The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-04-14
For Tie Ccril Hin,


Mr.. Enron Being q constant reader Of
your valuable paper. lind it has become the
medium through which much important in
formation is transmitted to the rcresng and
rejecting community. In its columns there
have been several communications relative to
the proposed Central Rail Road. One over
the signature of "Ociororo,' has given your
readers spicy account Of this enterprise. and
i'll it the writer endcavors to prove that there
has been many implements thrown in the
way of its construction: among which he
cnumerates survey recently made by Mcssrs
Fink and Ash. which he is pleased to term
Lying ana contemplate report" and
which. he says, was distributed in pamphlet
form, rs well as advertised in the newspa-
pcrs." | will endcavor to give you short
account of the origin of that report. its OBJ
jccts, &c: you then can judge lift be worthy
ofthc epithets your correspondent "Octoraro'
has bestowed on it.. In the early preliminary
surveys made for this Central Road by and
under the direction of Mr.. Sicklcs. it was
avowcd that the objects sought were to con-
meet the cities Of Philadelphia and Baltimore
by first class road. which would be capable
If great speed; located on the straightcst and
best route, with easy gradients and a pcrrna-
ncnt bridge over the SRsquchanna OH which
the mails and the great travelling community
would DC carried from city to city in an hour
less time than by the present road With
this view large proportion of the country
from Media on the West Chester road to
Baltimore. lying within range Of five miles
North and South Of the route as now located
was surveyed by the engineers. A number
Of gentlemen along the route in PENNSYLVANIA
were by primary meetings, chosen Directors
for the Pennsylvania tnd and in Ike manner
a number of gentlemen were chosen in this
State for the Maryland end. At SubSc-
qucnt meeting these two boards of Directors
were merged into ono, STYLED the Directors of
the Philadelphia 4 Baltimore Central Rail
Road Company.
These gentlemen for the most part held
what they called Directors meetings, to
which but few, if any. Of the stockholders
were admitted, and none others; at those
tctlngS the points were established where
the route should be located, which were from
Avondalc, ria Oxford, Browns Pottery and
Basin Run to the mouth of the Octnraro.
These points were not made public until they
| thought they had sufficient stock subscribed
to ensure its partial location on this route.
When these facts were made known to the
community, they very naturally cnqurcd
INTO the merits of the route that had been
adopted, and many were Of the opinion that
Oxford was too far north Of the true route
the road should take: and that there must
have been some powerful local influence to
cause 1t TO verge III that direction.
a meeting was then called at Lewisville,
Pa, when it was determined that a survey
should lie made from Avondale to Basin Run
to ascertain whether the Directors had adj
hered to their original designs, and COM
mttee was appointed to procure the services
of competent engineers; and also another to
solicit contributions to dcflay the expenses
about to be incurred.
The services Of Messrs Frink and Ash were
procured, who came highly recommended as
gentlemen of known ability in their profess
sion. They surveyed the route as pointed
out to them by their employers and made
their report from the evidences of the facts
obtained by actual surveys. making no COM
parlson between their surveys and Others
which had been made. and submitted their
Report to meeting Of the citizens at Lewis
vile, when it was accepted, and they were
paid foi their services and dismissed.
a committee was appointed to prepare a
heading and attend to the publication of the
| Report, for which they had funds in hand
collected by voluntary subscriptions of cti-
zcns along the route uf said survey, therefore
they We're not paid for by the employees of
the Phil, Will & Bait. Railroad" as repre-
scntcd by "Octoraro:" an assertion which
he knew to he without foundation in fact
when he pcnned it.
Now would like to be informed by what
authority your correspondent "Octoraro'
should call this report Lying report" Has
he taken any means by which he can ascer-
tain whether the measurements, gradients,
&C., given in that Report are true or false.
Is he possessed with any authentic informa-
ton as regards the veraclty of Messrs. Frink
and Ash, as gentlemen or as civil engineers,
which would lead him to believe them cala-
bic of publishing a Report which was not
correct in every particular? If not then he
is guilty of a gross libel which no gentleman Of
ordinary capacity should utter.
Not satisfied with condcmning the report
he boldly attacks an Editor in dastardly
manner, for making extracts and comments
theron for the benefit of his readers.
Now Judging from the course of the Drec-
tors of this Central Road, and from your cor
respondent "Octoraro," one would form the
opinion that they were opposed to any light
or information being given to the community.
They are sore over the publication Of this
Report, and it clearly shows to every candid
mind that they have chosen a longer route,
with shorter curves and greater elevations,
when one can be found shorter and of grades
of 80 feet less to the mile for nearly one half
of the distance; ayowedly to advance the in
terests of the little inland town of Oxford.
The Report brings to light many incon-
gruities and imperfcctions in their located
route, which they would rather have kept in