Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-12-11
The M. V. 4 +. IL. R.

Last week we announced the fact that the
initial step had been taken for the extension
of the N. V. r. r. from Catoctin Furnace TO
Frederick. This charter has been secured
and the road will be built provided certain
essential conditions are met, first and prin-
ciple of which Is that the land owners along
the route do not demand prohibitive DANA
ges for right of way, but on the other hand
view the benefit such railroad would be, as
large, if not entire. offset to any damage
done their several properties. 1t is not
meant by this that regardless of how the line
may be located to run through a property
that the company should secure absolutely
free right Of way but that the owner should
justly estimate the damage done and as justly
estimate the benefit n daily market by rail
will be to every acre OF his farm, set one
against the other and ask that any balance
that may show in his favor be paid him for
right of way Only in exceptional cases will
il be found that any such balance will be
shown for all rail communication with mar,
kets both in Baltimore and Frederick will be
of the same value here As IN other similar
cases, aud it is indisputably true that ada,
jacent farm land, upon the advent of the rail
road, at once appreciably advances in price
pr acre; tina; the owner should agree to al
low as a set of, partial or entire, against the
value of The land surrendered.
The line will shortly be surveyed and stak
ed; there are no promoters In this movement
to build the road, only an intention to build
a road that will develop the ore deposits
along the base of the mou l,ain and provide
access to the markets and other railroad ia
ciities for the fine agricultural section be.
tween Catoctin Furnace and Frederick.
The northern section of the county can get
TO the county seat only by going into Carroll
county and double the distance to get there.
If such railroad facilities as this line will Of
fer are fully appreciated by those most inter
ested In them, in the manner we haye indi-
Gated, it is safe 10 say the road will he built
next summer; if they do not, and give evil
dence thereof by the display of an illibera
spirit in the right of wav, it is probably
equally safe to say that the road will not be
built.
We are largely acquainted with the pur
poses and temper of those who have this
movement in hand and we believe that in its
best interests II is best that all clearly under.
stand the situation.
The building of the M. V. II. r. unques-
tionably saved the Catoc:in Furnace indus.
try to this section; 1t would long since have
found resting place on the junk pile, had
not the NJ. V. people by their untiring efforts
found some one 10 operate it and today Its
inezhaustible beds of ore are developed to an
extent that insures the continued operation
of this excellent labor. giving industry.
These ore beds extend along the eastern
foot of the mountain and are valuable; fur
ther south there is limestone and these with
the timber of the mountain and farm pro.
ducts will provide satisfactory local freight
traffic, added to which would be the entire
northern sections travel to and from the
county seat-all these should yield very
satisfactory revenue to the road.
1t will be of vast and direct benefit to the
entire section and if viewed In that light by
all concerned, the road will be built.