Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-04-15
THE TRUTH INDEED.

The following article appeared in the
Saturday evening Daily News of Fred
erick, which represents in concise form
the whole truth with reference to the
railroad situation in Frederick city. There
is no denying what this party says, and
we give it for the benefit of our readers
who know great many of the facts con-
cerning the grailroad ''hold up" and yet
may not know some of the points pre-
sented by this article:
Accuses Aldermen of Being Influenced
By II Mysterious Power to Harass
The W., +. 4 Il. Rv.
To the Editor of The News.
"In your issue of yesterday you say
with reference to the talk about skirt
ing Frederick in the event the railroad
is further harassed if actually coming
from the managers of the road would in
dicate ungratefuness for favors which
it has already received and reckless
willingness to cast aside the company's
chances of further favors, which persons
well-informed upon the situation are
aware it has been about to receive and
you also seem to depreciate the idea that
any coercion should be used by the rail-
road, or those interested in it. Let me
say this to you, there hasn't been sin
gle favor extended to the road by the
present board of aldermen that hasn't
come with grudging sentiment, and af-
ter the most strenuous efforts by the
road to get it. There was nothing whole
souled or generous in what they did.
There always seemed some kind of a
power some place that was trying to
thwart the success of the road, and to
throw obstacles in it's way. 1t is, how
ever, due to truth to say that several
members of the board are our earnest
friends.
"The present Aldermen were hardly
warm in their seats until the road was
coerced by the Board, on the complaint
of two residents on West Fourth Street,
to lower its tracks at considerable ex-
pense. 1t was done under the threat to
tear up the toacks and stop the running
of the road. The road protested that il
was not necessary, and would really
bring about the condition which they in
sisted should be prevented. The result
has been that we have been compelled to
raise again the tracks at further cost
to the road. When the Mayor of the city
threatened to tear up the tracks of the
road and cut it off from the city, unless
an unnecessary thing was done to graf
ify the whims of two persons, did your
paper then utter a single protest against
the taking up of the tracks?
ut seems to me that if you had then
made at least feeble protest, you would
be in better position to advise the own
ers of the road against taking up the
tracks and 'skirting' the city. We have
received one favor from the present
board and only one-we have been per-
mitted to run the road for a limited time.
But we got that privilege only after a
most strenuous effort, and it came, as
have said above, very grudgingly. They
compelled US to put up bond of $40, 900
for the privilege of trying to help the
commercial and business interests OF
Frederick for one year; very generous
indeed, and then as soon as the year was
up the friends of the road, who had gone
on the bond, were threatened with suit
if the road ran moment over the time.
Shylock like, they demanded the bond to
the letter. 1t may be that the Board OF
Aldermen in obedience to public opinion
is willing now to extend the time, This
is true beyond doubt, as the expiration