Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1901-07-18
A Stern Rebuke 10 a Fatal Policy.

The Frederick correspondent of the Bati
more Sun stated on Monday last that parties
in the interest of the Hagerstown Railway
company had secured control of the stock OF
The Myersville and Catoctin Railroad com
pany. The Hagerstown people, on Saturday
last succeeded in buying 235 of the entire is.
sue of 440 shares-14 more than a bare ma.
jority- giving them absolute control. The
price paid was $50 per share. Par value OF
stock, $50 The stock had been selling at
$l5 The Frederick and Middldtown com.
pany were bidders for the Myersvile and
Catoctn stock, offering $25 as against the
Hagerstown peoples bid of SEQ, but could
not get the Valley people to listen to them
they have been claiming for some time that
the F. & N, people, who are lessees Of the
M. s. G. road have Disseminated against the
people of the Valley and they preferred to
take less for their stock aud secure the build
ing of the connecting line through to Hagers.
town. They look forward to the time when
Frederick and Hagerstown will be competi.
tors for the trade of the Valley and argue,
with much reason, that under such condi-
,ons their people will be benefited to an ex
tent that will in very short time be the full
equivalent of s. per share Oh the 235 shares
sold at that sacrifice.
We do not blame the Valley people, rather
are they to be commended for their foresight
but that Frederick City should thus have
permitted itself to be placed at a disad-
vantage in q matter concerning her own
county people, will be the occasion of much
wonderment on the part of those who do
not know all about Frederick's conservative
ways Frederick is a very wealthy com.
munity, but its money IS largely invested in
bonds, bank stocks and farm mortgages and
the percentage available for the furthering of
public interests and enterprises is surprising
ly small The writer has had a vey convinc
ing experience in that direction, hence was
not in position to have this last railroad
deal sprung upon him as surprise
If Frederick City loses large proportion
of It's very valuable Middletown Valley trade
as result of having come out second
best in its bout with Hagerstown for the con
troll Of the NJ. & G. railroad, it will be but
the logical sequence and pointed condem-
nation of policy that has had for its basic
principle the proposition that the entire
county shall pay tribute and that that alone
is sufficient for her entire need in the nccu-
mutation of wealth.
There are scores of public spirited men in
Frederick City; they are known and could
be named, but there are also scores Of wealth.
Ter men, who, unfortunately for the city and
county, have been able to formulate and
maintain the general policy of boarding in
private investment; it is case OF preferring
to be rich and so considered, rather than to
be prominent factors N the aggressive policy
that the spirit Ct modern commercialism has
laid down as the ane qua non Of existence
not to say success.
As an object. lesson, this latest rebuke to
her policy { inaction may prove blessing
in disguise, as the conservative element may
be endorsed and the policy Of the future be
dictated by those of her 60 I'd citizens whose
BUSINESS welfare depends upon more ener-
getic life than that of clipping coupons--and
there are scores Of them-good men.