Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-05-28
[For the Delaware Republican. ]
RAILROAD ROUTE.-No. L.

Mn. EpIroR Some months ago we address
ed TO your readers through the columns Of the
Republican, . lew articles In regard to the bes,
route for the proposed Whining ton and Read
ing Railroad. The time 10 now ripe for few
words more upon the same subject. All tbs
necessary legislation has happily been pro-
cured, both In our own State and 10 Pennsyl-
vania, that will enable the two duly chartered
companies to consolidate and set together al
one company In the building of line Of Rail-
road from Wilmington, Del, to Birdsboro or
the Reading Railroad, about Q miles below
Reading, Pa: That consolidation 10 now about
being completed and the company which will
build the road takes the name Of ths "W H.
mington and Reading Railioad~ Company" ~
The discussion Of the rslstive merits Of the
several routes projected at that time as bear
Ing ppon the success % the enterprise and the
benef to be resped from each BY the citizens
Of Wilmington and the State Of Delaware,
was mainly as between a line up the valley OF
the Brandywine and more Western line up
the valleys Of Mil Greek and Red Clay Greek.
Such of your readers as thought those articles
worthy Of perusai, will remember the position
taken BY the writer - That the country lying
q considerable distance westward from the
valley OF the Braudywins was most naturally
tributary to Wilmington, and, owing TO the
geographical positions Of Phi adelphis, and
West Chester and the several other railroad
lines, could be most depended upon for produce
and trade Of various kiuds. Another argu-
msnt used in favor Of the Western line, 1t will
be remembered, was Its superior branching
facilities, and the gathering IN OF the fertile
valleys OF White Clay Greek and Doe Ruu.--
Within the last fcw weeks much interest has
been awakened in q line still more westerly
tnal the main Western line already discussed
as mentioned, taking, in fact, the very route
then spoken Of "a valuable prospective
branch, and passing al once through those
productive and manufacturing regions Of White
Clay aud Doe Run Greeks. = 2
The merits of this new line are that II takes
still more completely q geographical location
favorable for drawing heavy produce trade
from people willing and anxious to trade
with our oiiy,-that 1t passes near to'more ex-
tensiye manufactures; thatit crosses the Bal
timore Central Railroad at Avondalc, q point
more likely to seduce trade from that road
than any other crossing; that 1t most probably
will overcome an untavorsble engineering fea
tare in both the other lines by making road
OF more moderate, average grades, and that
from the interest mauiss by the people,
there can probably be a heavier stock sub
scription collected along this line than any
other.
Let the people OF Wilmington BY whose mo-
ney this road must In good measure be built,
reflect carefully that the completion of this
new and important Railroad, the extension Of
her city limits to the Delaware, and other en-
terprises now protested must inevitably give
an impetus to the growth of the city. VIII
mington will therefore need more and more
this rich and prosperous west-lying country
for her support, and should have access to IL
by mAsns Of railroad largely under the COZ
troll of Wilmington capital. Other cities build
Railroads and control them for their own ben
eft Wilmington now controls no Rail Road
that feeds her with supplies, but is at the mer
cy Of corporations that can discriminate a.
gainst her prosperity. tt IL
The true interests Of Wilmington in regard
to the projects now under discussion 10 tp car
ry forward Immediately this very important
enterprise, and while locating II to acoommo-
date the through trade 10 coal, iron lime, &C.,
locate II also through ths region bast calculated
to bring produce 10 her markets and custo-
mers 10 the counters of her merchants. Sheuld
the survey soon to be made show as favorable
result as 10 anticipated, these conditions will
all be fulfilled by the linz last described
Having had occasion to visit and CONSULT
with the people along this last proposed n ute
the writer can speak advisedly OF thsit dispo-
sition and feelings towards the citizens OF
Wilmington, with whom they traded in former
years. There Is a universal expression Of con i
fidenoe IN our merchants and a preference for
deal Ing with them II they had the facilities. -
Despite the P. h Is. Central Railroad our new
proposed 70 I'd will gather nearly all the pro-
duce from that fertile regiou. Without the
splendid through trade that this road viii
command, il would pay Wilmington well as
local road alone; and how much therefore will
it add to our prosperity when all its varieu
advantages aro combined. We'll may we con
.Iat s1at. - L.
its early completion may now be considers'
assured. DELAWARE.