Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1855-07-19
BALTIMORE AND POTOMAC RAIL-
ROAD.
REPORT OF J. R. TRIMBLE, ESQ.
Containing Result of Surveys and Esti'
mateS
BALTIMORE, June 1st, 1855.


BALTIMORE, June 1st, 1855
To JOHN S. SELLMAN, Esq, and
WALTER w. w. BOWIE, Esq, Committee:
Gem7emen:-Hsving, in accordance with
the arrangement, made with You IN Decem.
Der last, completed the surveys for the
Baltimore and Potomac RsiIrosd, now lay
before you the results obtained therefrom
for The use Of The Commissioners and ofihose
gentlemen Of Anne Arundel, Prince Georges
and Charles counties who contributed 10
defrsy the cost Of The work.
For a proper development Of the charac-
teris,ics Of each route, as indicated by the
typographical features Of The country. l73
miles were surveyed. will here say lha,
the whole number Of days in camp was n;
that six days were los, by bad weather
which, with Sabbs,hs also deducted, leaves
So working days in the field, which makes
the average distance run per day about three
miles.
think proper to mention this subject as
. tribute due to the enterprise and sc,ivity
OF the assistant eng ineer, Isasc G.. Brewer.
end TO the gentlemen Of the party.
The ready alacri.y and frmness with
which each member Of the corps endured
she severe exposure Of the weather of las,
winter, together with the harmony that Of
oil times prevailed, constrained me to alude
TO the subject as in the highes. degree cred
liable 10 them all.
The bardships to which they were ex
posed were in no small degree mi,iga,ed by
the considera,e kindness every where extend
ed to them by gentlemen on The ,route.-
The refined and hearty home hospitality Of
the Southern counties Of Maryland is pro-
verbal, and bestowed in such manner ss
with as much pride, as plessan. and grateful
feelings.
Though familisr 10 many Of the COM
missioners, o brief description Of the coun-
try, through which The lines were run NAV
not be Inappropriate or unin,eres'ing to
others.
From Baltimore TO the Potomac River,
below Port Tobacco. the distance by
straight line is sbou, 63 miles. The coun-
try through which il would pass varies
much in character and msy be divided ss
TO length into three equsl portions, each dis
,inquished by features peculiar to itself as
regards topography, soil. SC.
1s.. The Northern dislric. extending from
Baltimore to the Pa.uxen,.
Cd. The Middle dis,ric. extending from
Paiuxent to head of Piscatsway.
Sd. The Southern district from the head
Of Piscs,sway TO the Potomac.
The first named district lies wholly in
Anne Arundel county. With few excep-
'ions the surface is level or slightly undu-
la,ing, covered for the mos. par, with Sec
ond growth Of pines, familisrly known as
the "Piney Woods"
Webb's Hill and Bryan's Hill ere the ex-
cep'ions. The former on insulated emf
nenee with spurs 10 the Eastward, about
224 feet above tide wafer. Both Of these
hills would be avoided by the located line;
only two streams of small size would be
crossed by the road, viz Furnace creek end
Severn run. There is no rock Of any kind
in any par. of This district.
The soil is ligb. silicious loan, mixed
with clay, in proportions 6ly adapted to
the production of culinary plants extensive
areas are now appropriated to this purpose
for supplying the markets in Baltimore with
vegetables. The extensive and novel s.aw-
berry culture in fields Of twenty acres,
should not pass unno.iced. One proprie-
aor sells annually over Ten thousand dol
Jars worth of this fruit.
O.her portions Of this district, near the
Pa,uxent, are we'll adapted 10 the growth of
cereals, and are we'll improved by system
Of modern culture.
For the construction Of Railroad of the
best character and least cost, there are few
sections Of country SO highly favorable.
The middle dis,ric. from the Patuxen, to
the Piscataway, 90 miles 10 length, lies in
Prince Georges, and comprises the mos,
fourishing portions Of .ha. fertile county.
The surface in this district is every here
undula.ing, and in parts billy and broken.
The elevations are generally more remarka-
Bile for irregulari.y Of ou. line than for
height, and present every variety Of sspec.
which can lend beauty TO q rural District.
Through this section the courses Of
streams are usually found to conform to the
proper direction Of The road, thus stfordng
easy gradients and avoiding the usual heavy
expense where the route of road crosses
tho streams Of q country.
The "Colling,on" throughout ils length
offers the most favorable trace for the loca-
tion Of Railroad.
The country south Of Marlborough for q
distance OF ten miles, is more hilly and ir-
regular than any par. of the route from
Baltimore 10 the Potomac. Here in leaving
the Western Branch, the line is thrown ou.
Of i,s proper direction, but fortunately the
valleys Of streams can be pursued, and thu.