The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-04-14
Che Central Railroad.
For The Cecil Uhip

MIR. EDITOR In n former article pro-
nounccd the somewhat famous "Fink and
Ash Report, lying, contemplate report.
propose in this to adduce some further evil
dcnce of its title to this character. In speak.
ing of the length Of the line in that survey.
the engineers IN their report say: This dis
lance is taken from line made merely for
preliminary survey. and is necessarily much
longer than q located line would be between
the same points, That preliminary line
is necessarily much longer than carefully
located one. is too absurd to he entertained.
1t is denied by engineers whose opinion upon
the subject is entitled to full confidence from
their acknowledged talents and ability. 1t
is refuted by the facts. and without going
further than the present permanently located
road from Grub Bridge to Brown s Pottery.
which line was two miles longer by careful
location than the result of preliminary sur
vcy showed; and from the whole project of
the "Frink and Ash" survey having been
piece of spite work, it follows that their pre-
liminary line was made as short as possible
Again hereport heretofore refcrrcdt to. says.
Entering this valley 1.-THE valley of Basin
Run) much farther from the Octoraro, and at
much less elevation above the river than
any other line that has been traced down it.
we are enabled to follow the stream with the
comparatively light grade before mentioned
as our maximum and cross the SusQuchan-
ma near the mouth of Deer Creek. with n
bridge having a elevation of not more than
sixty feet at its eastern end"
If the valley Of Basin Run is entered at a
higher point on the stream than any former
survey. how can the elevation above the river
he less. unless the stream runs up hill TO enter
the Octoraro! Basin Run is land locked by
immense hills, and there is no entrance to
the Susquchanna fer railroad, except by
the valley of that stream, and the Octoraro
creek; and all surveys, when they reach this
valley. must lap on each other and strike the
river at the same point, and that line which
strikes Basin Run nearest the Octoraro must
have the last elevation above the river. hence
the statement Of Eruk and Ash is palpablc
fiction. They then cross the Susquchanna
near the mouth Of Deer Creek, which creek,
by the by, cmpties into the Susquchanna. on
its west side about four miles below the Oc-
toraro: thus, to cross the river at Deer Greek,
requiring a curve al the mouth of the Octora-
| TO. sufficient, at least, to bring the road round
to right angle with its former course thence
down the river four miles to reach a point
opposite Deer Creek. This would bring it
within mile of Tie branch road that is be-
ing constructed by the lower company to
Port Deposit. very desirable arrangement,
as the passengers on the lower road, when
stopped by the ice at the ferry, could come
up to Port, and Chrsty Baker could drive
them up to the Central road, thence they
could proceed to Baltimore. Thus the Frink
and Ash report proves itself to I've such iic-
ton, where am thoroughly acquainted with
the ground, that am disposed to receive all
its smooth statements, its easy grades. its
gentle curves, its shallow cuts, its low en-
bankments. its short measure, &c, with cX-
IRENE caution. doubt much whether Frnk
and Ash ever saw Deer Creek. and from the
manner they struggled about the hills. when
in this vicinity. taking birds eye view of
the country. it is evident that their statements
are matters of speculation rather than scien-
tific investigation and those who take that
report as a basis of their argument, start with
false premises, and must arrive at false con-
illusions. To have railroad from Baltimore
to Philadelphia. crossing at the mouth of the
Octoraro Creek, which appears to be the only
place that a road can approach the bed of the
river between here and Havrc-de-Grace-is
the earnest desire Of the people of this vicini-
| ty. and whether it comes by the Sicles route
or the Frink and Ash route: in convenience
point of vicw-is matter of indifference to
them, as both surveys come together here.
l have proved this report by facts and
logical differences to be not very reliable, and
will now proceed to show that it is utterly
contemplate. Why was it made and pub
lishcd after the route of the Central road had
been permanently located in Pa, the stock
taken to grade it, and the work placed under
contract, and not when preliminary surveys
were being made for the last two years, along
the various lines2 The citizens along the
lines that were run, raised funds by volun.
tary contribution for the purpose of defraying
the expenses of such surveys, but the people
on the Brick Meeting House Route" as it
is frequently called, wouldn't get any TN up
for that purpose doubtless considering their
route good enough without surveying it.
Now, if they wouldn't incur the expense of a
survey, who, with grain of sense. will be-
lieve they would have subscribed for suiii-
cient amount Of stock to grade railroad +!
The fact is, and some of those in the secret
have boastcd of publicly. that they haven't
the remotest idea of constructing road on
the line of the Tr,nk and Ash survey; but
like the dog in the manager, say, it we can I
build railroad here you shd'nt build one
farther west.
That the Phila., vii. & Bait. Railroad
Company mad the control of that fabulous
report there is prcsumptivc evidence .strong
as proof Of holy writ" In the first place the
acknowledged projectors of the survey, could
not or would not raise funds to survey the
route, when it should have been done, if at
all. Secondly. it is futile to suppose they
would do so when the time to derive any
practical good from such course had gone