The Washington herald., 1908-07-22
Line TO GETTYSBURG
Railway to Battlefield Max
ing Good Progress.
GETTING THE RIGHT OF WAY
Washington, Maryland, and Penn
syIvanfR Capitalists Behind the
ProIect-ROad VIII BE EIghty-nve
Miles LonE-Wfn Garry Passengers
and Freight Through Farms.

What Is known as the Washington and
Gettysburg Electric Railroad gives fair
promise Of being constructed and going
into operation within the next two years.
A company has been Incorporated. COM
posed OF prominent capitalists Of Wash
ington. Maryland. and Pennsylvania,
charters have been secured from the
States through which it VIII pass, the
lire is being surveyed. and the right OF
way secured II viii pass through the
counties Of Montgomery, Frederick, and
Carroll. OF Maryland. and Adams County.
Pennsylvania. Il viii enter the towns Of
Westminster. Nd. and Of LittlestOwn and
Gettysburg. Pa The assessed valuation
OF property contiguous TO the proposed
line IS upward OF $600o0.Ooo. while It's
real value is estimated at about Sl2o.-
O0d.O0o. The road VIII be elghJy-hve miles
long. and viii pass almost on direct line
from Washington TO the battlefield Of Get
tysburg
The proposed railroad VIII furnish an
other route Of travel % the North, and
viii open up a large and wealthy section
OF the country. which viii become i'm
mediateIy tributary to Washington. the
business Of which at present IS almost en-
tirely controlled BY Baltimore
Battlefield Attracts Visitors.
Gettysburg has been made a national
park by act Of Congress, and has three
saIaried commissioners. who have charge
Of il Large sums have been expended
there By the government in improve
meuts. and much OF the ground fought
over during the awful battle Of the first
three days OF July. ISs7 has been ac-
Qulred.
More than go monuments have been
erected by States CT military organiza-
lions IN cOmmemoratiOn o. great acts OF
valOr. OF 10 designate the positions Of
various divisions Of the army during the
battle IN many respects the field has
been beautifed by the construction OF
splendid roads around and through the
field There IS no more attractive spot
for the visitor IN the country than
Gettysburg And YET. owing 20 the lack
Of adequate facilities. Washingtonians
seldom 90 there. The roundabout way
through Baltimore, and the time re
Quirsd. 20 say nothing of the heavy ex-
pense Of the trip, are practically pro
hibitory, so far as She people OF wash
tngtOn are concerned
Connections of New Road.
At Mount Airy the proposed railroad
viii connect with the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad; at Westminster. with the West
ern Maryland Railroad; az Littlestown,
vrfth the Pennsylvania Railroad. and at
Gettysburg. with the Reading Railroad.
connecting with Harrisburg and the
Western Maryland road So that this
line viii have connecting roads north.
east and west
It Is expected the immense number OF
people now visiting Washington annually
VIII insure heavy passenger traffic 10
the new line. not 20 mention the Capital
and environs. with its hundreds OF thou
sands OF citizens who will avail them
selves OF this privilege when proper trav-
cling facilities are furnished
The new line VIII afford farmers and
others IN the territory L JraveTses the ac-
Commodat5ons they have been seeking
for many years. The section 20 be trav-
ersed is practically without railroad ia
cillJies. The business viii be ali that the
road desires TO insure good returns on
the investment. and viii be at once Of
great benefit 10 the business men OF
Washington The project coutemplates
bringing 70 this city over the new road
immense quantities OF vegeta bles-every
sort Of garden trsck-rnilk, millions Of
bushels Of wheat corn. rye. oats. po-
tatoes. quantities Of baled hay and straw.
and live stock
Touches Eighty POst-Offices.
Aside from the interest which the his
toric feature Of Gettysburg battlefield
possesses. some idea OF the commercial
value OF the enterprise may be gained
when We state that more than eighty
post-cffices along the route viii be trfb-
Utary TO Il. Another feature OF interest
to the company IS that il does not IN
any sense become a competing line with
any other railroad. Unlike many other
that are undertaken. this road
has its business waiting. and its con-
struction viii be welcomed by the people
from terminus 20 terminus
Although Il IS now several years since
the charters were taken out by the COM
pa1y- Il has no debts Some prominent
citizens and business men Of Washing