Evening journal., 1914-03-31
new RAILROAD
Seems PROBABLE
End OF Southern Maryland's
Long Fight for Railway
In Sight
PLANS
TO BUILD LINE

ANNAPOLIS, Nd. March 3l.-Ae
ter a struggle lasting for more than
a generation, Southern MARYLAND is
about to get the railroad upon which
more than anything else. its deyel-
opment depends. W. Bernard Duke.
yice-president of the National Bank
Of Baltimore, with some business as.
sociates, has secured an option on the
Watson interests in the old Southern
Maryland road, officially known as
the Washington, Potomac and Chesa-
peake, which operates a little Jerk
water line between Brandywine and
Mechanicsville and which has a fran
chise for a line extending from WASH
ington to Point Lookout, with a con-
nection to Baltimore via the Pennsyl-
vania line. It is proposed by Mr..
Duke and his associates to rebuild
the line from Brandywine to Me
chanicsyille and to extend the road
north to Washington and south 10
either st. Mary's city on an estuary
OF the Potomac OF to Esperanza on
the Patuxent.
1t has been estimated by the engi-
neers employed by the syndicate that
the line will cost about $1.20O.OO
OF this amount It is proposed to have
the counties of st. Mary's, Charles
and Prince Georges subscribe $3.50
900 and the syndicate is TO put up the
remainder, approximately 100000
Most OF the money is to come from
New York.
Asks Counties to Subscribe.
Bills have been introduced in the Leg
islature providing for subscription Of
Sl5O,0OO by st. Mary's county, the
money to be available when the road
shall have been built and in operation
! between Esperanza or st. Mary's city
and Meehanicsyille; and subscriptions
of Sl50,OO0 from Prince Georges and
so, 900 from Charles when the road shall
have been constructed to Washington
and trains running over il. For the sub
lscriptiOns from the three counties, they
are to receive income bonds or pre-
lferred stock, these to be a second mort
gage on the property, and to come ahead
OF everything except the first mortgage
bonds. A clause in the bill makes pro-
vision for the retirement of these in
come bonds at 10 at the pleasure OF the
company and only ,lose which are to 20
to counties for their subscriptions are 10
be issued.
Favorable Opinion in Counties.
he provision that the counties are to
receive income bonds for their subscrip-
tions and will receive the first of any
profits from the road after the interest
ion the first mortgage bonds are paid has
lcreated very favorable impression in
the counties in the position Of receiving
something for their subscriptions other
than the benefit that win be derived
from having the road built through
les ssstn ala lao.
ties a lien on the property Of the COM
pany.
This is by far a more liberal proposi-
tion than that made by the Baltimore
and Virginia Railroad which is endea-
ivoring TO revive the old Drum Point
Railroad project and which PROPOSES "a
give to Anne Arundel and Calvert coun.
Ties, through which it will pass, cont
mon stock. the same as that given the
bond subscribers as bonus, in return
for their subscriptions.
Both Electricity and Steam
II the subscriptions by the counties ol
st. Mary's, Charles and Prince George
are made to the income bonds OF th'
Southern Maryland road, it is statc'
that the remainder OF the money need
ed will be forthcoming at once and that
itOHrll AtLibN W lAA w NANN A"A 90 - W.
short time. II is proposed 80 operate
ihe line both by steam and electricity
The passenger cars will be somewhat
similar to those in use on the Baltimo'
r land Annapolis Short Line and will b.
s operated by electricity. The freight
b hauling win be done BY steam.
. May Have Virginia Connection.
= Much interest is being manifested
in the road by the residents OF th'
Northern neck of Virginia, especial,
e in the counties Of Northumberland
?. Richmond. Lancaster and Westmore
% land. That country has develope'
as a great trucking section within th'
last 10 years or so, although il is en-
e tirely without railroad facilities ant
e has to depend upon the bay boats &
o get its products TO market. plai
:, Is under way in that section to run
! short line OF power boats across IN
e Potomac, connecting the Great WI
conico. Coan and Yeocomico river
g with the proposed line so as to ge
II quick across to the Baltimore an
h Washington markets. The line Woul
+ save the truckers of the Norther'
neck at least day in reaching ma