The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-04-14
For The Ceti! tVhin

Mr. ED1ron A writer i,s tie last num-
Der of your paper over the euphoncous title
of"-1U Line" takes exceptions to my strict
urcs on the Report of Mcssrs Frink and Ash,
of II survey made by these engineers from
Avondae to the valley of Basin Run. The
principal argument mace by him is based Oh
the assumption that the line he favours is
more direct and consequently shorter than
the more northern line. He has here either
mistaken" or "misstatcd" the facts. We
are not left to argument or opinion to settle
this point We have the mcasurements of
the two lines, and from these we learn that
the distance from Avondale to the Octoraro
III the Frink and Ash line is taccntu,four miles
and threc-qudrters of mile: whilst from and
to the same points by the Sickle survey it is
but twcnty.four miles and once quarter of Il
mile, giving us one half mule in favor Of Il e
more northern route.
He also argues that the southern route
must cost less, in consequence OF crossing
the dividing between the atilucnts of the Del
aware and Chesapeake, at much less clcva-
ton than the northern route, notwilstand.
ing the magnitude of the hills and valleys
which it must necessarily cross. Here, how
ever, his opinion diiiiXs from experienced
and practical engineers. and as he has been
so palpably mistaken in plain matter of
distance. VIC must beg to receive his asSiir.
ances with caution, upon this much more
abStrusc question of costs.
Having now disposed Of the main obicc-
tons to the northern line, / will sta'c some
of the advantages it must necessarily have
over the more southern route, promising
however, that so far as the Directors of the
road are concerned, and of any views they
may have entertained when making choice of
the line, iniersrcting the Pa. and Md line at
Browns Pottery, have no knowledge and
nothing to do. have had no connection
with them and do not pretend to speak for
thcm-they beng much better qualified to
speak for themselves
1t was doubtless considered matter OF
primary importance by the board of Directors
in making choice of route for the Central
Road to select one upon which the money to
grade and bridge it could be obtained along
the sPid line: as this, owing TO the peculiar
condition Of money matters, especially as re.
gard, Railroad Stocks, was the only source
| from it could be obtained ere decided
preference was in favor Of the direct and
northern line. The ncaness Of the present
| p, W. 4 E. r. Il. made those along the
| southern line apat}Tctlc i'll the matter and The
limits i'll which stock could possibly be sold
must Of ssty be very circumscrb,d. Or
the direct and northerh live, however, mucl
more latitude was given and much greater
| interest manifested as was proven when al
effort was made to raise funds for the prrlim
mary surveys. The extent Of country which
would be tributary to the road by keeping il
on the northern route would he much greater
and more productive, and the freight ant
travel afforded by the manufacturing estab
liSnmcns along the Octoraro, present ant
oSp,ctivc, would certainly be secured
Considering. then, that the route was NOR
dncci and shorter: that it would lie less OK
rcnsive: that the funds to grade and bldg
it could with certainty be raised along tn,
line, that when completed the road would l.,
equally as good, and the through travel NOR
certainly secured with n large additional
amount Of way freight and travel, thnl
the Directors consulted the interest of tn,
stockholders and Of the road by maxim.
choice of the lontc which they did. From tn
energy with which the work in Penna. is b,
lug pushed on, and it will he but very shor
time until the same will be the case here.
am in hopes that in enc year from this tim
we will have cars running from the SuSque
bona to Philadelphia. i.
Rising SIN, AprH Nm, 1855