Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-11-02
SAYS ROAD WOULD PAY.
Mr.. Smiths opinion of the
Frederick. Thurmont prOject.

|
Mr.. George William Smith, former presi-
dent OF the Frederick s. Middletown Electric
Railway, is firm believer in the feasibility
of the project, now under consideration, OF
building a railway between Frederick and
Thurmont.
"Would such road psy?" Mr.. Smith
was asked by representative of The News
Saturday.
"rhere is not a doubt Of it in my mind"
lie replied. II believe 1t would pay II not
pound of freight were hauled, aud am sure
the freight traffic would be heavy"
MIR Smith couple of weeks ago went ov-
er the route surveyed for this road in COM
pany with party Of gentlemen interested
in the prnjrc, and he was strongly impressed
with the natural advantages of the route.
"There is not another section of Frederick
county" he said in the course Of the inter-
view Friday, Through which railway
could BE- built at so little cost On the great
err pnrt of the route practically no grading
would lie required, and from the superficial
view I had Of the situation | Judge that no
cut greater than five feet would he required
on the entire route. The easy grade would
make the cost of operating the road light.
am certain that a road between Frederick
and Thurmont could be operated for half the
cost, taking maintenance into consideration,
of the operation of the road between Freder-
lex and Middletown, which IS only half ~
long"
Mr. Smith does not advocate the cons,ruc-
ton of "a trolley line. NV advice to the
gentlemen interested in this project" he
said, "is to construct simply tract and to
use gaeolne motor cars. The use o: these
cars is not new Idea 10 me. l investigated
this matter several years ago. and manu-.
featuring firm then offered to sell me- Car
guaranteed to pull trailer carrying load
of SIX tons for $1,000. Such cars are now
in successful use elsewhere, and think they
would te particularly adapted to use on the
easy grade between here and ThuimoDt."
As to the cost OF building the road, Mr.
Smith said If the people of Frederick will
subscribe $50 900, and the people outside Of
Fre,ierick.-that is, in 1hurmont and along
tue r,ute--wiil subscribe an equal sum, the
road can be built. A stock subscription OF
that amount would he n efficient guarantee
fora bond Issue of an equal amount, and
with the total sum Ut $40 900 The road could
be built and equipped with cars such as
have mentioned l built Ike road between
here and MliLctuwn for $4,000, exclusive
of the oy, rhcad work. The road between
Mddlet0wu aud Myersville, 81 mites in
length, VAS built by contract L $1,000.
That included everything. Rails are now
higher in price than they were then, hut,
considering the difference in the amount Of
grating rcqrirc,l, aud tie fact that practical
" no bridges would be needed be; wecn Fred
mate have given is Il safe one"
MIR. Smith is greatly impressed with the
business possibilities Of the route, Years
ago." he sad, II was thoroughly familiar
with part of the country through which this
rou'e runs. had a saw mill in the neigh
borlloud of Yellow Springs amt owned Il
large tract of limbar land IN tina, section, and
went through It frequently. was surprised
when went oyer the route a couple OF
weeks ago to see how ,hickIy TINT part Of
the county has been settled. There is one
village after another, and houses close to-
ge,her all along the line Considering this,
and the size Of Thurmcnt. there can he 10
doubt that the road would get enough bust
ness to make it pay. An extension 10 En-
m,sburg would also be certain 10 pay. There
would bc an ilnmens. amount Of freight to
be hauled. especially after the farmers he.
come educated to The use Of the road for
hauling their products.
"The construction of the road, by the
way" Mr.. Smith continued, would I've of
immense benefit to the farmers. 1t would
bring them into closer connection with the
county seat, and would provide them with
better and cheaper facilities for getting their
products TO market Farmers living along
the railroad could get along with fewer
horses than they now need, and would al.
ways he ahlc to take advantage Of favoraoe
market conditions, instead of waiting, as
they now must, until conditions are fnvora'
BILE for making long hauls. The volume of
products shipped from the Middletown VAL
ley is now twice as great as it was before the
F. II M. Railway was built. Every farmer
through whose land this railway to Thur
mont aud Emmitsburg would run could af-
ford to give the right of way free and make
liberal stock subscription. 1t would he a
paying investment for them"
Mr.. Smith also pointed gu, that there were
opportunities along the route for developing
excursion resorts and summer boarding bus
mess.
THE spring at Yellow Springs" he said,
us one of the finest in the country for medi
cinal purposes. It's analysis shows com
binatipn Ct sulpher and iron which makes it
very valuable There is also a fine grove
there, and at other points along the line
there are beautiful spots for pcnics"
II would like" Mr.. Smith said, "lo see
the people of Frederick take an interest in
this project. It would certainly benefit the
city at least equally as much rs that sec ton
! of the county through which the road would
, rum aud to my mind, ne have said, it would
undoubtedly be a paying enterprise"
Garfield.
Corn husking is in full blast, the crop ID
the best in many years.