Middletown transcript., 1869-09-04
For The Madletown 7ranseyivt,


Mr. EDITOR AS man is subject to
err, and time is the rectifier of all mistakes
| wish to make few remarks showing the
error committed in locating the Rail Road
from Townsend to Massey's, instead of
from Massey's, via Sassafras and War
wick to Middletown. Those two diverg-
ing lines caused the loss of time, (about
two years) from the organization of the
Kent Rail Road, until the upper terminus
was fixed and the track laid. The Prcsi-
dents of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and
Baltimore Rail Road, the Delaware Road,
and the Frcnchtown and New Castle Road,
having the power in their own hands,
thought proper, much against the will OF
the masses, to favor Townsend instead Of
Middletown. Now let us see what those
men have done for themselves and for the
community. l will first take the four
miles from Middletown to Townsend, for
this occasioned the fight. How much
freight has the Delaware Rail Road gained
IN this distance, over aud above what
would have been gained over the proposed
Middletown and Warwick four miles =?
Can any tne answer? The Middletown
and Warwick route would have had Mas
sey's and Millington freight as well as the
Townsend route. For instance, Sassafras
would give 100000 baskets of peaches
seven miles run on the railroad against
nothing, comparatively, on the other route
to Townsend. Warwick, four miles, 150,-
900 baskets, against nothing at Townsend,
more than she had before the branch to
Masseys was made Well then, the sup
posed gain on the four miles from Towns
end to Middletowp, calculated on by the
Rail Road Presidents, is a total failure,
for the peaches from Sassafras and War
wick are all hauled to Middletown, a dis
tancc of from four to seven miles, whereas,
if the proposed route had been construct
ed, the freight over the road for these dis
tances would have been paid to the Rail
Road, for the fruit from those points is not
now, and never will be hauled either to
Massey's or Townsend. 1.-THE proof of
the pudding is in the eating" but this
pudding has been thrown away, forever
by the ~isclom and forecast of these saga.
cious Rail Road Presidents, who must by
thio tiiiC Hdfc ulSCuNeTGu JuClr error.
If they would come and see for them.
selves, just at this time, | think they would
say that the sound of the whistle of the
iron horse should be heard among those
who labor for the support of the Rail Road,
and not in the swamps of Appoquinimink,
where the frogs and the cattle are the on
ly listeners AS writer in the Kent
News says, after you get out of the swamps
from Townsend towards Masseys, beau
tlful farming country presents itself, and
this can be said of the whole of the pro-
posed route from Middletown to Masseys
1t is a beautiful farming country, and
abounds in fine orchards and productive
farms, the produce from which would have
been carried over the road to Middletown,
but which is now all hauled over to Mid
dletown in wagons at loss to the Rail
Road. Cannot these men now see their
blind folly and error in selecting the ter
minus they have. Besides, the freight
from Sassafras Neck, diverted from the
river to the Rail Road at. Warwick, would
have put thousands of additional dollars
into the pocket Of the Rail Road, against
nothing from Townsend branch, this peach
season, Two hundred and fifty cars, at
least, containing 500 baskets each, at ST
car for the four and seven miles run t,
Middletown over this route might have
been realized, and no one can deny it.
WARWICK,