Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-04-25


1--WE print elsewhere an article from an
Eastern Shore newspaper, the Crumptcn
Gazette, which is referred to, in the follow
ing, from the Smyrna Times.
Our Maryland neighbors, in their perplcx-
ity over their railroad projects, have become
somewhat soured towards several matters
and things in this State. They are troubled
and divided among themselves about the
northern terminus of their Kent County
Railroad, (as well as about the "wherewith
all to commence it, and in their irritation
have set to abusing the Delaware Legsla-
ture, the Delaware Railroad Company and
Intermediates in our State i'm terrible
manner.
The grounds of their complaint against us
seem to be, according to the statement of
their papers, that our Legislature passed an
act requiring the Kent County Railroad to
terminate at Townsend, whilst they desired
to terminate it at Middletown; that by this
act OF the Legislature, brought about by the
avarice and intrigue of the Delaware Rail-
road Company and certain individuals, they
are forced to take their road where they
don't want to go Or not connect it with the
Delaware road ut all; that this was done by
the Delaware Road to make the Kent Coun-
ty Road run three miles further distance
from Middletown to Townsend) over that
road to secure the increased benefits of this
increased distance; and that rather than be
manipulated by these avaricious Delawa-
rians they wont bring their road into Della
ware ut all.
When the charter for this road was asked
for from our Legislature, the design was to
make it tap the Delaware road at or near
Townsend, and the charter was so wortleC.
This was regarded as the shortest and conse-
quently cheapest route, as well as the most
central for the Maryland portion. No other
route was suggested, we believe, until Febru-
airy, 81, when Maryland gentleman offered
to take the balance OF the unsubscribed stock
CSl9, 9,000) if the northern terminus would be
at Smyrna About this time the Bombay
Hook road was on the tapis, ,and with view
to connecting the two together strong in
fluence was brought to our Legislature to
amend the charter so as to allow the road to
terminate at Smyrna. The amendment pass
ed the House, but failed in the Senate. This
measure was urged by the Marylanders and
opposed by the Del. road, Notwithstanding il
would have given the latter the advantage OF
8 more miles. The contest was finally termi-
mated between Townsend and Niddletown
the former being successful. The Del road
having agreed to build the Delaware portion
of the Kent road, preferred Townsend as a
terminus because the distance to the Md.
line is less than by any other route-about
| five miles. But had the Kent Road showed
a determined front for the Middletown ter
minus, at the proper time, it could doubles.
have succeeded. This would haye been bet
| ter then than abusing the Delaware compa-
ny now. 1t seems to us that that company
has been exceedingly kind, and it should be
| commended rather than condemned. And
| let our neighbors across the line talk az
much as they may about the inducements OF
other routes, unless the Delaware or the p,
w. 81 b. Co., lend a helping hand theil
proposed road has slim chance OF success
Neither the Delaware road nor any of it,
branches have paid expenses within them
selves, but as feeders to the p, w. & B. Il
r.. (under whose fostering care all the Pc
ninsular railroads are) they are rendered
profitable to both operators and stockhold
ers.
In order to rid themselves of the Della
ware Road and all other ''entanglng ALLAN
ces," our neighbors propose to avenge tht
proffered assistance therefrom by refusing il
and the Townsend terminus altogether
They have all at once come out strongly for
the Elkton route, which at first found bui
little favor with them, This is about IL
miles further than any other route
| lhCubiOutd, bub IL ID ptultu OthSl
pockets will bear the expense, ant
that the enterprise and industry of another
corporation" are available. Is the p. w. &
B. Company going to support another rail
| road parallel with and only Is or 90 miles
from it, and 30 or 40 miles long? Or is it a
corporation from Baltimore? To run this
road by the shortest possible route to the
Del. Road may make it pay well; but to rui,
it the longest possible route, to the P. w. &
B. Road, with the Delaware Road to com
pete with, does not present so flattering 9
prospect. True, it runs through rich sec
tion of country; so does large portion o
the Delaware Road; but it does not pay
with all its advantages And how can one
that attempts to compete with ii?
This move is Baltimore scheme, ant
from the tone of our Eastern Shore ex-
changes there is considerable enthusiasm
in the movement. The route from Elk
ton TO within four miles of the Kent
line is already graded, and has been
for years-a distance of nineteen miles.
From thence to Masscy's Cross Roads is five
miles, where the Kent road will be con-
tinued. Then it is proposed to unite with
the proposed Queen Anne's road, ,and thence
with the proposed Talbot road, and hence
make second railroad route up the Penin-
sula. This would look well on paper, bu
it will never be seen elsewhere. Baltimore
has slumbered too long.