Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-12-26
INSPECTING X. X, ROUTE.


On Friday last, d. Columbus Kemp,
Charles l.. Cronise, Geo. VIM. Smith and
Charles c. Waters inspected the several
routes proposed for the Electric Railway
from Lewistown to Thurmont. The party
was joined at Lew istown by Alex. Rams
burg who accompanied the party through
to 1hurmont. The party traversed the
route from Lewistown by the way of Ca
toctin to the Blue Mountain school-house
road, on foot at which point teams met
them and drove from there to Thurmont
where hey took lunch at the Miller
House.
MIR. M. J. Albaugh and M. A. Gaugh
very kindly met the inspecting party at
Catoctin and piloted them from that
point to Thurmont. The route proposed
from Catoctin to Thurmont will be chang
ed considerably from the present survey
as it follows along or near the old county
road used many years ago, and comes
directly into Tnurmont striking at the
Hunting Creek bridge.
This route as proposed will be surveyed
at once SO as to see how favorably the
grades and rights of way compare with
the one recently surveyed and which par
allels very closely the line of the M. V.
X. K.
Mr.. Geo. VIM. Smith, former president
of the Middletown road, who is now act
lively and enthusiastically engaged in
building this line expressed himself as
highly pleased with the route. His or
ders were to have it surveyed at once, so
that when the route was once definitely
decided upon, contracts could be let as
soon as rights of way were procured.
On the return to Frederick he party
went by Jimtown and Blacks Mill on to
Lewistown, for the purpose of inspect
ing the country in that vicinity where it
is proposed by some to locate the line.
Mr.. Smith was alert to all the POSSIBLE
ties of both routes, and commented fav-
orably on both with respect to certain
features that each possessed, and it is
possible that survey will be made of
this line to come into town in the east
end, so as to get all the comparisons pos
sible.
Mr.. Smith proved himself to be as
young a man as one in the crowd; walk
ing as he did nearly eight miles and was
but little fatigued, notwithstanding he is
man we'll up in the seventies but withal
man still vigorous in mind and body.
1t is greatly to be regretted that we
have so few men of the type of George
VIM. Smith. His determination to win
{ is contagious and no one can come in con-
tact with him and not catch his spirit of
energy and push. But for him the Mid
dletown road would never have been
built, and that road has the unique dis
tinction of being the first electric freight
road in the world and it has been largely
due to his constant admonition that the
W., F. & G. railroad should be built,
that we are willing to say that when the
road is completed to Thurmont that his
efforts have played no little part in bring
| ing it into reality.
If weather conditions prove favorable
it will be but a short time until Lewis
town will realize it's fondest hope, and
have railroad Track is now laid to
within mile of Bethel church with but
little to be done from that point to Lew
istown in grading to be ready for ties,
track and train.
Surely Thurmont won't have to wait
so long to get the benefits of this road.
The sooner the better, we say. Let
everyone who can help it get here quick
do so. We know of some who can help
and the question is, Will they?