Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-08-29
ELECTRIC RAILROAD MATTERS.

The Daily papers have had numerous
articles in them relative to the differences
between the Board Of Aldermen Of Fred
erick and the railroad, FIST with refer
ence to the tracks on 4th street and Sec
ond, with reference to the use OF steam
engine for and during the construction OF
the road.
Naturally, the people here know but
little with reference to the controversy,
and what they see in the paper may give
them wrong impression of what the sit
uation really was from the beginning and
is now.
The old Board of Aldermen practically
directed the work of the railroad on Attn
street; the city had no grade and they
refused to give them grade, hence the
only thing left for the railroad to DO was
to establish grade, taking the condition
of the street as they found it, which was
very bad at number of places.
The Aldermen (old board) from time
to time directed the changes to be made,
and when that part Of 4th street west OF
Bentz was reached with the tracks the
Aldermen were told what would have to
be done to bring the tracks to anything
like a grade. The work was begun and
when the point opposite the Baptist
church was reached, which was very low,
the tracks had to be greatly raised in Or
der to get ploper grade all the way
through the street. A commotlon was
raised by several people in the vicinity OF
the Baptist church and from that time on
the controversy has continued. These
few individuals numbering but about z
per cent of the residents on that street,
ATTEMPTED to have the old Board of AL
dermen require the railroad to conform
to the street as the railroad company
found it, which, from an engineering
standpoint could not be done.
A number Of meetings were held and
nothing accomplished except the railroad
was allowed to finish the laying OF its
tracks, which was done, and when it was
completed everyone who saw the street,
(except the few kickers) said that the
railroad company had done the city great
service by establishing such an excep-
tionally nice grade.
The old Aldermen were not renomlnat-
ed, and a new board was elected and no
sooner were they installed than the kick
ers got their ear and from that time on
the contest has been hotter than before.
The Aldermen seemingly thinking that
the few voiced the sentiments of the ma
nv, proceeded to have orders passed and
served on the railroad that the tracks
should be lowered or the franchise would
be annulled. They had no grade, and
could give no specific point where the road
should be made to conform to the street,
and they were in hopeless muddle. FL
nally the Westinghouse. Church, Kerr &
Company's engineers, making surveys
for the Middletown road, were employed
to make a survey and plat of the street.
! 1t was done and then final notice was
served on the railroad that certain points
had to be fixed on or before October list,
or the franchise would be annulled. No
reasoning would avail.
In the meantime the railroad company
purchased a small engine and some cars
and permission was asked to run same
over the tracks in Frederick to haul out
material, etc. The Aldermen seeing their
advantage in this to use this to CLUB
the company into lowering their tracks
refused to grant the use of the engine
unless the tracks were lowered "at
once" After a number of meetings it
was finally settled on Monday evening
of last week that, if the tracks were low
cred within 80 days the use of the engine
would be granted for 80 days, and thus
it stands today.
The tracks are being lowered and now
goes up the complaint about how bad it
is going to look after it is done.
All this controversy tends to show the
spirit that still prevails in Frederick-the
non-progressive spirit that tends to him
der and impede. The same spirit that
kept the B. & o. main line out of Fred
erick will make the w., F. & G. side
line into Frederick when the line goes
through to Washington. The railroad
will not invest money in town where it
is made to feel that the antagonistic
spirit has to be recognized and reasoned
with rather than the spirit of progress.
The Board of Aldermen have been mis-
led in this matter and their action in COM
polling the railroad to do certain work,
entirely unnecessary and uncalled for, is
being severely criticised. The matter is
now showing a revulson of feeling by
those who were most instrumentalinh av-
ing the changes made.
We trust the matter is now at rest and
that the Aldermen, all of whom are bus
mess men, will not further embarrass
this railroad, as those most deeply inter-
ested (the stockholders) will not tolerate
unwarranted interference with the work,
having due regard for the legal rights to
be exercised by the Aldermen in admin
istering the affairs of the city.
Policeman Roughly Handled.
On Sunday afternoon last at Penmar
park, policeman Buck saw a man on one
of the horses of the merry-go-round
smoking a pipe, and as he passed by
knocked the pipe from the mans mouth.