The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-09-22
Letter From Back River Neck, Bal
timore County, Md.

Correspondence of the Democratic Advocate.
WALTERS, SEPTEMBER II, 1900.
eMEssRs. EDITORS We will essay to give
a brief account of what is TRANSPORTING here.
On the night OF 18th instant, we had DOWN
pour of rain equal 10 cloud burst. The
heaviest water fall since early spring; yet,
beyond some bad washouts, nothing serious
resulted.
Mr.. ]. Ashland Miller has large crop of
peaches They are not returning him as much
money as there should be in this delicious
fruit Mr.. Miller owns Il large and fertile
farm. known here as Cedar Point. 1t is near
the mouth of Back River and has fine shore
for ducks and fish.
The beautiful farm here, formerly belonging
TO the Broadbelt heirs, later to Mr.. Finch of
Baltimore, has been purchased by Mr.Sehlude-
berg of Highlandtown, Baltimore county.
The Back River schoolhouse is rapidly
nearing completion. Ii takes the place of an
old one, and will be credit to the neighbor-
hood when completed.
Rev. Mr.. Robinson is the senior pastor in
charge of our church. We have school every
Sunday and preaching semi-monlhly.
Some of our friends desire me to tell or give
brief description of their visit to Pen-M
on 9Th inst. In the party from here were =
Mrs Garrison, Mr.. and Mrs. j. A. Miller;
Messrs. Aquila Wilkinson, Frederick Giles
pie, WilIred, Gilmor B., Wilson and Calvin
+, Shaffer; Masters Archer, Edgar aud Miss
Helen Gross. We arose at 5 a. M, break
tasted ut 6, boarded the electric cars AT the
intersection of Back River turnpike and East
ern Avenue extended at a. m. Some of the
members of our company took the Belair road
cars at the same hour. They live nearer that
line The 8. Is a. M, Pen-Mar express, at
Hillen Station, was at our command. The
affable conductor pulls the bell-cord, and the
sturdy engine-man gave the throttle lunge,
the mammoth machine rolls out of the depot
with her five or six coaches with as much ease
and grace as a child pushing baby carriage.
The territory named in honor of his High
ness,'' Lord Baltimore, was soon SPAWNED,
and the domains of that patriotic and noble
son of liberty Charles Carroll OF Carrollton.
we're being iraversed. Westminster is reach
ed with her sentinel, the proud Western
Maryland College, standing on the summit of
| PARIS Ridge. At this point, a disappoint-
ment rolled under our bouyant spirits of ex-
ultation 1t came in this way, the Westmin-
ster.coatingent was TO meet us here; yet, alas,
the cruel engineer kept his steam on and no
. stop occurred; however, the affair was happily
adjusted. The contingent which consisted of
| Of Mr.. Jacob l.. Shaffer one of your fellow
townsmen, and the owner of large and beau
tifull farm in Cranberry Valley, accompanied
By his nieces, Misses Ida and Gertrude Shat.
fer, daughters of the late Abraham Shaifer,
of Ayondale, had taken the accommodation
at Westminster, and arrived at Pen Mar few
minutes in advance of our train. Wea now
at New Windsor, the seat of a memorable in
stitutions of learning, the New Windsor Col
lege. A few more miles has brought US into
the fertile agricultural region of Frederick
county, named after the last Lord baltimore,
Frederick Calvert. The majestic Blue Noun
tains now.loom up and royal South Mountain,
whose apex we shall soon ascend, frowns upon
us us an admonlion of his superiority. Thur
mont (Mechanicstown) is our next place of
importance, right at the base ofthe mountains.
The scenery here reminds one Of diminishing.
Our train il winding around first one mountain
then another. now along silvery stream, then
spans one The views are picturesque, and
awe.inspiring. You are travelling through
these elevated hills, serpent-fashion, with
giant powders alternating on the right and
left, and beautiful wales, dotted with towns,
hamlets and prosperous looking farm dwell
ings. Ii is really stupid tourist who fails to
appreciate the grandeur Of Horse Shoe Bend
At PENN Y M, the Westminster contin-
gent greet us. Here you have the opportunity
Of dining at a first class restaurant, 90 cents or
the Blue Mountain House, 81 per meal. Lunch
over, and cigars planted in the sides of mouths,
we now take surveys, with typical mountain
eer drivers, for High Rock, Brinkwood, Rag
ged Edge and Quirauk. AT High Rock, 1000
feet alf1se the level of the sea, you have a
beautiful view of the Cumberland Valley.
The water-works of Hagerstown, l6 miles
away can be seen; Waynesboro. Pa, Rouzers-
vile and Bueua Vista. Old Autocrat, Qni-
rauk, crowns the climax. Here is the Mt.
Blanc of the Blue Ridge. On "a clear day,
nearly so miles can be seen, taking in the
four points of the compass, that is giving you
circle, with diameter Of 100 miles, and a
circumference over 300 In this panorama,
you have Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia,
Pennsylvania Returning TO PEN Mar we en-