The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1947-07-03

Following the meeting held at the
Hotel Alexander last week, at which
everyone connected with the pro-
posed removal of the Williamsport
Trolley put their cards plainly on
the table, with the result that every
one knew exactly where everyone
else stood on this much: debated
question, action speedily developed.
To the Washington County Board
of County Commissioners went the
honor-and a richly deserved honor
it is-of taking the first concrete
action. Meeting in their regular
weekly session at the Court House on
Tuesday with everyone present with
the exception of Commissioner Bur-
hans, who is on vacation, the Board,
by unanimous vote, agreed to pay the
$12,500 assessed against them.
Despite the fact that the Board of
County Commissioners had the high
est assessment-The City of Hagers-
town was only assessed $4,000 and
Williamsport, $2,500-the Board lost
little time in getting down to the
business at hand, the approving of
the payment, which they did in the
following resolution:
ut is the general consensus of
opinion that the carrying out of said
plan will greatly enhance property
values on said road, dispense with
out-moded transportation in said
Washington County, aid and assist in
solving the traffic problem along said
line and constitute a progressive
step forward"
Despite the fact that the question
of removing the trolley emanated in
Hagerstown as traffic hazard in the
city, and despite the fact that the
County was asked to pay the biggest
part of the cost of the removal of
any of the three communities in
volved, the members of the Board
looked at the matter purely from the
angle of civic betterment and acted
accordingly, for which they deserve
the thanks of the entire county.
The Mayor and Council of Will
Transport, in an official letter written
to j. V. Jamison, Jr., chairman of
last weeks meeting, and read by
him at that meeting, stated that they
would do their part, and they were
scheduled to hold a meeting last
night to take final action.
The Mayor and Council OF Ha-
gerstown also took the matter up at
their meeting on Tuesday night and
during the discussion the question of
whether or not the Potomac Edison
Company had a franchise to operate
the trolley in perpetuity I'M Hagers-
town, was settled once and for all.
In all previous discussions, some
members of the Council have ex-
pressed grave doubts as to whether
the company had such "a franchise,
but at Tuesday nights meeting city
attorney Oswald informed them that
the city ordinance of 1929, which
upon acceptance by Potomac Edison
became a contract and therefore
could not be revoked, very definite
" gave them that right. The City
attorney further asserted that under
that same franchise the Potomac. Ed
ison. even after abandoning the
present trolley line in Hagerstown,
could, if they so desired, lay new
tracks and again operate a trolley
in Hagerstown at any time they saw
fit to do so.
After getting over the shock of
this obviously unwelcome news and
at last realizing that the only way
to get rid of the trolley was to fall
in with the plan outlined by the
MARYLAND State Roads Commission
under the plan the Roads Com
mission will pay half of the $4,000
demanded by the Mechanics Bank
and Trust Co. of New York, who, as
trustees hold a mortgage on all the
tangible assets of the Potomac Edi-
son Company prior to 1914, as Sc
curity for the company's securities,
and also spend another 100000 for
a modern highway between Will
Transport and Hagerstown = the
Council voted unanimously, with the
exception of Councilman Wolfe, who
was out of the city, on the following
motion proposed by Councilman
Claude Potterfield and seconded by
Councilman Jack Hellane:
That the City of Hagerstown
aarooc to nav the State Roads Com