The Democratic advocate., 1909-06-25
ALL FOR TROLLEY
PEOPLE ENTHUSIASTIC OVER PROPOsEE
CONNECTION WITH LITTLEsTOWK
L Is Thought Money Gould Be Raised
Without Great ElIuFl

The promoters Of the aufocar line
between Littlestown and WestmInster
and Gfyndon canvassed this city and
surrounding country this week for
subscriptions TO the capital stock OF
the company. They are elated with
the success OF their efforts. and say
they had no difhculty IN raising the
amount Of money required. Four
farmers living near town subscribed
300 each, and offered 20 take the So
hcitors In their own teams to visit
their neighbors to assist them In Sc
curing other subscription.
This willingness 10 contribute 10
the establishment OF A line Of this
character shows that the peonle are
anxious 10 put Westminster In better
touch with the world around n. TO DO
away with that shut i'm condition
which IL abnoxious 20 residents and
q deterrent TO visitors.
While the solicitors were succeas-
tui IN their efforts TO raise the necea-
sary funds. they ran up against a
shng which Will probably block the
enterprise unless at1 Investigation
shows that they we're miainformed
On Monday they learned that the res.
identA Of Belair had sunk several
Thousand dollars In an effort 20 es-
iAhiish an autocar line between that
town aud the terminus OF the Hartford
road car line. running out from Bal
umore city, q distance of about ton
miles. They we're also told that the
autocar recently put on the Thur
mont Emmitaburg route ~ IA the
shop for repairs. after running but a
few days The cars are not eaulpped
with pneumatic tires. and II IA gaid
they 20 to pieces IN a short dune. n
this II true, OF course the project viii
ne abandoned. an the company could
not afford 70 buy new car every
month.
The canvass for stock subscriptions
70 this enterpriHe. however. has had
one good result Il haa shown that
the people are ripe for better means
OF communication between Westmln-
etsr and the ne8r-by t0wuR and cities
One man who subscribed 9iO 20 the
autocar line said he would much more
ehesrfuiiy subscribe $500 for trolley
line. The same sentiment was sx-
pressed more or icsa forcihly. BY near
" every subscriber. and the solicitors
are convinced that with very little ef.
tort enough money could he secured
20 build 4 road from Westminster 10
lsittlsstoNn. with a branch 10 Taney-
town. II need not necessarily be a
trolley line. A unit car, furniahtnR
its oHp motive power, coating but ne.
tie more than an autorar and with n
capacity Of from 30 To so papacnRern.
could be used One car would ba SUI
flcient ~ the start. az the round trim
could easily be made Ia two hours
thus enabling the car 70 make seven
or eight trips per day. The e1penes
for one car would be- the wages OF the
engineer and conductor and the fuel
consumed
The building nf such road would
cost very much less than 4 road oper-
ated by electricity The rOat OF poles
aud wire and their erection, the build
ing OF 4 power house aud equipping
II with machinery for generating eIee-
trieits and other things necessary
70 an electric line. probably ada one
fourth to the construction hiIl. and
the operating expense would bc much
greater than with q unit car. IL will
not be many years before the latisr
VIII be used on all street car tines
The trolley ~ great source OF trot,-
BILE Ia many respects, besidee figuring
largely In the expense account. and
u will undoubtedly be cnat aside insf
as soon as the unit car reaches a high.
er stage Of perfection. In It's preeent
state II wwould be sufficient for our
needs.
The right OF way for such a road
should not cost a dollar. IL IA not
dlihcnit 10 understand why farmer
objects 70 a steam road passing over
his land II II Of no advantage To
him personally nor 10 hia property.
To board car. he must drive 10 the
station, perhaps miles away. II en-
dangers the lives OF his stock and his
woods and buildings are In danger
OF nre from locomotive sparks. But
we cannot conceive OF a farmer who
would object 10 line, free from ali
these dangers and disadvantages. that
would put him In quick commnnlca-
tlon with the town, that would take
him up and put him down al his own
gate. which he could use so readily
and eheaply In sending his products
TO the town and In receiving goods
therefrom, which would enable him
TO attend evening entertainments and
70 take part as either guest or host
In social functions. bring the doctor
within easy reach, and in many WAYS
add not only to his own comfort and
convenience but make his property
so much more valuable because OF
easy access Rather than charge
anything for the right OF way. we
can readily imagine farmers Offering
bonus to have such a line run
through their property.
The right OF way being obtained
the only thing TO be considered Is
what II will cost 70 construct a single
track road from here TO Littlestown,
ID miles. II II can be done for $780,
600, the money can be raised right
here In Carroll county, because we
believe II can be demonstrated by re-
ports OF similar lines running out
from Frederick and Hagerstown that
the road will pay a 6 per cent. divi-
dena on that amount OF stock. IL is
astonishing how travel increases
when easy and rapid facilities are
provided The freight traffic would
also be a factor or no little import
ance.
The Merchants and Manufacturers
Association should take this matter
up, figure out the cost, and see what
can be done with 1t
--D---s--