The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-03-13
WESTERN MARYLAND RAILROAD.

The announcement last week
that the Western Maryland Rail
road had gone into the hands OF 4
receiver was learned by the peOpia
of our county with surprise and re-
greet. The company was, In the
beginning, practically a Carroll
county enterprise. Its promoters
and main supporters at that time
were prominent citizens OF our
county, such men as Augustus
Shriver, John Smith, Nathan and
Reuben Haines, William Roberts,
John K Longwell, Abraham Stoner
and many others whose names can
not now be recalled
The fact is. the entire county was
deeply interested in the project,
and large aggregate stock subscrlp-
tions were made by our citizens.
The original purpose was tomake
Union Bridge the terminus of the
road. but, as the work progressed
it was thought best to extend 1t to
Hagerstown. In this Baltimore
City took a deep interest, so as to
recover the trade of the Cumber-
land Valley, which Baltimore had
enjoyed for a long time. but which
had been diverted. To further this
enterprise Baltimore City and
Washington County each subscrib-
ed literally to the stock of the COM
pany. When, in the progress OF
the work, the road reached Me-
chanicstown, now ThurmOnt, it
was thought necessary TO request
the Mayor and City Council of Bal
timore to aid by making an issue
of bonds, which were known as the
second mortgage preferred bonds.
The work through the mountain
was very expensive and the bonds
were not well financed, in cOnse-
quence of which the company did
not receive as much for these rs it
should. The road was finally COM
pleted and became a great feeder
to the city of Baltimore, bringing
back again the trade which had
years before been lost to the city.
The early history of the company
was one of trouble and anxiety. The
inexperience in railroad business of
those who had charge of the COM
pany's affairs was an embarrass-
ment to the success of the work.
They were men devoted to the in
terests of the company and did the
best they could under the circum-
stances.
1t was not until Col. John NJ.
Hood was elected president of the
company that it became vigorous
going concern. He was a trained
railroad man and the road soon
evinced the value of his services. He
projected a number of collateral
lines and made the extension from
Hagerstown to Cherry Run, all of
which showed his wisdom in max
ing these engagements. The road,
after Col. Hood had made these eX-
tensions. attracted the attention of
other railroad people, and a num-
Der of attempts were made to Sc
cure possession of it. Col. Hood
stOutly and successfully resisted
all these efforts until finally the
Gould people became anxious to Sc
cure an eastern tidewater terminal
to their system. They purchased
the West Virginia Central Railroad
and then opened up negotiations
for the purchase of the Western
Maryland so as to bring them to
tidewater. After a great struggle
in Baltimore, a number of others
bidding for the road, it was sold
to the Fuller syndicate, which rep
resented the Gould interests.
They have expended large sums
of money in their terminal at
Port COyingtOn and also along the
line of the road and have greatly
added to the rolling stock.
1t is not believed that the receiv-
ership will embarrass the company
except in a temporary way. All rail-
road companies have had hard
time for the past year or more,
their net revenues being reduced,
and the recent financial panic be-
ing such as to make it next to i'm
possible to borrow money to carry
on the large work they have in
hand. The receiver will 60 ON,
under the direction of the court,
with the running Of the road as
usual, so that, as far as the public
is concerned, there will be nothing
to diminish the usefulness of the |
company.