The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-06-02


-->~>-
THE PISEsvILLE RAILWAY Mr.. @. ii. Latrobe,
in report ofsurvey jest made to the board OF
commissioners Of the Baltimore aud Pikesville
Passenger Railroad Company, recommends that
the starting point from the city be at the junction
of Gilmore and Cumberland streets, not over i've
hundred feet from Pennsylvania avenue. The
line then crosses Kirby's lane and descendS into
the valley of a small nameless branch, which 1t
crosses at Nichoson's lane, and which will re-
quire culvert of eight feet span from this
point it follows the left bank of the branch
through Atkinson's property until 1t strikes
McKeen fence from thence to the summit OF
the dividing ridge it occupies McKeen 8 property,
closely following the fence between Alexander
Murdoch and himself. Thus far there is no cut
ting over five feet, and no fill of over nine feet
with maximum grade of 35 feet per 100 to reach
the summit.
In crossing the summit, which is very elevated
aud narrow, Ii will be necessary TO make cut
ting of twenty feet in depth for short distance.
From the summit IL descends through McKeen's,
Buckler's and Singluffs properties with the max
imum grade until it reaches the meadow land
near the bank ofGwynn'5 run. From this point
the line turns up Gwynn's run, through the Rut-
ter place, until 1t passes on in stony hillside
abreast of Oler's mill pond, and upon j. S. Git
tings' estate. The line follows the valley or run
across Che old Liberty road and crossing Gwynn's
run twice with small open DRAIN rises rapidly
until il reaches the proposed depot ground, on
the dividing line between the Burlington and Ham
NETT Hotel properties, which point is strongly re-
commended for neat passenger shed.
From this point the line approaches the turn
pike 1t touches it, in order to avoid two stream
crossings il then gradually leaves the turnpike
and passes to the rear of the Marburg property,
at distance of about $50 feet from the turnpike
| From this point there is nothing but most
beautiful open country all the way to Pikesville
and it became question whether to hug the
turnpike closely wherever possible, suddenly
leaving it in time to avoid those residences which
are so thickly built Immediately upon 1t and
thus make ugly diagonal cuts across the fields,
or to keep certain and regular distance from
the turnpike, far enough to avoid the houses and
outhouses and thus leaving property enough De-
tween the turnpike and railway to be disposed
of in handsome squares of one, two or three
acres each to settlers from the city, who Will in
evitably move out when the railroad is QUILL
The engineer adopted the latter course as best for
property holders it being matter OF Indifference
to the railway CO., as the ground changes but
little to the right or left and can be shifted eth
er way without an increase in cost of construc-
tion
The line therefore runs from Marburgs to
Pikesvie preserving an average OF about 300
feet to the left of the turnpike On the depot lot
at Pikesville, opposite to to the Arsenal VIII
stand the station, being y miles, or little less
from the the station at the head of Gilmor street.
The feeling along the line is, the engineer thinks
rather favorable than otherwise, and he thinks
could be made still more so by a judicions and
conciliatory policy. The damage inflicted by
the construction would really be nothing in COM
parison to the benefits derived, as in few years
if the present plan Of location is pursued, the
land lying between the railway and turnpike
will almost command city prices, and become a
continuous settlement in one or two acre lots,
with delightful turnpike on one side and a pas
senger railway on the other. This arrangement
will also prevent any trouble from the frighten-
ing of horses by the dummy cars. 1t will
also enable property owners to sell lots on both
sides Of the railway. Any number of lanes al
ready exist running from the turnpike, and 9TH
ers can readily be opened; cattle gaps at property
lines will obvate any necessity of fencing in the
railway.
II The abstract OF cost, according to Mr. Latrobe's
estimate, is as follows Grading &C., $1,000;
ballasting &C., $l6.25O superstructures, $4l.682
buildings, depots, &C., $500 rolling stock,
$l4, $50 engineering and superintendent, So
5Oo-making total Of 800, l72, from which is
to be deducted ballasting not absolutely necessa-
ry, Sl5, 240. This will make the actual cost of
the road, 4 miles in length S74, 932. ~.