Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-02-27
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY q, 1908
THE W., F. & G. ROUTE.
1 the Editor Of THE NEWS:

answers to the letters OF observer
published in your paper. These answers
all came from the same source and were
inspiredsby the personal interests OF
few easily located in a small place seek
ING to loop the main line of the W., r. q
g. around by their section at the foot OF
the mountains. They were made in COM
munications to your paper and IN editor
ials and communications in the Catoctih
Clarion.
ssMuch that has been said does not de-
serve serious consideration, but from the
tenor Of these editorials and communica-
lions and the present condition OF things
there seems but little doubt that II the
road is built over the Thurmont route,
Thurmont will be it's northern limit.
Many of the most substantial men whose
cash and credit carriedit thus far already
distinctly say that If you want to build 1t
further you must do it yourselves. Inc
money to build it further must be secur-
ed from the Frederick end, where 1t was
chiefly raised to construct that portion
already built, which still needs thousands
of dollars to ballast and complete. North
of Lewistown and about which so much
has been said, only about SIS, 600 has been
subscribed in stock, and OF TINS ABOUT
$500 only has been paid. what SUD-
stance then is in the Thurmont route!
Can the people beyond Thurmont be ex-
pected to be more liberal! About nne
miles of track has been laid, not ballast
ed nor surfaced, and only few more
miles of rails on hand. The stock sub
scriptions have been called in and the
proceeds of the sale of one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars of bonds, made at
a heavy discount, is already largely con-
sumed. Experience has taught that this
road, like all others, needs money to build.
sIn these answers the Emmitsburg
railroad and the Monocacy Valley have
come in for a large share of attention and
the writer's, to cover their own selfish
plans, have pictured in glowing colors the
sale of one or both of these roads. 90
not know if either of these companies
have considered the subject of sale, but
am informed that both are friendly and
done nothing in any way to hinder or OBJ
struct the W., F. & g., which after all
is not much more than started, and the
records show already mortgaged to the
limit. A sale means purchase and pay
ment and if the stock subscriptions called
in and the mortgage bonds sold, not on
their own credit, but the credit OF the in
dividual endorsements of a local syndicate,
and the proceeds of both largely exhaust
ed at the present stage, it evidently re-
quires other means to raise the vast
amount of capital needed to complete the
road in anything like its original design.
eff either or both of the railroads
above mentioned can be utilized, it is that
much more capital enlisted in its cause,
which from the present condition of things
cannot be otherwise obtained, and that
much further progress made in the COM
pletion of it's plans, and also removes
from the field any competition it would
otherwise have. From Rocky Ridge to
Emmitsburg is seven miles of road in OPP
Grafton, unencumbered by mortgage lien
or floating debt, almost as much as already
constructed by the W., F. & G. Eight
miles more will reach the Philadelphia
and Reading at Gettysburg, which, with
the aid of the Emmitsburg company and
the community behind it, can soon be
covered and thus complete an air line to
Frederick From Lewistown the Rocky
Ridge route is straight, costs less to
build and to keep in repair, and more
money can be raised along the line, than
can be raised along the Thurmont route,
for it's construction. If the Thurmont
route is taken, which is more out of line,
and no shorter, eight miles more must be
constructed to Emmitsburg, and when
there, still eight miles more to Gettys-
burg, with no reasonable hope of raising
the money on the line to build either link.
eff built from Rocky Ridge, only the
Gettysburg end from Emmitsburg is left
to be constructed, which would be prac-
tcally assured and complete the plans of
the W., F. & G. north in very short
time.
"Would it not be vastly more advan-
tageous to Frederick, Lewistown, Thur
mont connected at Lewistown or Rocky
Ridge) especially Mt. st. Mary's and
Emmitsburg, and in fact the entire line,
to have it thus speedily completed, than
to wait generation or more for the con-
struction from Thurmont, if at all, and
perhaps only after reorganization and
sale under receivership at loss to the
present investors? Would the men who
signed the notes to float the present
bonds all live to see the end, and if they
did not all live who would bear the loss?
Should the selfish interests of few de-
fleet the line from through course, de-
stroy the practical accomplishment of
the completion in sight and jeopardize
the interests of the many who have their
money invested, and particularly too
when the Monocacy Valley can be utiliz-
ed in the same practical way to serve,
equally well the interests of these few?
1t is not good business sense, not fair to
the many whose interests are involved
that it should be done.
observer" has no railroad, therefore
none to sell, but is interested in the w.,
F. & G. with his friends, and believes in
getting for the money invested the best
prudent judgment and past experience.
can secure. He, with other Frederick
people, knows how Frederick invested
$500, 900 in another road which the Penn
ssylvania Company now enjoys. Regard
less of local pride, pre- JUDGE or personal
feeling, he wants the money invested in
the best route to secure the most traffic
and alive and capable of the most develop
ment, SO that history may not repeat it
self, and the investors of the W., +. &
G. may not live to see some one else ac-
quire their property in the same unfort-
innate way. OBSERVER.
The above article appeared in the
Frederick Daily News of the 21st inst,
and observer" again deals in the same
old arguments, not even answering or at
tempting to refrute the articles and ed
itorials appearing in The CLARION. He
speaks Of things Of which he knows abb
solutely nothing about, or if he knows,
he does not speak truthfulIy. 1t is per-
fectly apparent who observer" is and
whose interests he is attempting to fur
Their. 1t is needless for as to answer this
article, as our former arguments have as
yet been unanswered. Ed