The Washington herald., 1910-04-03
WOULD SAYESTATION
Baltimore Holds TenaciOusly
to Calvert Terminal.
FIGHT IN THE LEGISLATURE
Pennsylvania Company Desires to
Abandon Downtown Facilities and
at Union Station-HOw IL Would
Affect the Capital City.

Baltimore. April 1.-The bill to prevent
the Northern Central Railroad from
carrying out its plan to abandon Cal
vert Station, one of the most stoutly
contested bills in the legislature, has
been passed by the house of delegates.
The governor has stated his intention
of signing the bill. The senate passed
the measure under suspension Of rules
last week. The governors signature will
therefore make it law.
This ends one Of the most determined
fights that have ever been made against
the Pennsylvania Railroad in Baltimore
the central issue being whether the
Pennsylvania was to be allowed 20 ig-
more the rights guaranteed the business
interests of Baltimore and residents
along the Northern Central by the char
ter under which the Northern Central
operates. This victory is one Of the very
few which have been won over the Penn
sylvania at Annapolis in the last few
decades. Bernard Carter and Charles Fl.
Carter represented the Northern Cen
trial in opposition to the bill, and the
leaders in the movement for the bill were
Messrs. r. Bennett Darnall. Raleigh C.
Thomas, William Pinkney Whyte, and
Francis T. Homer Senator Biddison led
the fight for the bin in the senate, and
Delegate Coughlan introduced the bill in
the house and aided materially IL Sc
curing its passage. Delegate Hammond
was also one of the bills strongest ad-
herents.
1t Is "a Downtown Station.
Calvert Station IS the old terminal Of
the Northern Central Railroad and stands
in the center of the business section CT
the city, at Calvert and Franklin streets
It is reached by tracks along Jones Falls
from Union Station which skirt the
stream for about a mile into the heart
of the city. The property at the station
site and much OF the roadway is i'm
mensely valuable for building and manu-
featuring purposes, and the railroad COM
pany could dispose of it at good advan-
tage.
From the railroad standpoint the sta
ton and the running of trains in from
Union Station are not needed. But the
people of Baltimore take another view
Of the matter. Many business men have
their homes along the Northern Cen
trail in Maryland. especially in summer,
and the privilege Of riding TO Calvert
Station in the cars which bring them
into the city, near their Offices, IS one
which they do not want 10 give up.
Hence the fight in the legislature 10
prevent the abandonment Of the prop
/ erty. The freight service is also a mat
/ ter of vital interest to the merchants,
| greatly reducing the haul Of freight and
affording facilities which would create
considerable hardship if they were dis
| placed and il became necessary 10 go
out to Union Station for the freight
coming in over the Pennsylvania lines.
Thinks IL Big victory.
| Commenting on his victory. r. Bennstt
| DarnalI said to-day: THE question is
/ now definitely settled for the next two
years at least whether the Pennsylvania
can continue 10 ignore one of the richest
/ territories in Maryland merely in order
to expedite its through freight traffic.
| THE legislature has decided by passing
the Calvert Station bill that the North
! ern Central owes something to the State
of Maryland from which it received the
charter, and from which it received
some large cash advances in the be
ginning and from which it acquired its
right of eminent domain. The legisla-
ture has decided that in return for all
this the Northern Central shall give
Just and reasonable carrying service.
and shall not ignore, for selfish reasons,
territory which can be brought up to
the highest state Of development, and
which can be made the source Of rev.
/ enue TO the State in the shape Of taxes
of tens Of thousands of dollar a year.
Opportunity for Growth.
Being the only doubIe-tracked non
tunnel road out Of Baltimore, the future
growth of Baltimore must necessarily be
along the Northern Central, and the
people in Maryland have served notice
on the PENNSYLVANIA that they cannot
throttle this territory or place a paralyz-
ing hand upon it by constantly diminish
! ing transportation facilities"
1T was a splendid victory" said Viii
/ liam Pinkney Whyte. who represented a
large number of Baltimore merchants In
the fight in behalf OF the bill "Balti-
more looks 10 this section OF the State
along the Northern Central for a great
deal of It's future trade, and hundreds OF
| thousands Of dollars would fow to Balti-
more merchants every year If the North
ern Central stimulated and encouraged
the development Of the extremely rich
territory between Baltimore and York.
The State has clearly shown that it ex-
poets fair and square dealing from its
| rrin