Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-02-27
FAcTs AS 40 LocATloN.

FAClStAA ~ l4S,Stts \ N, ~
In view Of all that has been SAID ~
favor Of the continued construction Of
the W., II. g G. Ry as chartered along
the base Of the mountain via Thurmont
rs pledged by the directors when solicit
ing stock; the writer wishes 70 add few
facts as to population fortke seven miles
north Of Thurmont which will compare 4
with the seven miles of equal area along
the E. r. r. from Rocky Ridge to En-
mitsburg. !.
Beginning outside the town limits q
Thurmont, north along and from the ~
& E. pike to the base Of the mountain.
averaging one-half mile in breadth and
seven miles in length to Toms Creek at
Annan's schoolhouse, a little west OF En-
mitsburg, we find the surprising'number
Of 1873 dwellings,, 6 general stores, re-
pair smith shops and A schoolhouses, (the
store at Franklinville destroyed by fire
now nearly completely which with an
average Of 5 to each family, we find a
population Of 800 on 81 square miles.
The majority of these are working peo-.
pie who 90 to work in the morning and
return at evening. In addition we find
on this route the magnetic ore deposits OF
very high per cent, near Zentz's mills,
where -four, feed, lumber of all kinds,
and bricks are manufactured. We have
not vet named St. Anthony's church and
public hall with membership of 800, all
SO Mt. st. Mary's college with 300 to 900
students who come and go.
Now if these buildings were collected
in row we would have continuous Wiz
lage of 80 houses to each of the seven
miles, each spaced 81 yards apart, with
stores, schools, mills, church and
/ college. Inaddition we find three great
outlets from Harbaugh's, Eylers and
Hampton Valleys from which lumber of
all kinds, grain and fruit seeks the most
convenient market. These three outlets
alone, venture to say, will furnish more
trade if tapped at the base of the mount
ain than Creagerstown and Rocky Ridge
together. Besides the beautiful springs
| of crystal water flowing near by the
most beautiful sights for cottages in the
State, another point of great value Is
that the base of the mountain is free of
snow drifts. Often have we seen EN-
mitsburg and Mt. st. Marys bring the
mail from Thurmont by this protected
trail when the e. X. Z. was drifted in.
And lastly the fact that this route is the
same ground covered by the great Union
Army to and from the Gettysburg battle,
and will always interest and attract traf-
fc between Washington and Gettysburg,
The writer would ask the directors and
promoters of this splendid enterprise to
investigate the above facts and compare
them with Rocky Ridge. Mt. St. Mary S
college alone with trolley line at it's
gate would in few years, from its
splendid location and pure water, l am
told by ones interested, could and would
! have one thousand students.
Creagerstown, it's true, grows good
corn which serves home and local con.
sumption. We too, frequently grow
along the base of the mountain ID barrels
of corn and % to "a bushels of wheat per
acre, but home market takes good care
of the surplus. The lumber crop how
ever is continuous and mostly for export.
Do the promoters and directors of the
W., F. & G. Ry. know that the four
lumber mills on the projected route along
the foothills of the mountain north of
Thurmont, average 4 millions of shingles
annually in addition to a proportionate
amount of other lumber; do they know
that Zentz's mills last spring furnished
in addition to brick and other trade 49,
900 feet of lumber for outside scaffolding
alone on the new building at Mt. st.
Marys college and that at present they
are cutting an additional 10000 feet for
the same purpose on the memorial build
ing at the college which is said will cost
$120, 600?
The closer we keep to the base of the
mountain the better, says Mr.. |. S. An
nan, one of many of Emmitsburg's pub
lie spirited citizens. Here he says we
have right of way almost gratus, with
an easy grade with timber and ballast
near by for construction close by; the
many springs of pure water that will,
with railroad facilities. attract thousands
of city people to locate near by them.
Compare the above facts with those
existing along the e. r. R. within one
half mile in breadth from the town limits
of Rocky Ridge to the borough limits of
Emmitsburg, and you have it. Then
compare the population of Rocky Ridge
with Thurmont and the Creagerstown
route one-half mile in breadth with a like
area via Catoctin to Thurmont and we
have the facts and figures from which to
draw conclusions.
SToCKHOLDER.
Everything taken into the stomach
should be digested fully within certain
time. When you feel that your stamach