Catoctin clarion., 1909-08-05
PETTY ANIMOSITY.

1t will be Remembered that about the
time the w., F. & G. Railroad was being
completed between LeWistown and Catoc-
tin, that a portion of the Monocacy Val
ley Railroad rails were removed from
their former bed and placed on the en-
bankments beside the roadway to allow
further grading and adjusting of the
line to be made. During this time the
Railroad had quite controversary with
Mr.. Thropp, the owner of the Catoctin
Furnace property. Mr.. Thropp seemed
to be bitterly opposed to the railroad go
ing where the same had been laid out,
claiming of course just like most of the
others along the right of w"y, that, if
the road had been laid off at any other
place, it would have done little or no
damage
Afte; two juries had passed on this
proposition and had allowed Mr.. Thropp
what everyone conceived to be full, am
pie anG more just compensation for the
land rt uuired, there still seemed to lurk
in the mind Of Mr.. Thropp that he had
been very unjustly dealt with. The rails
taken up temporarily and laid aside We're
removed by the men in Mr.. Thropp's en-
ploy to the old cast house. When the
railroad became in need of these rails so
remove, d. they proceeded to load them
upon the cars and to take them as mat
ter of right in their own property. The
car was temporarily placed on what is
known as the scales switch Immediately
above the furnace, when again these
rails were, by the men in Mr.. Thropp's
employ and we presume by his direction,
removed from the cars and placed in the
yard of the Superintendent. This neces-
STATED the action of replevin by the Rail
road Company, which action was insti
tuted and the rails retaken in possession
and moved from the vicinity of Catoctn
and used by said Railroad Company in
the course of their general business opcr-
ations.
This seemingly closed the incident of
the rail taking until a couple of we ks
ago, when the switch on the Monocacy
Valley Railroad entering at the furnace
proper was ordered taken up and the
rails to be disposed of as so much unne
cessary scrap iron. The section hands
OF the ra lroad had proc, eded but IA short
time when again the employees of Mr..
Thropp appeared on the scene and prac-
tically, to all in;ents and purposes, took
charge of the rails SO already taken up
hy the railroad gang, and proceeded and
did remove the balance from the roadbed
where they were laying and have kept
the same in the direct custody of Mr..
Thropp's superintendent or employees.
The Monocacy Valley Railroad some
years ago, when they changed the old
engine for the one now in use, the old
tender trucks were left in the rear of the
furnace. The trucks and the tender
aforesaid were likewise desired to be
used and disposed of by the railroad com
pany, and on Saturday last the employees
of the railroad proceeded to remove same
and place it iii position for use or dispos-
al by the railroad company. They sue
ceeded in getting the same upon the
right of way and got one pair of trucks
on the railroad, which was moved to
Thurmont. Upon returning they found
the other set of trucks had shared the
same fate that the rails did, the same
being removed and taken into custody by
Mr.. karr, superintendent of Mr.. Thropp.
All these proceedings look very much
like petty animosity, and the facts gre
given without comment save and except
that it would seem that the Railroad
Company ought to keep things nailed
pretty tight in that neighborhood.
The value of the material thus taken
does not amount to very much in dollars
and cents, but we cannot conceive that
there is very friendly feeling existing
on the part of Mr.. Thropp toward the
Railroad Company. 1t may dawn on Mr..
Thropp some day that a friendly feeling
might be essential to his business well
fare while he continues as the owner or
operator Of the Catoctin property.