Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-11-28
RAILROAD DEVELOPMENTS IL
FREDERICK COUNTY.

FREDERICK COUNTY.
Taken from the Frederick Daily News.
During the last year or two, considera-
BILE activity has been shown in railroad
development in Frederick county, which
has resulted in some substantial progress
being made.
The Wabash Railroad has made num-
Der of surveys both through and near
Frederick in the direction of the main line
at Westminster and through the north
end of Frederick county, near Emmits-
burg. They have improved their main
line by laying ninety-pound rails from one
end to the other and finished their low
grade line from Cumberland to Williams
port, and in the next six months expect
to have their line from Emory Grove to
Baltimore double tracked, with the grades
and curves eliminated. To handle their
heavy traffic has become serious prob
lem with them, and in the near future it
will become necessary for them either to
continue their low grade line across,
through or near Frederick, or tunnel the
Blue Ridge Mountains near Emmitsburg.
The Baltimore and Frederick Railway
has secured the Frederick and Middle
town Railroad, and have not only greatly
improved its roadbed, power and rolling
stock, but have completed its extensions
to Jefferson, which has largely increased
its traffic and value.
The Emmitsburg Railroadhas prepared
itself to extendits present line by amend
ingits charter and has relaid with
heavysteel its entire line.
The Monocacy Valley has had it's char
ter amended to extend toSFrederick and
is now awaiting development of the fur
mace property to complete it's plans.
There are number of other railroad
enterprises on foot in various parts of
the county, each advertising its scheme
and seeking the support of the public,
some of which have made surveys and
solicited stock subscriptions, and are even
constructing portion of their line, while
others have only obtained charters.
Each is advertising its plans and advan-
tages as it sees them, and claims the
public at large will be most benefited
thercfrcm.
The public should therefore weigh we'll
the respective claims presented, and fair
ly and justly, as well as generously liber-
ally support srd advance what will pro-
mote its interest in the broadcast sense,
and develop Frederick and Frederick
county substantially without injury or
disadvantage to any of its existing inter-
ests or property.
Frederick county is a large and pros
porous section, particularly rich in agri-
cultural resources on whichits substantial
business interests does and will continue
to depend. Summer outings and resorts,
it is true, are becoming more popular
and generally patronized, but there is no
possibility of all the mountain places in
Frederick county being the rendezvous of
the nearby cities, no matter how much
the facilities to their access may be i'm
proved. Those already established such
as Braddock Heights and Penmar, will
not only hold their own, but rapidly in
crease in favor by reason of the splendid
development of their attractions they
have made.
The railroads of Frederick and Freder-
lex county if they expect them to be built
or extended, and continue to be anyway
reasonably profitable to the people put
ting their money in them, or even self
sustaining, must depend upon the great
agricultural resources of Frederick coun-
ty and the business interests of Frederick
city for their support and maintenance.
And such construction or extension should
be and must be, if any success can be
hoped for, in harmony and consistent
with the railroad interests and enterprises
already established, otherwise only ri
valry and conflict of interests will be de-
veloped, which will destroy both, or at
least make them improbable and worth
less to the people whose money is invest
ed.
Most railroad enterprises, at best, are
only experimental, and result in the
stock subscribers donating their stock
subscriptions, and only those who after
wards re-organize after their construc-
ton, under a sale and purchase at re-
duced cost, are able to operate them to
an advantage and profit.
Are the railroad schemes now bidding
for public favor of the broad and SUBJ
stantial character as to be consistent
with the interests of the hundreds OF
thousands of dollars Frederick county
has already invested in these enter
prises?
South from Frederick, Middletown Val
ley has but one railroad system, and from
the unity of interests, energy and ex-
ceptional advantages it enjoys from its
mountain protection, is prospering: but
an entirely different condition of things
exists to the nrOth.
The Business Mems Association of
Frederick have pushed the Washington,
Frederick and Gettysburg railroad along
to the point of making beginning, and
they did wisely by helping an enterprise
that may directly or indirectly help their
interests, but when they put their money
into the venture they should get from it
all that their money is worth or will
produce.