The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-14
WILMINGTON AND READING r. r.

teges and Bustling Manufactures = VII
mingt0n and Reading to be FraternnlY
Cnited-The Great Capabilities of the Rail-
road
One OF the most enjoyable trips it has fallen to the
iot OF an old newspaper hdbtue to have, started
upon last Friday morning The invitation was given
through the friendness Of our William Painter
ESQ.,, of the firm Of William Painter Co.. the we'll
known banking agents OF the Wilmington and Read
ing Railroad; and the party made up OF the
Directors OF that company, with q besprinkling OF a
rev folks of the Fourth Estate. The clerk OF the
weather was in his most amable mood the whole
time, and the good bodies thus thrown together
were soon having as Jolly holiday time big boys
let loose on decorous spree could have
At Wilmington the excursion party was constituted
OF the following officers OF the railroad company:--
President-Iugh e. Steele.
Directors-Edward Brooke, c. L. Pennock, S. B.
Worth, Edward Belts, Joseph Tatnall Irene Du
Pont, Charles Warner
Secretary and Treasurer-WTliam S. HIles
Chief Engneer-J. Dutton steele.
Engineer i'll Charge-Natnanel p. Hobart.
Wilmington is truly thriving and rapidly y-grow-
ing city. Its shpyards, car-works, and large
factories OF numberess articles give it the real ele-
ments OF prosperous expansion. Is direct commu-
nicaton with Reading by railroad little over
seventy miles in length cannot but add largely to its
wealth and commercial importance. The construc-
ton OF this road is already fairly under way and at
Wilmington was inspected as much of the rail as
had been laid from that point northward, several
miles in extent. The road bed found to be well
built, the ties and cross-beams firmly laid, and the
track as heavy as anywhere in use.
From thence by carriage our drive was for sixty
five miles along the banks Of the Brandywine, quit
ting its narrow, brook-like head at Springfield and
from thence riding through fair meadows some six
miles until the placid waters Of the Schuylk were
reached, a half-dozen miles southeast OF Reading.
The road by the Brandywne was most delightful,
and the keen sensations ofttmes verging ON rap
ture produced by its wondrous lovellness were be-
yond description. Sometimes the road lay on the
left hank then IL turnad II overo a
bridge crossing and recrossing the stream at vari-
ous points. The smoothly flowing waters OF the
Brandywine were shaded with innumerable trees,
frs, spruces pines and other dark evergreens, min
gled with the brighter green foliage Of chestnuts,
oaks, sycamores, and stately elms. The tulip pop
lars were already arrayed in their light golden
tints, fofetelng the ending OF summer; the silver
naples blended their shadings OF soft colors with the
darker hued branches; the crimsons, browns, and
other gorgeous tnts of autumn were scattered pro-
fusely by the way, foreshadowing the fast-coming
autumnal gortes OF American woodlands.
few miles out from Wilmington seen the
fine powder mills Of the Messrs. Du Pont These
were founded half a century since by Du Pont, Ne
mour Co., and have remained in the family to the
present day. Surrounding these mills are lands so
cultivated as to afford views unsurpassed In pctu-
resqueness and charming beauty. Willow trees are
grown by the thousands and tens OF thousands,
almost rivalling some of the famous plantations of
peach trees in the southern section OF Delaware and
Maryland. These willow trees are kept trimmed to
the height of fifteen feet, and the wood cut
OF is sold to the powder mills to be made
into charcoal. Formerly the Messrs Du Pont had to
transport this needed willow wood from far off
points at heavy expense Of freight; but now
farmers, by merely planting fine willows in their
fields and giving them growing room, are able to
sell the annual produce for enough to pay all their
taxes. Twenty-Five hundred acres of the finest
lands in this section OF country belong to the Du
Pont estate and upon them are employed large
number of laborers From the best Of this class
selected the workmen for the powder mills; and
Notwithstanding the dangerous character Of that
employment, more men are always prepared to enter
upon it than are needed
Our road, always within sight OF the Brandywine,
passed close by some seventy manufacturing es-
Establishments. AS far as time permitted, these were
visited and carefully inspected. The Kaleidoscope
Impressions received comprises rolling mills paper
mills, anthracite furnaces, cotton mills, grist mills,
woolen factories and foundries. Some twenty-five
towns and villages lay either directly on the line OF
the road could be stretching of to the right
or left hand within the bounds of mile or two We
passed close by the famous battle-ground OF Chadds
Ford, where the sharp Revolutionary contest was
fought for the possession of Philadelphia to the dis
comhture OF the patriotic forces under General
Washington; and here the first railway intersection
outside of Wilmington will be made with the Balti-
more Central Here the first rest was made, and an in
vitirg lunch was heartily discussed. Beyond this to
the left, were Kennel Square, Unionvile, Coch-
ranvie to the right were passed Mortonsvie and
Coatesville
Eight miles below this point was met the second
gang of tracklayers working southwar1ly. Thus an
excellent opportunity was given of testing the
thoroughness with which the rails were laid and we
found upon examination that the roadbed was
firm as il It had been built for years. Here loco
motive and comfortable passenger car had been
thoughtfuy provided and the eight miles interval to
Coatesvle was passed over before five O'Clock. This
enterprising and fast growing town lies directly upon
the line OF the Pennsylvania Central Railroad, and
Is the point OF junction with the Wilmington and
Reading Road On Saturday we visited many of its
fine workshops such as the Viaduct Rolling Mill
(owned by Messrs Hugh E. Steele and s. b. Worth)
various furnaces, blanket shawl factories and paper
mills; but of the pleasantest "reminiscences OF
this goody town is the sound nights sleep enjoyed
there ON the preceding Friday. Resuming
riages on Saturday we inspected the third railroad
gang laying the route north OF Coatesvtlle, saw on
, our route the rolling mill OF Pennock d Brother,
passed close by Waynesburg, and at Springfield in
tersected the projected Delaware and Lancaster
Railroad designed to run from Lancaster through
Springfield and Phenixville to Norristown.
Birdsboro, the present proposed terminus of the
Wilmington and Reading Railroad, lay on the east
bank OF the Schuylkill, upon the Reading Railroad
with which the former will here connect.
Having thus traversed the route OF the Whining
ton and Reading Railroad, we are prepared to speak
understandingly OF its capabilities From the large
and rich manufacturing districts through which this
road passes 1t must prove largely remuneratiye
The adjoining villages, towns and factories, In the
year 1885, consumed 247 46S tons of anthracite coal
o4,SOO tons OF bitumnous COAL and worked up 200
tons or crude iron. Upon these articles the con-