The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1867-12-13
The Railroads of Maryland,

From an article OF the Philadelphia Press of re :
cent date on the Railroads.&c. the country we Sc
lect the following in reference to those controlled
by the PhlIadephia, Wilmington l. Baltimore
Company, within the State of Maryland and
those, by their proximity, which exert direct
and powerful influence on tue business and tu-
mfe prosperity Vi the Stale
The roads finished in progress under the
auspices of the p. W. 4 b. company, some of
them old and some of tuem new, exhibit degree
Of enterprise and foresight that deserves to te re-
corded. We have first the Southwark Railroad
ITSELF running along b Dad aud Prime streets :;
the Port Deposit connecting the main trunk At
Perryville, with the Columbia and Port Deposit,
and the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central at
Port Deposit. This road is now in operation.-.
Then We have the New Castle and Wilmington
Road, the New Castle and Frenchlown, the Del
aware River and the Eastern Sborc-iourroads
partly owned and entirely worked by the Phila-
delphla wilmington aud Dnl,l.nOre Cuu, pony.-
1t is classified under the general title of the .Pc-
ninsulaf Line" and extends from Wilmington,
Delaware, to Cristield Maryland, near the Vir-
gnia line on the Eastern Shore of that State
Branching from the Delaware Railroad, at Clay
ton, we have on the east the Smyrna branch,
connecting Smyrna and Clayton TO Delaware on
the west TO the Maryland and Delaware kail-
road which is in progress of construction 10
oAIUTu Du Tie anu SUIle lHlTtt-
FIVE miles already completed. AT Harrington,
on the Delaware lire, comes in the Junction and
Break water Railroad, intended to reach Lewis at
the Delaware Breakwater. Twenty-Five miles OF
this road are nearly finished, from Harrington 10
Georgetown. The Wicomico and Pocomuke
Railroad, connecting Berlin, Maryland, with
Salisbury, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore, is
now nearly finished, and will be ready for ope-
ration before the close OF this year. In addition
to these roads are The Dorchester and Delaware
from Seatord, and the Delaware Railroad to
Cambridge, on the Eastern Shore, under con-
tract to be finished before the first of October,
1868. The Chester Greek Railroad, from Ches-
ter, Delaware county, Pa to the eastern tern,i-
nus of The Philadelphia and Baltimore Central
Railroad, is also under contract to be finished
before October |, 1853. The Kent County Rail-
road, from Rockhall on the Eastern Shore OF
Maryland, TO the Delaware river, the Miidletuwu
road, Delaware, and the Queen Anne county,
from Cenlreville, Maryland, to the Delaware
road have been surveyed, and the cost of their
construction provided for, but Their completion
is retarded by want OF harmony as to the points
of connection. Still another road has been orig
mated and is being located from Elkton, Mary
land, Oh the main line to the junction of the Del
aware Railroad and the New Castle and French
town Railroad.
This MAGNIFICENT SYSTEM although still
young. is rapidly progressing tits ali more or
less aided and supported by the Philadelphia,
Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad Comp ny,
which owns leases, or occupies the 'vario1s
branches. A mere glance at the map will show
PhiladeIphians the large area of country now
fed and drained by this comprehensive network
We need not comment upon its vital Importance
to our city. Adding necessarily to the growth of
Baltimore and all the other towns along its
branches, it may be considered as one Vt the
great 'ources of Philadelphia trade. Frankness
compels US 10 admit the injustice OF many of our
former censures .pon the stockholders of the
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore R il
road Company: They have been regarded as
interlopers because most of them are New Eng
land men /; yet it stands to their credit that
nothing but their characteristic energy and pluck
could have pushed forward system SO full of
RISKS, through regions heretofore surrendered 10
the joint influences OF ignorance and slavery.