Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1848-11-18

through the Cumberland Valley, one Of the most
popuous and fertile regions Of America. Some idea
may be formed OF the value Of the annual products
of this valley from the statistics furnished by the
census of 1910. The following table shows the az
gregatc of some of the principal products aud manu-
features for that year. of the six counties of Bedford
Franklin, Cumberland, Dauphin, York and Adams;
and also the whole amount OF the same products and
manufactures for that year, Of the State of Mary
land: Six Counties OF Pa. Maryland.
Wheat, ..... bushels, y, 425 ,5i2 3,345,7s3
Rye, ........ do. l,4I3,S72. .......... 123,5lI
Oats, ........ do 3,I3940l ........ 1884 ,2ll
Corn, go. do. 2,95S, l04 ..~..:. s,233,0o6
Distilled and fcrm'ted
Liquors, gslloms,l ,oi3,6s7 ......... 366;2f5
For the products OF these six conntes-nearly equal
to those OF our entire SateBaltimorc is the nearest
and natural market. Large quantities sent
from some OF these counties by wagons TO fofk,
thence to be sent by railroad TO Baltimore; but far
the greater proportion, attracted by superior facIli
ties Of communication, is carried 10 Philadelphia.
BY constructing the proposed road, we would bring
the rich granaries OF this region within few hours
travel of Baltimore, and might reasonably expect to
almost the whole of this trade.
The committee have been furnished with a state
mcnt of the business of the Cumberland Valley Rail-
road by which il appears that the transportation over
that road for the year 1916, amounted to 40 453 800
lbs and for five months Of the year 1877, TO 80 2S,
l5S lbs
Besides the Cumberland Valley Railroad the Penn
syuanid Genial would alse meet us At Harrisburg.
Pennsy vana connects the waters oil the Susquehanna
with those If the Ohio and Lake Eric. Its length,
(incuding the Portage Railroad of SO miles from
Harrisburg Pittsburg, is 2545 miles, and from Bea
yer to Lake Erie, 1856 miles--totaI, 1901 miles But,
besides the main line, branches OF this canal have
been extended into various sections of the State.
One of those extends from Duncan's Island, at the
mouth OF the Juniata up the Susquehanpa to North
cumberland distance of 80 miles. At this point,
two other branches START running with the North
Branch OF the Susluehanna, 10 miles to Lackwan-
Al.
Dunstown. The latter branch of the canal is met at
Wiamsport by railroad, the greater portion of
which is finished, extending from Emira in N. York.
Elmra connects by Canal with the most important
lines of improvements of that State; and railroad,
of but 80 miles in length, is wanting 10 connect Will
Transport with the great n. York and Eric Railroad,
in progress construction These various branch
Of the canal pierce the counties of Dauphn Perry,
Juuiata, Union, Columbia, Northumberland, Luzerne,
Bradford and MISUNDERSTANDING ia lumber, iron
and grain, and containing OF the most extensive
and valuable coal fields III the world
Between York and Harrisburg, OH the east bank
of the Susquchanna, is Middetown, the greatest
lumber market perhaps in the country. The follow
ing estimate of the number OF feet brought down the
river annually TO tins point, has been furnished by
gentleman OF York, who has given considerable at
tcRton TO the subject:
limb r--l5O 900 900 do. do 3OO, 900
Total value of annual trade, ... s. .50a,000
Both of the routes for the York and Cumberland
Railroad which were examined by the committee,
pass up the river INN 'diaey npposit. this place,
and could be connected with it by a bridge of one
mile in length. The privileges of bridging the river
at this point was not granted in the present charter,
bat no doubt could be hereafter obtained. Besides
serving to bring this valuable trade upon the rail-
road, bridge here would be Of great advantage to
the neighborng country; and, toll bridge, would
nearly pay the interest upon the cost OF its consruc
ton.
1t will be found by reference 10 the census statis-
Df hiatt birds al he ms
in Pennsy lvana, is made in the counties west of the
Susquehanna. Should the proposed road be made,
Baltimore will be the most convenient market for
this trade and cannot fail to receive large proper
ton of it,
But the source from which this road would ulti-
ntcy realize its largest profits, is the coal trade.
In the upper part OF DauphIn comfy and near the
river, are the Lyken's valley, Bcrrys
Mountain, Bear Valley, and Stoney Creek coal basins
tho three first anthracite, the last buminous The
coal of this region in quality has no superior. In
quantity it is incxhaustIble The report of an i'll
tcIligent committee, who had visited these basins,
made the legislature OF Pcnnsylvan in 1899,
estimates that Bear Valley basin alone contains
653 240 900 tons-whilc some have estimated its DE-
and Cumberland Railroad be made TO Harrisburg
the day will not be dstantw hen it will be extended
into the heart of these coal basins. From Harris
burg TO Dauphin Town, or Port Lyon, at the mouth
of Stoncy Creek Valley is eight miles; from thence
to the btuminous coal beds OF Stoncy Creek Valley
is thirteen miles. From Dauphin Town 10 the an
q
of % miles. The whole distance from Baltimore to
the btuminous coal basin of Stoncy Creek would be
only los miles; to the anthracite coal fields of Ber-
rvs mountain I24 miks-the former n shorter route
than that of the Schuy kill coal sent 10 Phadephiss
by the Reading Railroad. Coal could BE- delivered
by this route in Baltimore much cheaper than it Carr
be supplied by any existing or proposed route from
any fields yet discovered. Canal and railroad COR.
ncctons already exist between Harrisburg and these
coal basins and considerable quantities have been
brought into the market. But the completion of the
Y ork and Cumberland road would give a new impe-
this trade, by affordng it short and cheaper
avenue to the waters of the Chesapeake.
We have thus far been consd ring the probable
business of the York and Cumberland Railroad if
dependent solely upon the trade Of Pennsylvania
But another great enterprise has b commenced,
which when completed, must lnNtirc TO this road an
amount of business that will max it of the most
profitable railroads in the Union The Charter for
the Pennsy lvania Central Road, extend from Har-
rsburg to Pittsburg, grant. d in February 1876
The Importance of this road TO the trade Of PhiIa-
dcphia has called forth the most jealous forts of
her citizens to hasten its completion. Three mil
lions of Stock or nearly hall the amount required,
have already been taken and sections of the road
are about TO be put under contract.
The length si the road from Harrisburg to Pitts
burgh will be 22S miles, and its estimated cost is
something over s 100000, or about 1871 600 per
mile Philadelphia has already a railroad connrc.
ton with Harrisburg by route of IO6! miles By
finishing the Central road, she will have continuous
railroad connection with the waters of the Ohio at
by route OF 334s miles. Can it be
doubted that this connection will spoedilv h. msd,>
Some have asserted that nature has raised insur
barriers across the route of the Central
Road. The difficulties have been much exaggerated
From the reports OF intelligent engineers it appears
that by making tunnels of no extraordinary
length, the mountains may be passed, and the whole
road constructed so that the maxmum grade would
never be more than 10 feet TO the mile.
We have stated the estimated cost of the work
and the of stock already subscribed; can the
balance of the stock be taken? The committee have