The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1867-02-01
For the Hgis q Mtelligeacer.
THE ROOM BILL.

There is before the Legislature one Of the mos
impor tant bills that thoy have besu called upon
TO consider for many years, ana one which re-
quires due consideration IN the part of our rep.
resentatives, that IS, the Boom BIZ, originating
in the Senate, and the 9Th february set apart for
its consideration, and perhaps its final passage
For the better understanding OF those living in
| the int iOr and remote parts of the State We
will submit few remarks connected with the
history and advantages resulting from the pas
sage of the Bill.
1t is an admitted fact, for years, by a majority
of the capital engaged in the white pine lumber
business that the mouth of the Susquehanna Riv-
er and the head Of the Chesapeake Bay, is one OF
the most practicable points to carry on the NAH
ufacture of lumber, the timber or logs being
brought from the head waters OF the Susquehan-
Nh to this locality. The causes which have pro
duced this are natural, and such that the art of
man cannot prevent.
Owing to the rapid strides of enterprise in the
lumber business, the forest has been cut off from
the mountain sides bordering on all streams that
empty into the Susquehanna, and still going
back, leaving the face of the country open and
Unprotected from the forest that once covered it,
thus exposing the large body Of snow that falls
in those attitudes to the suns rays, and causing
sudden thaws and rapid ses in the mountain
streams, creating great floods in the Susquehan-
ma River. Before the country bordering upon
the mountain streams and the river was cleared of
the native forest, the snow WAS melted gradual
| ly during the spring, and caused moderate rises
| in the River, hence destructive floods We're sell
dom Known-wheleas, it is now found impruct-
cable to hold the saw logs in the Booms at Will
Transport and other manufacturing points on The
River, as was formerly done. We have had two
destructive floods within the past five years, by
| which this fact has been fully illustrated.
The timber when broken lDosp tv pSa Hnnds
and sudden rises in the river, comes rushing
down the Susquehanna River until checked at
the mouth by the influence Of the tides, when it
becomes manageable. 1t is fixed fact that
there is no place better adapted for the erection
of mills and manufactures Of this timber, than
Havre-deGrace and vicinity, hence the applicit-
ton for the charter for Boom to catch and hold
this timber.
This important fact has attracted the attention
of number of the leading lumber capitalists of
this country among whom are the Hon. VIM. e.
Dodge, of New York City, said to represent
ST. 900, 600 in that business alone Messrs Ja-
cob Tome, j. H. Rowland & Co., j. Pugh and
Vanniman, of Port Deposit, Md. Blanchard q
Craig, of Philadelphia, r. X. Hawley & Co,
and Henry James, of Baltimore, all heavy capt.
tallsts in the lumber business This association
are he parties who are now applying for the
present Boom Bill, and have purchased large
udCiS VI ANU On ONdH SESeh, III tlHlIOIu COun-
ly, for the purpose Of erecting mills thereon.
The immense trade that is likely to grow out
of the numbering business, is calculated TO be of
great advantage to the surrounding country, and
should be encouraged by such protection as will
ensure the greatest good to the greatest number
The object of this association is to have the
Boom located so that the timber can be iloated into
Swan Greek, directly on the borders of their
property; at the same time they propose by
their Bill to locate the main Boom at Il point
above Watson's Island, which is above the pres
ent Rail Road Bridge, and to erect Branch
Boom and pockets at the mouth of the river, in
any water not over eight feet at low tide, from
the mouth of Swan Greek TO Perry Point, on
Principle Creek. This, we citizens OF Havre de
Grace, and Hartford and Cecil counties most posi-
lively protest against. 1t will totally destroy
our fishing interest, obstruct navigation, and be
detrimental to the health of the surrounding
country, as the accompanying petition sets
forth.
We have the opinion of several lumber manu-
hcturers, and those who understand the arrange
ment of Boom, that it is not practicable to erect
n Boom below Havre. de-Grace, across the mouth
Of the River, rs they propose, but confirms the
practicability OF making it above Watson's Island
or Port Deposit. In that case the benefits re-
sulting from this great enterprise would not be
confined to any particular locality or monopoly.
Capitalists, would be induced to come and build
mills at Havre-de-Grace or on either shore of the
river, as the logs could be taken out Of the Boom