Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-06-24
Let Something Be Done.


Considerable has been said and
much discussion has been INDUCED
in but little has been accomplished in
the way of getting better lights Tor
the town. Can it be that our people
are not progressive along this line,
or is it because they want to move 80
deliberately that when the matter is
once accomplished that no error has
been committed? We have been per-
sistently hammering at the question
of better lights for our town and little
has come of it. Sometime back a
public meeting was held IN the Town
Hall, when engineers were here dis
cussing the question of putting in an
acetylene gas plant. That particular
system of lighting was rather frowned
upon and committee was appointed
to investigate the question of electric
ity for lighting the town. We have
heard of no reports nor have we heard
of any progress being made along this
line, although due time seems to have
elapsed in which something might
have been accomplished.
We look around us and we find
other towns of lesser size than ours
forging to the front along the line OF
better lights. Middletown has adopt
ed the gasoline arc lamp a. has also
Emmitsburg, Liberty and Walkers
Vile. The last named town shows a
progressive spirit among its citizens
that could be well emulatcd by our
town and many other towns of SINH
lar size. We have it from reliable
source that they intend to install an
electric light plant Of no mean size
that will not only furnish light Tor
the town but for commercial pur-
poses, manufacturers, etc. The town
has agreed to give $500 year for
lighting purposes. They can not as
well afford to give this sum as Thur
mont could give $500 Il year for light
ing purposes. The citizens of Walk
ersvillc not only intend to put up this
plant, but they have practically con-
tractcd for IL water works system for
the town to cost $40, 900.
1t does seems sometime that we are
living in rather slow age IN this
particular community; few eager to
help to forge ahead than the natural
trend would be. We have 50 many ma
tural advantages and beauties to at
tract strangers to US, but we always
get 'black eye" when they discuss
the question of the almost total dark
ness uf our streets. We believe that
we have enough water power IN the
stream running through the town that
will drive a dynamo Of sufficient ca
pacity to light the town and furnish
lights for dwelling and store pur
poses. Why should there be II delay
in asccrtaning for certainty whcth-
cr or not this plan is feasible or not?
And even if this plant is not feasible,
why should the town not adopt some
other system of producing electricity?
1t is enough; they have the gas pro
duccr system which is the most eco
nomical fuel that can be produced,
and there is gasoline. which is anoth-
er cheap and very satisfactory motive
power for driving "A generator.
Those who have the welfare of the
town and community at heart we do
hope will proceed with little more
speed and see if we cannot have bet
ter lights than we now have before
we start in on another year. The
town is in financial condition to stand
a bonded debt sufficiently large to put
in plant Of this kind, and it will be
source of revenue we believe from
the very beginning. The Legislature
will meet this coming winter and
everything should be so formulated
that it would only require a short
time before the matter could be rati-
fled by our people. There is no rca-
son why anyone should oppose a bond
Of from four to seven thousand dol
lars to put i'll a municipal lighting
plant. 1t can be done without in
creasing the taxes one penny, and we
will then be Keeping pace with the
times. As it is coal oil is now look
ed upon as almost light of the
mcdiacval era.