Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-02-07
GOLDEN B. CROFT.
TCONMUNICATED

EDITOR CLARION:
Your issue of the 10th inst. provid-
ed some 'food for reflection" and as it
failed to attract the attention Of others,
decided that it should not pass unheed-
ed, particularly inasmuch as information
later received leads me to suspect that q
"tuIn in the tide" of the affairs Of the
town is now about due and that it should
be ''taken at the food
That the immediate future proffers a
liberal palm, asking only that you reach
forth yours to secure its bounty, is u
present promise.
The helping hand preferred now, as
in past years, bears the promise of the
healthy growth induced by the infusion
of new blood. Exactly what that may
mean can best be determined by calling
to mind what it has done. Dating from
the advent of the w. NJ. r. R., Mechan-
icstown has grown to be Thurmont; it has
grown and thriven almost exclusively up
on Importation of capital and energy.
An enumeration and assessment of i'm
provements made by those who become
citizens of the town about and after the
building of the railroad would be inter-
esting and instructive. 1t is safely with
in bounds to lay the claims that four
fifths of the building within that period
has been done by others than natives.
In word, Thumont as it is found today
is what it is, largely, thanks to certain
indisputable charms which attract and
hold the attention of strangers. That
it possesses and successfully displays such
attractions has been definitely and finally
conceded; is accepted.
That Thurmont has lost none, but has
continued to add to those conditions which
conduce most to the enhancement of its
attractions, may be putting it strong.
Not to advance, ordinarily, is to retro
grade, and it is just little difficult to
lay fngcron evidence of advance during
the past several years; on the other hand
there is no direct evidence retrogression.
1t is probably safe to say, then, that the
s!atus quo has been maintained.
What seems to be the present promise?
First; there is reported a genuine move
ment in real estate. The principal promise
is that embodied in the recent sale of the
'John H. Rouzer" property. This re-
leases several thousand feet Of building
front hitherto unattainable for improve
ment, and, besides, should mean num-
Der of new streets and avenues.
Second; several other eligible proper
ties in the market and buyers looking
them up.
Third; number of town lots recently
purchased and a reasonable certainty that
buildings will be erected thereon during
the year.
Fourth; two Of the largest summer
boarding houses have found purchasers
within the past month and buyers would
be forthcoming were there still others
offered for sale.
Fifth; the electric railroad, the event.
ual completion of which may be assumed,
will do for Thurmont what it has done
for other small towns, put it in touch with
other and larger eommunities-and the
main point of this article lies in the fact
that visitors are favorably impressed with
Thurmont; anything, therefore, that will
introduce new faces should be adjudged
helpful. The trolley will take hundreds
to your town, among them many who,
presumably, will fall under the same ia
vorable influence that has made citizens
of visitors in the past.
Now, as to your two items of the 10th
ult., the one referring to the N ew Year
disorders on the street and the other to
a palpably unfairrequirement by the town
authorities in paving matters, wherein
inexplicable exceptions have been per-
mitted, while others, by direct require.
ments of the authorities, have been call.
ed upon to pave in front of vacant lots
they were not only timely, but SHOULD
bear fruit. Visitors will be quick to note
your weak and strong points: eliminate the
weak and strengthen your strong points
which is to say: repair your paw ements
and mend your street manners. Tha
is the logic of your two items of the 10th
ult.
Intarastad Cnactator