Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-12-16
BALTIMORE AND POTOMAC RAILROAD.

BALTIMORE AND POTOMAC RAILROAD.
| We are glad to see that SO able and powerful
an advocate as the Richmond Enquirer is warm
ly in favor of the above enterprise. The follow
| ing are extracts from an article in Saturday
paper, and are worthy the attention of our
readers:
We would call attention to this railroad
scheme as one which is of the greatest impor-
lance to the cities of Richmond and Petersburg,
and the old and leading lines Of rail which cen
tire there. The plan is not new, or recently
gotten up. It is the result of long and delibe-
rate examination by some of our most practical
men. The necessary surveys and reconnoisan-
ces were made several years ago, and the route
located through a level and productive country
under the most favorable circumstances for the
construction Of railroads. The line runs from
Baltimore, through or near Upper Marlborough
and the most fertile portions Of Maryland, to a
point opposite Acquia Creek in Virginia -the
present terminus North of the Richmond, Fred
|ericksburg and Potomac Railroad The distance
from Baltimore to Acquia Creek, by this route
is 65 miles. 1t was surveyed by Major Trim
BILE, and estimated to cost less than million of
dollars. 1t will be remembered that its con-
Meeting link-the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac Road-which is Is miles long, has a
|capital of only one million, and cost less than
two millions, though taoice relaid therefore, we
have reason to believe the estimate for the Bal
t imore and Potomac, as made by Major Trim
ble within bounds, under the favorable circum-
stances Of route, &c. This road must be pay
ing road, remunerating investment, from the
beginning, since it fills up gap between two
lines which even now, without the advantage
of such connection, are paying lines. Upon
one of the lines-the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac-it would not only increase the
passenger business, but would also add the
freight and express business from Baltimore to
Richmond. It would save six hours of travel
between Richmond and New York. The pre-
sent time is 20 hours and As minutes, leaving
Richmond at Gas, A. NJ, one day, and arriving
in New York, at A. NJ, the following day
But, on the completion of the connecting line,
avoiding the passage up the Potomac, we might
start from Richmond after breakfast in the morn
ing, and after short trip of only IA hours, sup
| in New York. Under such circumstances it
will be impossible for any new Or competing
lines to draw the travel from North to South,
and rice rerse from the city of Richmond and
the old lines. The Orange and Alexandria ex-
tension, connecting Lynchburg with Charlottes-
vile, may still bea few miles shorter, but would
not materially decrease the time between Balti-
more and the South West, since the staging be-
tween Washington and Alexandria would con-
sumo the gain of no small an advantage.
| u Z
! The enterprise is not merely in embryo, with
all the talking and considering yet to be done
1t is actually commenced, and a sufficiency OIL
stock subscribed to make the start. It is in
good and practical hands and only needs the
assistance of those who are SO deeply interested
to carry it through at once. The people Of Bal
timore and Maryland, who are proverbial fo1
energy and action, are also interested in the thing
and will give the aid its Importance demands
but to Richmond, and great portion of Virgin
ia, it is of much greater Importance than to Bal
timore or Maryland. A branch road will con
meet the line with Mashing9R and sesIEs d f}
that place, creating a competing line with
monopoly long felt to be oppressive and als(
retain the present great and increasing trave
between the North and South. Severe winter
and the occasional freezing of the Potomac would
mot operate against the interests of the Richmond
Fredericksburg, and Potomac line, or the city o
Richmond Yet the splendid boats now run
ling from Acquia Creek to Washington would b.
continued and thus give travellers a choice be
tween a pleasant sail of fifty miles, on the no
blest of rivers, and by Mount Vernon and Wash
|ington, or speedy trip through Maryland t.
Baltimore.
The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad will b.
built. 1t is only matter of time; but as tina
time is of great importance to Eastern Virgini;
in retaining and attracting trade and travel, i
is DESTROYS that the enterprise be speedily put
through. It is comparatively a very small mat
ter-only one million of dollars to secure so grea
a gain, with Richmond, Petersburg and Balti
- L. r.
Virginia and Maryland. Under ordinary cir.
cumstances this railroad should be made, but
under present circumstances it must be made.