Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-09-17

might be more inteligently informed to
what a harassing extent the Thropp mat
ter has been, brief history of the deal
ings are given.
1t was attempted by Mr.. c. c. Waters
the Secretary of the company, to get
some concession from Mr.. Thropp for a
right of way, and negotiations were be-
gun two years ago. Much correspond
ence was necessary to get Mr.. Thropp
committed on any line; he finally agreed
to give right of way for $500 and take
lst mortgage bonds payment. He made
this offer for the first survey, which par
alleled the M. V. K. K. A counter offer
was made of $500 but that was not salts
factory 1T was finally decided to send
an option to Mr.. Thropp in which the
railroad company was to have the ,tyht
to purchase the right of way at any time
within a certain number of months If they
wanted it and upon the delivery of the
$500 worth of bonds. Mr.. Thropp necer
sign d the option and ignored the paper.
After the lapse of some time another
survey was made to come into town at
Water street and by this survey the
Thropp property was cut differently by
the railroad. A map was sent to Mr..
lhropp, and his general manager, }. +.
Thropp Jr., and Mir. Hughes went over
the line. The secretary, Mr.. Waters,
wrote letter after letter asking for a
price on this right Of way, but no answer.
This correspondence covered Il period of
about three months when finally the
Monocacy Valley Railroad was purchased
and final survey was made tying i'll the
two lines and on the route which the con-
demnation proceedings were had. Mr..
Waters again took up the subject of
right of way and after a number of let
tiers passed conference was arranged
between Mr.. Thropp and the officers of
the company. Accordingly Dr. r. b.
Smith, Mr.. G. c. Waters and Mr.. II. I.
Carmichael, the company's engineer, met
Mr.. Thropp on the ground at Catoctin
and the line was pointed out and it seem
ed to be very agreeable to him. Mr..
Thropp could give no figures as to what
he wanted that day but said he would
advise few days later. He did advise
and this is what he said: That he had no
objections TO giving 80 foot right of way
to point within about 500 feet of his
store buildings, then he would give US 35
foot right of way the same as the M. V.
HAD then he proposed to give the com
pany an additional strip rs feet wide
along the M. V. which would give the
company GU feet in width clear through
his property; then he proposed that he
would also add small strip of ground
for a station if located where he desired
it, and that he would likewise take $500
for this right of way the same as for the
first.
Mr.. Waters, the secretary, replied at
once stating that the company would not
accede to this as they had no use for the
extra strip he proposed to give and would
he at once give the lowest cash price that
he would take for the 3.72 acres of land
wanted. Mr.. Thropp neoer replied to
this letter. A telegram was sent by Mr..
Waters on behalf of the company offer
ing him 5000 and a reply was requested,
but none eUer came, Being thus ignored
by Mr.. Thropp, the company proceeded
with the condemnation proceedings which
had been instituted and the jury was
summoned and met on the ground. Mr..
Thropp was absent but his counsel Jacob
Rohrback, was present and presented the
testimony before the jury, and the YER
dict of the LIST jury was 500. From this
award he appealed and the same was
heard by Judge Henderson who set the
award aside and ordered another jury.
Judge Henderson, from all the law and
facts adduced should have ratified the
first inquisition, his reason given was
because Mr.. Thropp had not had oppor-
tunity to present his case to the jury to
show the mineral wealth of the mines
near which the road would run, although
Mr.. Thropp was duly summoned and had
additional notice repeatedly given by the
sec rotary Mr. Waters.
Because of this erroneous decision the
railroad company has been caused much
delay and considerable loss in time and
money. After the court had set aside
the first inquisiton Mr.. Thropp began to
show his animosity toward the railroad
he told his counsel to put off the hearing
in the second inquisition just as long as
he possibly could" Mr.. Thropp left
town soon after the decision was render.
ed but counsel for the railroad prepared
the papers hurriedly and sent Sheriff
Myers to Hagerstown in an automobile
where Mr.. Thropp was notified late that
same night. AS further evidence OF
his being willing to harass the railroad
some work was being pursued on the M.
V. end of the line and quantity of rails
and ties were torn up and laid on the
bank. Mr.. Thropp had all these rails re
moved and placed in the old cast house
where they now are. He has fought the
railroad stubbornly and persistently not
withstanding every pound of stuff mnet
by him will have to be hauled by the w.
F. & G. Ry. Co. He will expect Inc
doubt the COMPANY to 90 out of thei