The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-09-01
GAN OPEN DOOR TO WESTMINSTER.
A Large Meeting In Opposition to the Wash
ington and Westminster Turnpike
Another Meeting to be Held
September 10.

The above was the heading of an advertisement
which appeared last week in the Westminster papers
asking Gan citizens who are interested In opening
a road from Westminster to the Bloom Road to at
tend public meeting at Odd Fellows Hall. West
minister, Monday, August 9th. 1900 at 10 O'Clock a.
M" The call was signed by VIM. B. Thomas. Chair
man Business Mems Meeting; John H. Cunningham.
Secretary.
Early Monday morning numerous persons along
the line Of the proposed new road ana from this
city began to assemble and there were about $50
persons in the hall when Mr.. Vim. b. Thomas called
the meeting to order, who, in the absence of Hon.
James A. &. Bond, who was unavoidably absent.
presided. Mr.. John H. Cunningham was chosen
secretary, and Messrs. John H. Stem, Chas Schaef-
fer Joseph /. Gist George Miller, Jonathan Owings
William Y. Frizzell Ezra Coppersmith. Frederick
N. Hook, Elias b. Arnold, A. T. Buckingham. Z. o.
Grimes, Charles c. Gorsuch John L. Refsnider, ST..
George W. owings. John Wagner, Joshua Lockard,
Nelson Yinging, Harrison Davis. George Bitzel,
John Rothenberger and John b. T. Sellman vice
presidents.
A letter was read from DR.. Charles Billingslea of
this city, regrettng his inability 10 be present and
expressing his hearty sympathy with the objects of
the "Open Door to Westminster meeting. He
said II am informed that trade is being diverted
from our town on account of the new turnpike. and
that the new road in whose interest this meeting
will be held will relieve this difficulty, besides &C.
commodatng good many of our citizens who live
along the line of the new road" Mr.. E. o. Grimes
wrote note endorsing the views of DR.. Bilngslea.
The meeting was addressed by Messrs. O. Newton
Lee Ezra Coppersnith, 7. W. Mather John B. T.
Sellman, DR.. d. F. Shipley Harry Owings, Charles
C. Gorsuch, o. D. Gilbert and Others, most of whom
spoke in condemnation of the condition of the new
turnpike.
Z II; nfad To tha Inv inc IN
of new road through Morgan Run Valley, as it
would only afford relief to the people in that section
and leave the people on the Deer Park side in no
better condition than at present. Mr.. Charles C.
Gorsuch, while condemning the turnpike, said he
had been told by a young lawyer about farmer
living along its line who says his farm is worth
81 900 more now than before the road was urnpiked
Harry Owings said he had circulated a petition
among the people in part of the section affected,
asking the County Commissioners to lay out the
new road. and only one person had refused to sign
It. He believed that 500 or GOO names could be OBJ
tanned to it. The petition was produced in the
meeting and numbers of signatures appended.
A committee was appointed to draft resolutions
expressing the sense of the meeting viz :--Messrs
Joseph l. Gist. Charles c. Gorsuch, John ]. Reese,
d. N Henning, E. o. Grimes Frank Snyder, o.
Newton Lee, Frank Prick. William o. Lockard,
Henry Owngs William Prugh, E. E. Stoner, o.
D. Gilbert Joseph B. Boyle and T. W. Mather, who
reported the following, which was unanimously
adopted
Resolved, That this meeting call in body on
the County Commissioners and inform and explain
to them the situation that now menaces, binders,
detracts from and endangers the business and
growth of the city of Westminster and the good Of
the county. and request their aid, cooperation and
support to reopen said blockaded road. or aid In
al fraa nd vii CHARGE