The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1920-03-19
WILL The ROAD COME !?
4 BILL FOR BUILDING A RAILROAD TO
TANEYTOWN FROM HAYRE De GRACE
HAS BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE
PASSES THROUGH WESTMINSTER.

A bill has been introduced into the
Maryland Senate by Senator Stifler,
and in the House by Delegate Coboarn
by which the Havre de Grace and
Taneytown Railway is given addition
al powers, extending the privileges
granted it in 1918 and previously and
adding TO the rights it holds under
its general charter from the State,
and the Baltimore Sun, from the
following editorial taken from its
columns, is seeking for more light on
the project:
IF the real and only object OF the
Havre de Grace and TaneytOwn Rail-
way Company is to transport passen-
gers and freight between those two
hustling cities, even by way of that
other metropolis, Towson, the charter
granted it in 1918 under the gener-
al law, would seem to be amply
sufficient for its purposes without
the sweeping powers and authority
it would have under the Stifler-Co-
bourn bill introduced in both houses
at Annapolis on Friday.
If the aims and objects of the COM
pany are as far-reaching as the pow
ers which would be granted it under
the Stifler BILL it would be well for
Baltimore to study the bill and its
/ possibilities.
| If this bill was meant only for
a trolly line to Taneytown, it is
| passing strange that a prominent
/ Pennsylvania Railroad attorney
should have been so deeply interested
in it two years ago.
But if we conced that the hackers
of the electric company have no idea
! beyond running little country troll
ley line between two towns, the
Stifler bill still demands careful scru-
tiny Nobody can reasonably deny
that the powers granted therein
would be worth millions of dollars
especially to the Pennsylvania Rail
road If the Pennsylvania should
get control of those powers it might
easily get a track passing around
Baltimore. Whether it would diver
passenger trains to this new route
is a question, but surely it might dC
j so, and probable would. To secure
such line would not only allow its
fast through trains to avoid thu
tunnels, which will certainly be nee
Icessity of the roads building new
tunnels, which will certainly be ner
essary under present conditions be
lfcre very long. They are, in fact
needed now.
4 There are some who would no
object to the Pennsylvania having {
track around the city for its freigh
business not destined for Baltimore
4 providing no passenger trains were
diverted. But this should be con
dition precedent to any such fran
chise. And in any case the arrange
ment should be open and fair anC
above board, and not brought abou
I by camouflage or indirection or false
pretense.
And on general principles, whether
or not any other road is interested
in this trolley project or not, it is
extremely bad policy to grant sucf
sweeping powers to any corporation
unless the necessity and advisability
of such action are convincingly prov,
4 eds'
The route as given in the incorpora-
ton was from Havre de Grace to &
point on the Gunpowder Falls,
through Eleventh and Ninth districts
Baltimore county, north OF Towson
thence through the Third to the Sec
ond district, to the North Branch ot
the Patapsco, following the North
Branch to Keyser's ruin, thence tt
Finksburg in Carroll county; through
/ Westminster to TaneytoWn.