aud take as
much of the stock as they conveniently can.
Let us try TO build the road and We can do
it if we try The road below is nearly com
pleted. aud the Gettysburg road viii be com
pleted by June The travel over the line
from Baltimore to Gettysburg will be immense
every year. and in 1897. from May to Novem-
Der, during the Baltimore Centennial EXposi-
ton. the travel will exceed that Of any other
rural line in the country. The government
is abont to expend many thousands Of dollars
in marking Confederate lines and in establish
ing a park and military post at Gettysburg,
and the electric line cannot help being pay
ing one
There are subscription lists AT the Advocate
office and in the hands of the officers Of the
road-T. Herbert Shnver, Charles E. Stew
art. William B. Thomas, John L. Reifsnider.
Charles c. Gorsuch, Edwin j. Lawyer and
George W. Albaugh. Let the people Of Car
roll come forward and help the enterprise,
and also help themselves by putting their
money into an enterprise that will not only
pay fair dividend but increase the taxable