The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1906-03-23
THE AND O.'S OFFER FOR
THE STATES lNTEREST
THE WASHINGTON
BRANCH.

An Annapolis dispatch published il
the Baltimore Sun yesterday states
that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company has offered to buy th'
States stock in the Washington
Branch for 50 100000 Thus it pro
poses to settle a question which, if LEI
open, would result in vex ations litigs
ton neither in the interest of Mary
land nor of the railroad company.
This is a wise decision on the part
of the officials of the Baltimore ano
Ohio RAILROAD, and there is good req
son to believe that the Board Of Pub
Works Ii acquiesee in it. The
amount which the railroad company
offers for the $500 shares of stock il
the Washington Branch owne d by th'
State of Maryla nd seems to be tai'
and equitable This stock is carried
on tie States books at valuation les'
than-.one bali of he purchase pric
now offered by the railroad company
That the value Of the stock has in
creased vastly in the last few years
has been the contention of those res
ponsible for the protection of th'
States interests in the Washington
Branch. That contention is conceded
10y the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
hich, recognIzin. be justice. ..of The
States claim, proposes 10 pay 2.5OO.
900 for stock .or "ulch the State orig
inally paid 100000
To the practical citizens of Mary
land it must appear that this is gooo
time to sell the States interest in the
Washlngto ton Branch. The question is
one OF business alone, and il should be
settled on that basis. 1t is true there
are other considerations, but apparent
ly none which would justify the Board
of Public Works in refusing to sell the
States stock in the Washington
Branch to the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company for the sum sug-
gested by that company. 1t has been
pointed out in the "Sun" heretofore
that the Baltimore and Ohio has been
most important factor in the con-,
mer,ial development of this city. 1t
is desirable from every point OF view
that this relation should continue, and
that the attitude of this great railroa"
toward Baltimore should be one OF
helpfulness and cooperation. In pur-
suance Of this policy, it would be uL-
wise to place unnecessary obstacles il
the way Of the railroad company,
which must be regarded as the logica;
purchaser of Maryland's interest in
the Washington Branch.
The counsel employed by the State
to protect its interests in the matter
of the Washington Branch are worthy
of the highest commentator not only
for lheil zal and al l'ity in asserting
the rights of Mary land. but for their
judgment in indicating the lines upon
which a compromise out of court was
possible That they were prepared
to establish the States claim to an ad.
vantageous settlement Of its holdings
in the Washington Branch is undenia-
BILE. They we're fortified by the law,
the facts and the record, and if the
necessity had arisen they would have
gone into the courts with the confident
belief that they would have been sus-
tanned. They are entitled to the
heartiest approval for conducting til.
sc for be State before the investi-
eating committee of the legislature in
such manner as to secure from t. e
railroad company proposition to SET
tie on basis which is fair to both of
of parties to the controversy. The
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
is also to be commended for seeing the |
situation in the proper light and SUBJ
hitting a proposition which is credit
able to the reasonableness ano fairness
of its managers.
The State and the railroad company |
have cause for mrtual -ongratulation |
that way has ureu found to settle
this controversy without tedious litiga- |
ton and without creating resentments
on both sides The interests of Mary
land, of Baltimore and of the Balti- |
more and Chlo Railroad are so close |
" interviewer that it would be unfor-
tunate if there should ever be any
conflict that would affect the cordial
relations which should always exist |
between them. They should settle
differences on the basis OF fairness in |
business like way and join hands in
hearty co operation to promote the
prosperity of State, city AID railroad.
B fillmore Sun.
President r posevelt has dec d ID