Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-02-10
Communloatsd.l
Railroads.

throughout our country, answer! Take their
railroads from them to day aud many Of their
siorehouses and dwellings would soon be fit
places for owls and bats TO inhabit, instead Of
being as now, busy with the hum Of industry,
and evinciug prosperity on every side.
Now, is it not evident TO every observani mind,
that we are behind the age in this matter OF rail
roads /? We have to be sure the Philadelphia and
Baltimore Road passing through our city which
las been and is of some advantage to us; the
Del ware Road has also increased our trade aud
IS destined with discrimination in favor Of Will
mugton, which 80 far has not ben the edse,) to
aid materially to our trade with the two lower
counties, and eventually with nearly the whole
district Of country comprising the eastern shore
of Maryland and Virginia. by the completion OF
the present main line of road to some point on
the Chesapeake Bay, with the addition Of branch
roads through Kent Queen AIMS, Caroline and
other counties OF Maryland, aud also the coaple-
ton of other lines in our own State oil OF which,
but particularly the latter should be Looked upon
favorably and assisted in every proper way by
our people.
But in which direction do we OF this city land
to a considerable extent OF the whole State which
| shall endeavor to point out presently need
more Immediately end urgently, than in the one
that has been 10 contemplation for about twenty
years past, aud for which charter has been 10
existence for nearly that length Of time; viz;
The Wilmington aud Brandywine Railroad -
! This road has been talked Of so long, that the
arguments made use Of TO induce it's construction,
have been worn almost tbreadbare.
Philadelphia has been prospering and lately
in an Unprecedented manner (taking into view
the present deporabe state of our country
which mtsst be mainly owing 10 the extensive
business VI the Pennsy ylvania Railroad and it's
branches, there having been erected in that city
during the past seRson some two thousand build
inga, whilst our mechanics aud aborers have
been in grent measure unemployed or forced to
seek employment elsewhere this should not te
build the proposed road, and my word for it, q
change would be produced, which would cause
us to wonder why this work has been SO long
delayed and why the greater need Of this road
now than formerly: Our grain dealers aud
ether business men will answer; that they no
longer see the faces of their old friends from the
neighboring counties Of Lancaster aud Chester,
who few years siuce brought their grain and
other produce to this city and carried back with
them their purchases made here.
The Baltimore Central Railroad running
through Chester county to Philadelphia, hal
drawn this trade away from us, aud will coutinu,
to do so, until we are wise enough and libela
enough to invest some Of our spare funds III th,
Wilmington and Brandywine Railroad which IS
intended to connect with the Baltimore Central
with the view of extending the same to iutersec
with the Pennsylvania Central Railroad, &c
which latter can be reached by road but tril
longer than the philadelphia and Wilmington
/ Railroad, forming au outlet when completed
; about 20 miles nearer lide-water for the Broa,
Top (which amounts to about to 1000 ton
weekly and other bituminous coal, via tn
Pennsylvania Railroad, which now leaves tina
road Mt Harrisburg passes over the Leblanc
Valley, theuce by the Reading Railroad to Por
(, Richmond
Again, there is railroad in contemplation
from point near Allentown on the Lehigh. whic
r Is intended to strike the valley of the Brandy
y wine, and to have the privilege OF connectiu
L with any other road at or near our State lin,
: with the view of making coal depot somewher
Il near Wilmington Now, this road would pas
a through fne region of country, c,oss the Read
ing Railroad near Phenixvllle, some ten
e twelve miles west of NOrrslOwn, and would n
4 doubt obtain the carriage of large amount
}. coal from that road which is now seeking wiz
ter depot in this direction by way Of the Phila
delphia and Wilmington Road aud by a consider
ably longer route so that we, in the event {
the construction of the above road, (which is to t
called the Valley Forge Railroad would ha,
the opportunity afforded of supplying our Cit
as we'll as the State (along the line of its rail
roads, with both the Lehigh and Schuylkl Goa
aud the Broad Top coal for our manufacture
at presume quite reduction on the usu
rates.
!, The consumption of coal in this city in 1856
was carefully estimated 10 reach 5000 ton.
the increase inthe number OF our manufactori
and IN our population since that time, would
think, certainly warrant our stating the prese
=. consumption, to be about 10000 tous, which
II reduction of only fifty cents per ton wou
+ make saving of $4,000, sufficient to pay Ii
whole interest and something on account Of ii
r principal of the sum asked of the city, in the for
IL of bonds to amount Of Sl50,0OO, and to be e.
shanged for those of the Railroad Company's, b.
= not until the road is completed and in running o
- der to some point ou the Baltimore Contra
o thus it will be seen what the saving on the a
u ticle of coal alone will accomplish. But'are '
done herey Not atall. An immense amount
d lime would be would be brought to market {
y !, this road, and distributed along nearly its who
Il length, and that of the Delaware Railroad al
70 its branches, and at much lower rate than II
= farmers of our State have been paying for
" heretofore, partly owing to the fact that 1t CO
~ he delivered where wanted by the same cars tn
Il take it from the kilns at Coatesve or Dowun
$, town, and also from the Schuykll quarries, /
! the proposed Valley Forge Railroad, which is
" cross the Sehuylkill near these quarries; al
,s partly because the cost of transportation will
y lessened by taking the shorter route. This traC
n most interests the farmers of our Peninsula al
3, will add immensely 10 the business of the Dela
# ware Road, because as the consumption il
- creases on account of ts cheapness and the Il
v cilties for obtaining it, so also will the quantit
/. of grain &C. be increased in the same ratio. an
10 thus add greatly to the amount of freight eoip
II II north, Of which our city obtains her share