Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-11-25
Must Hell p To Pay For Road
Improvement.
Commissioners Authorized To
Help Pay Extra Expense.

As was noted in last weeks issue, tn
Western Maryland Railway Company Ii
now at getting ready to replace the ston'
buttments which carry the bridge ovel
the State Road at this place.
To the large majority of citizens THU
Improvement came as surprise. The
driveway under the railroad is but l:
feet, and at this bridge the road make:
considerable bend, so much so that one
person cannot see another coming in the
opposite direction until almost under the
bridge. The nineteen feet is very mar
row for teams to pass and is dangerous
for persons who have occasion to travel
the road on foot.
To remedy the condition petition was
hastily gotten up, signed and sent to the
State Road Commission, asking that body
to confer with the officials of the rail-
road and if possible, have the road wild
ened and provisions made for the safety
and convenience of those who walk.
The Road Commission took up the
natter promptly and on Monday of this
week Mr.. E. w. Stearns, bridge engineer
of the w. M, and Mr.. J. N. Mackall, of
the Road Commission, came to Thurmont
to make Investigations. At the bridge
they met number of the business men
Of Thurmont, and after talking over the
matter finally made this proposition to
the town, viz: That the estimate cost of
the work and material above what the
railroad had planned to spend would be
about 81, 500; that the railroad company
and the State Road Commission would
bear one third each of this amount, pro-
vided Thurmont would assume the other
third.
An answer to this could not then and
there be given. Some of the citizens
were opposed to paying anything, claim
ing the State, as it owns the road, should
provide for the extra expenditure and
make the road wider and reasonably safe
tor traffic.
r
Monday night in the Community Club
room, at which Messrs. Peter N. Ham
maker, L. R. Waesche Ind W. Freeze
were appointed to go to Baltimore before
the State Road people and try and in
huent> them to bear this expense. This
committee reported at the regular meet
ing of the Community Club Tuesday
evening to the effect that the town posi-
lively had to pay a portion of the extra
cost. After some discussion the Board
of Commissioners were authorized to pay
if necessary. $500 toward the improve
ment.
On Wednesday considerable objection
was raised to the commissioners paying
this sum out of the treasury. Petitions
were circulated and secured many sign
ers, and for a time it looked as though
the Improvement would uot be made.
Mr.. Stearns came to town Wednesday
noon, expecting definite answer as to
what the town would do, but no answer
was ready. A Board meeting was called
the members thereof and about twenty
citizens meeting in the CLARION OFFICE.
Here the matter was talked over thor
oughly, the Board letting it be known
that it was opposed to paying this sum
from the treasury, yet all wanted i'm
provement and were willing to pay lib
orally TOWARD it.
Finally an agreement was reached
whereby the Board agreed to stand by
the proposition, provided the money was
raised by popular subscription and paid
into the treasury.
In a few Minutes volunteer subscrip-
tions amounted to nearly one-fourth the
amount some of which was paid cash,
Mr.. Josiah Flohr having the credit for
paying in first money.
A vote was taken by the Board and it
was found to be unanimous in favor of
backing the proposition.
AS the matter now stands the State
Road Commission obligates itself to pay
$500; the town of Thurmont $500, and
the railroad company the remainder.
While this may seem big sum for the
town to pay, yet when we consider that
we are on the Lincoln Highway anC
would have, if the money was not paid
little 1S-foot roadway under the bridge,
the sum is small when We know thai
we will have 22-foot road and at the
side of it provisions for six-foot pave.
ment.
The matter of widening it was now OF
not for many years to come. That the
Commissioners did wise thing in back
ing the improvement cannot be question
ed, and the wisdom of their act will only
be seen after the work has been com.
pleted.
Messrs Matkall and Stearns shoult
receive the thanks of the citizens for the
interest they took in the matter, they
lending their assistance and giving 6
listening ear to any and all who approac h
ed them for information in this matter
Solicitors will be out to secure the
amount necessary to reimburse the towr
treasury, and it is hoped every one ap
preached will come across with sub
stantial sum.
Now Lookout.
When cold hangs on as often hap
pens, or when you have hardly gottel
over one cold before you contract an