Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-03-14
SERIOUSLY UNSUPPORTED.

The Pottsville Journal, usually very ac-
curate in its statements, gives IN article on
Saturdays issue, on the railroad connections
of the Schuylk i'll coal region, which surprises
us with Its errors. We extract as follows -
"Another important advantage is now of
fered US by the Reading, Downingtown and
Wilmington Railroad, now being pushed for
ward from New Castle, on the Delaware riv-
er, via Wilmington to Reading, under the
effective management of ]. button Steele,
ESQ.
This line will give US much better route
to the sea board, and all the coasting trade,
than the present one via. Reading, since the
Port of New Castle is far superior TO that of
Port Richmond, for the shipping trade south,
and north, while 1t brings Baltimore as near
to Pottsville as it is to Shamokin, and a con
tinuous line of rail would exist to the lower
part of the Chesapeake Bay, nearly opposite
Fortress Monroe.
The Rail Road Co. under ]. Dutton Steele
and other energetic men, would p,uch rather
connect with the Consumers and Manufactu-
rers' Rail Road at Reading than with the
Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road.
We may thus secure a new line to very
important port, and a competing line to Phil
adelphia-since this new road from Reading,
wonld connect with Philadelphia, by the in
tersection with the Pennsylvania Railroad at
Downingtown, and branch of n few miles
would also connect it with the West Ches-
ter Railroad at West Chester The Will
mington Company will extend their road
to Reading to meet the connection from
Schuylkill County, which only leaves link
of about thirty miles of road to be made to
give an entire new line to Philadelphia and
lao. l,.tta If x..l,icl,
coal can he shipped throughout the whole
year, because that port is never closed up
with ice.
Unless we make some move in this matter
this road may find 1t necessary to connect
with the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
at Reading, but they certainly will not do So
if we show any disposition to advance our
best interests. by meeting them in cordial CO.
operation"
The errors which we notice are these The
title of the new road is not the g Reading.
Downingtown, and Wilmington" but the
Wilmington and Reading" and il docs moi
go through or near Downingtown, but
through Coatcsyile, five miles west
1t is not being pushed forward from New
Castle, its southern terminus being at Viii
mington nor "to Reading its northern
end being at Birdsboro, several miles below
Reading.
Whether or not " the port of New Castle
is far superior that of Port Richmond, the
coal wharves of this road will undoubtedly
be built at Wilmington, the natural advan-
tages of our harbor being equal to any on the
river, and even superior in some respects TO
those of Philadelphia, particularly with re-
ference to the shipment OF coal.
1.-THE intersection with the Pennsylvania
Railroad is not ''at Downingtown,' as al
ready stated but at Coatesyille.
1.-THE Wilmington Company will extend
their road to Reading to meet the connection
from Schuylkill county" We know of no
such proposition.
"............, an entirely new line to Phla-
delphia and New Castle, from the latter port
of which coal can be shipped throughout the
whole year because that port is never closed
up by ice" The former idea in this para
graph we have already corrected the con
GLIDING statement is true Of Wilmington as
well as New Castle.
We presume this road will hardly g find it
necessary to connect with the Philadelphia
and Reading, at Reading, in any event. 1t
certainly does moi so propose.
That very 'important advantage is
now Offered" the Schuylkill coal regions by
this new route there can be no possible ques-
ton. 1t is one Of the most valuable Of the
whole railway system of Pennsylvania. In
order that the facts may be understood con
corning it, at Pottsvlle, we have made these
corrections Of tie Jouinufs text.