Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-02-06
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 6, 1908.
He Is For Rocky Ridge

"The action of the directors of the
Washington, Frederick and Gettysburg
Railroad meets with general approval.
They asked for survey of route from
Lewistown to Rocky Ridge, presumably
with the idea of constructing their line
over that course if it's advantages are
greater proportionately than those held
out to the company by the former route.
This was done before they committed
themselves to the building of their road
through Thurmont. 1t may be little
hard on the last named place but from
the standpoint of sound railroad sense it
seems to be the best move the company
has yet made. Financially, if the new
route is taken, it saves the expense incl
dent to the construction Of seven miles
of track and roadbed through country
none too level, and the necessity OF COM
petfng with line of railroad long estab-
lished. AS far as the construction of the
road is concerned this route would insure
its speedy completion and in consequence
would put the road on an earning basis at
an earlier date. The stockholders and d.
rectors undoubtedly appreciate this feat
ure for the money invested in the road
will be, as far as it's earnings are concern
ed, idle until traffic is opened. Further
more the line from Lewistown via Rocky
Ridge is more attractive for freight. 1t
shortens the haul to Baltimore and brings
the road closer to the Frederick division
of the Northern Central Railroad and at
the same time traverses section OF the
county that will compare most favorably
with the land between Lewistown and
Thurmont.
''The merging of the Emmitsburg Rail
road with the Washington, Frederick and
Gettysburg line, which is part of the plan
now under consideration, will clear up the
whole railroad atmosphere in and around
Emmitsburg and will make available for
the company some capital that otherwise
would not be invested in their road. -
Emmitsburg Chronicle.
So the action of the directors meets
with general approval. Where, may
we ask? Come down to Thurmont
and see how much approval you can
find here. This editorial we suspect
originated largely in the mind of some
one closely allied with the Emmits-
burg Railroad, and no doubt any
thing looking to the assistance OF that
road would meet with their approval,
and for the sake of argument we will
call that general" approval. The
directors are committed to build to
Thurmont, and have been from the
time the road was originally charter
ed. Further, a resolution recorded
among the minutes of the directors,
and never rescinded, directs the build
ing of the road to Thurmont.
The argument above INDUCED in,
if analysed, and all things taken into
consideration, is simply idle twattle,
for to cut off Catoctin Furnace with
its thickly settled community, and to
leave Thurmont, with it's 100 and
more inhabitants, the valleys leading
into Thurmont, all of which are thick
ly settled and have to use some line
of railroad in to Frederick-and build
a road to Rocky Ridge through
sparsely settled community would be
the most violent sort of suicide, and
we are willing to have the Chronicle
get any expert they can to 60 over
both lines to these two points and il
we are not substantiated in this, then
we will freely and frankly admit oul
error. We don't take much stock in
the argument that it brings the road,
(W., F. d G., closer to the Freder-
lex division of the Northern Central
Railroad" if we are to believe that il
saves the necessity of competing with
a line of railroad long established. "
No, Emmitsburg is unfortunate in
having railroad going no where, but
because of the blundcrs of those who
first built this road you must not ask
the Washington, Frederick & Gettys-
burg Railway Company to make
greater blunder. So far as Thurmont
is concerned she don't want to inhict
another railroad on Emmitsburg. If
the railroad they have is satisfactory
to them and meets the needs of the
people, we are content to have the
Washington, Frederick & Gettysburg
Railroad stop at Thurmont, thus in
surfing no competition.
Emmitsburg thus far has not con-
tributed anything towards building
the road, except through Mr.. Isaac
S. AMMAN, one of her most alive and
progressive citizens who is a director
in the Washington, Frederick & Get
tysburg Railroad, and takes a most
lively and active part in the building
of the road. He is one of number
OF Emmitsburg's citizens, we under
stand, who lost out heavily when the
Emmitsburg Railroad was sold under
foreclosure proceedings some years
back when the water was squeezed
out"
Thurmont has contributed very
literally, and is not selfish about the
matter, except she don't want bad
faith" exercised toward her. TT e
railroad going to Rocky Ridge would
be a little like an epitaph seen on a