Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-02-06
HUG THE MOUNTAIN
And You Get The Travel.
A MINE HALF WORKED IS WOkTK
MORE THAN ALL FARM
PRODUCTS.


PRODUCTS.
To THE EDITOR OF The CLARION:
In your last weeks edition appeared
an article lamenting over the action OF
the directors of the w., #. & G. Ry. in
ordering survey from Lewistown to
Rocky Ridge, and the talk of the town,
is the fear of loosing the road.
A month or more ago appeared an ar
ticle in the Frederick News, and copied
in the CLARION, advocating the route via
Rocky Ridge, and the extension of the
N, v. Railroad to Lewistown, giving the
people of Thurmont connections with the
county seat, and by so doing you would
not injure any of the existing roads in the
northern end Of the county.
The writer wishes to say few words
in behalf of the M. v. Railroad, at the
same time does not believe In destroying
the Emmitsburg railroad
In all the talk by the people of Thur
mont in the advocacy of the w., F. & g.,
the Monocacy Valley railroadh has hadvery
few friends, some going SO far as to have
said she will be put out Of business, she
had better give her road to the w., F. n
G. in order to get her into Thurmont.
The people Of Thurmo ont seem to be Of
selfish disposition, will take anything
they can get, don care who is hurt, so
they get it, and it don't cost them any
thing.
The Monocacy Valley railroad was built
to build up an industry, lying on the Dor
der of Thurmont. Why that industry suf-
fercd through failure was no fault of the
M. v. railroad, but on the other hand if
the M. V. railroad had not been built
there would be no work at Catoctin today.
Thurmont has received thousands of dol
lars due directly from, and to its exist
ence, and if the people do not appreciate
it's existence, the w. M. railroad does and
will protect its trade.
When the NJ. V. railroad was built the
W. M. railroad had no cars over 10000
capacity, most Of them 10000 and 80, 600,
therefore its track was laid with some 40,
80 and IS pound rails; the 40-pound have
all been replaced with 60-pound and most
of the 50-pouhd, the capacity Of the cars
has more than doubled and it is necessary
to keep pace with the times, as renewals
of rails is a small item of cost in compar-
ison with a good roadbed.
The haul of the Monocacy Valley has
been in carloads of dead weight freight,
and it was necessary to have substan-
tial road6ed, and the NJ. v. has it's tracks
thoroughly ballasted all the way through.
In regard to the w., F. & G., the writ
err knows the M. V. has not laid one straw
in it's way; have have talked with its
superintendent, and he seems as anxious
as any one else to have the w., F. & G.
come through Thurmont, and understand
what they ask is cost, if they desire their
road; surely the trade they have main
tanned is worth something.
The first line surveyed via Eicholtz mill
is about one mile shorter than via Catoc-
tin and easy grading; that line passes
within one and one-half miles of Creag-
erstown at its nearest point, and will be
about midway between the mountains and
the Monocacy river, and get the whole
farming trade west of the river.
If the writer knew the ultimate inten-
ton Of the projectors, whether they were
going to make an electric road, and cater
to the passenger business, dairy and farm
produce, or a low grade road either
steam or electricity or both, to develop
the mineral resources of the foothills of
the Catoctin Mountains, he could be more
explicit in the route, but in either event
Thurmont, the third largest town in the
county, should not be overlooked. You
must recognize that Hauvers district of
Frederick county lies to the westof Thur
mont, and yoa don't want to Carroll
county line to serve the north end Of the
county.
Leave the Emmitsburg railroad swing
around to Thurmont where it should have
been built. believe Roddy, Zentzville,
Mt. St. Mary's College and the farmers
in between, would nearly do the grading
free.
The foothills of the mountain is where
the city people want to dot their cottages
where they can get the pure mountain
water gushing from the mountain side,
and from Lewistown to Bmmitsburg, there
is no lovelier places for cottages in the
State of Maryland. Take springfield"
the home of the first Governor of Mary
land, and auburn" the home of his bro
Their, VIM. Johnston, they recognized
what delightful places were, and the foun-
ders of Mt. St. Mary's College also; and
there are plenty like them. they are what
takes the eye of the city people who are
looking for health given fountain. Hug
the mountain and you get the travel.
In regard to freight the foothills to the
mountain is where the minerals lie,-a
mine half worked is worth more than all
farm products; farmer will haul his pro-
duce five or six miles to save penny
bushel, but mineral cannot be moved with
out railroad.
You have the timber from the Catoc-
tin mountain to gather together and l
venture the assertion that Deerfield sta
ton on the W. M. railroad has given more
freight than any two farming stations on
the line.