The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-12-23
WASHINGTON, WESTMINSTER and
GETTYSBURG RAILROAD TO DIVERT
FREIGHT TRAINS N0RTKHARD FOR
THAT ROAD.
Five Miles OF Proposed Road Built
Capitalist Says Funds Will Be
Forthcoming For Its Completion.

In the construction of the Washing
ton, Westminster and Gettysburg
Railroad, work on which has begun,
railroad men see the possibility of a
freight cutoff for the Pennsylvania
Railroad company, thus relieving the
Baltimore tunnels of their congestion.
The proposed road, it is pointed out,
would extend through Prince Georges,
Howard and Carroll counties, Md. AT
Westminster it would pursue a line
almost direct north, connecting with
the Frederick Division of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, by which route
would be open to York and thence to
Philadelphia and New York, as we'll
as to Harrisburg and Western points.
Such a line, it is contended, would
meet all the requirements of the
freight cutoff" around Baltimore
which the Pennsylvania Company
planned six years ago. 1t was denied
the right to construct a line in the
nearby suburbs of Baltimore and was
restricted to a route which contem-
plated line from Magruder Station,
on the Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Washington Road, near the District
line, to extend through Prince Georges
and Howard counties and to connect
at Woodstock with a "cutoff'' line
proposed by the Baltimore and Ohio,
to begin at Sykesville and to extend
through Baltimore county, north of
Towson, to Van Bibber Station, on the
Philadelphia Division. The Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company has never
availed itself OF this franchise Its
financial interests in the Baltimore
and Ohio since the granting Of the
franchise have been greatly reduced.
in addition, its engineers thought
the route az proposed was too eXpen-
sive.
1t il claimed that the Washington,
Westminster and Gettysburg Railroad,
which was chartered by the Maryland
Legislature in 1898, will meet all de-
mands Of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company for line by which its
heavy and increasing
Southern traffic can find an outlet to
the North and West without encoun-
tering delays and Inconveniences
caused by Baltimore tunnels. As is
we'll known, these tunnels are taxed
to their utmost capacity i'm accommo-
dating immense passenger and freight
traffic OF the Pennsylvania Company
Not much additional traffic can pass
through the tunnels. 1t is said that
the volume and value of the traffic
through the tunnels exceed those Of
any tunnels in the world.
1t is only within the past few weeks
that life has been infused into the
Washington, Westminster and Gettys-
burg Railroad. A promise has been
made by capitalists that with the grad
| ing of five miles of the proposed road
funds will be forthcoming for its
completion. The Columbia Construc-
ton Company, Of Washington, Of
which Mr.. e. Southard Parker is
president, now has the enterprise in
charge. 1t is claimed that the local
traffic of the road will be sufficient
for it's support. lit would only be
necessary for the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company to guarantee interest
on the bonds to insure the building of
the road. It would not be used for
through passenger trains of the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company.
One of the thrifty sections to be tapp-
ed by the proposed road is Sandy
Springs, Montgomery county, one of
whose most prominent residents, Mr..
Allan Farquhar, Is interested In the
enterprise. He is secretary and
treasurer of the Mutual Fire Insur-
ance Company, director of the First
National Bank and treasurer of Sandy
Springs Railway Company.-Fromt the
Baltimore American.