Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1868-11-27
The Southern Maryland Railroads.


The Southern Maryland Railroads.
From the Washington Star, November 80
On Saturday evening a meeting of the
Board of Trade was held at their rooms,
No. 4 Market Square, to take some action
in reference to the railroad interests, at
which there were present Messrs. j. T.
Mitchell (President). H. B. Sweeny (Se-
cretary). VIM. Orme, w. G. Metzerott,
DR.. James E. Morgan, VIM. Guinand,
VIM Wall, N. Sardo and others
DR.. Morgan called the attention Of the
meeting to the presence Of Col. Hutchins,
one of the Commissioners to survey the
route of the Southern Maryland Railroad,
and said the line had been run from Point
Lookout to Bryantown This road. if it
ran into Washington. would bring in the
trade of the lower counties, which now
goes to Baltimore; and it was notorious
fact that only ten miles from Washington
the very buttons used on clothing are
bought in Baltimore. If by very small
expenditure we can attract that trade to
Washington. we should do it. This road,
by its charter, is authorized to be run
from some point in Prince Georges to
Point Lookout. and it is proposed that it
shall stop at Brandywine and connect with
the Potomac Road (from Baltimore to
Aqua Creek) come direct to the District
line. and when charter is obtained
from Congress bring it into the city; or
be continued to Laurel, when it will unite
with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Brandywine is but II miles distant, but
by' way of CollingtOn by the Washington
Branch o. the Potomac Road it is 40
miles and Baltimore is as near Colling-
ton as Washington. and consequently If
the ghorterzfesthe Rraadywipe is not
established the trade still continues to
Baltimore. This road is now in fair
way of being built, for seven counties
have never received any aid from the
State for internal Improvements. and the
aid of the State will be given to this road.
The last Legislature gave Charles. St.
Mary's and Calvert counties 1910 600,
which the Potomac Road cndeavored to
obtain. but it being now under contract
they did not succeed
Mr.. L W. B. Hutchins stated that al
though the survey of the Southern Mary
land Road was nearly completed, he found
that the attention of the citizens of Wash
ington had not beeu called to it. He had
faith that the Potomac Railroad would 60
through. for the city of Petersburg had
pledged its aid. and Governor Bowie as
sured him that it would be built 1t was
proposed that the branch of this road to
the District should connect at Collington.
and the road with which he is connected
(the Southern Mary laud) is proposed to
join it at Brandywine. If the road is
brought to the District line, and the char
ter is obtained to run it into Washington.
then Washington will be benefited. but
otherwise the trade will go to Baltimore.
Is it asking too much Of Washington peo-
pie to aid in building this independent
road, that must pour its wealth into Wash
ington? twill be seen by an act passed
by the last Legislature that they have
charter and commission to survey to the
city limits, if the citizens of Washington
desire it. A' 20 .'-'
Tie Chair suggested. in view of the
statement of Mr.. Hutchins, that it would
be, advisable to aid the Commissioners in
making the survey to the District line,
and it would require but small amount
for that purpose-$1, 900. It struck him
that this road was one which Washington
should aid. and he would rather see this
road in operation than an air line to New
York.
Mr.. Sardo moved that committee be
appointed to memorialize the Councils for
an appropriation of $1,000 to continue
the survey to the District line, but sub
sequently withdrew it, and the meeting
adjourned to Friday.
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