Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-10-28


TUNITIES FOR ENTEnPRisE,
HARRINGTON, DEL, October 25th.-It il moi
unusual to hear persons expressing surprise that
towns and villages along the lite of railroad do
not iscrcasc faster in size and population.
whenever new railroad penetrutes an unaccus-
toned part of country, towns spring up along
the line OF the track us If the places had been
touched by the wand of magician; but when
the icverish hopes that gave stimulus to the
enterprise have somewhat subsidized, If want of
capital is felt, Improvement languishes aud finally
suoside' altogether. 1t is sheer folly for any
oonpany Vi men 70 congregate aud build around
| railway station If no employment awaits them.
when there, for the appetite is too clamurous to
DC SATISFIED with airy promises. 1t is q common
mistake III most men to suppose that the mere
presence Of u railroad augments the value Of land
nhd premises This Is so In one sense and diverse
IN apoiher. a railroad affords advantages and
facilities of import and export, and this, united
" INC necessary labor In time, enriches country
ana us inhabitants; but where there is tendency
10 inuoience and speculation 1t will be weary
Time before tue soil is worth one dollar more
upon the acre than II was at fret.
III some oil these small railroad towns landed
propretors are pleased to ask extertionate prices
ior building lots, and houses are let ut BURDEN
some rales-a process that always acts un,,pplly.
relurdirg the growth OF the place. and senditg to
more favorable Communities persons of limited
means. Thus Harrington, ten years ago. Ind as
iair future before il us any town along the line
Oh inc Delaware Railroad, but to-day is us crude
ana unpromlsing as IL was then hopeful. Houses
have been built without regard to order and
streets laid out without regard 10 regularity
builalng lots have commanded high prices, and
Deen sold in abegrudgng manner Itced some
nave almost refused to sell ut all, and every foot
Is contested as though II were some day TO be- of
fabulous n0r h. Consequently improvement Is
slow aud DO cd and other towns thrive on the
,ntagrc poi.cy ot this. From this cause alone
ftlton has reached its present importance.
IL may BE-, however from certain indications
mat some here, have repented Of tLeir past folly
several houses have been built In the last few
'hohths Tue town has been incorporated and the
commissioners VIII open some new streets, some
HMe We building oil two new churches Is In con-
temptation, and an excellent school Is in pro-
gross. One or more new streets across the line
OF INC railroad, are badly needed. AS il is, lhe
freight cars stand across the streets, at least two
anu u half hours each day, and public travel must
wait upon the SLOW movements Of the freight
men. whether this is legal or only CUSTOMARY.
mas never been, but ought to be tested. IL is but
small trouble to uncouple cars, aud leave space
Clear ior travel. have seen carriages and wa.
gons, with their teams attached, delayed more
Than ah hour on this account. to the great chu-
grin and Inconvenience of their drivers
;, The proposed Harrington and Queenstown r.
= ~ seems destined to be failure. More than
hall OF the track has been graded, but nothing
has been done since August, nor is IL likely The
work will be continued
II was supposed by the projectors of this road.
lhat, by Connecting with j. & B. Railroad here,
and liuG Of steamers at Lewes, Baltimore would
be brought nearer to New York, and a through
commercial line established. But why the mur-
chants OF Baltimore should prefer this route TO
the one they now have, IL would be hard TO tell.
The country through which such road would
pass, Is unequal 10 lis sustainment, and expenses
would aggregate for u long while before they
would begin TO lessen. And besides the new
road from Cambridge TO Seaford, when it shall
nave formed connection with the j. ~ B. r. Il.
~ GeorgetowD, Will open through line from
The Chesapeake to Lewes. and thence to New
YORK, Shipments from Lewes to other ports
VIII always be prccariOus, ON account of storms
winds and other natural Inconvenience incident
10 ocean lines. And whether such perishable
commodities as peaches, and other fruits, with |
Tue earlier vegetables can be sent NORTH by such
a linz, advantageously. experience can alone de-
tcrmuc.
To men Of capital, this peninsula opens large
and handsome field of labor There are deep |
streams whose waters run to waste, year after |
year. Tkesc confined in proper limits and lluked |
with various mills, would amply repay the EN- |
buIsemtnt. Instead, we find here and there II |
feeble grlst inill, or saw mill, usurpiUg water |
enough to furnish motion TO such complicated |
that might give employment to hun |
drcds Of hands. steam Touring mill at this |
place would pay largely,
LIND is comparatively cheap, and easily TILED |
There is no reason why farmers from the North, |
settling here, il they have come capital, may not |
bec me wealthy in lew years. Trucking pays |
well without much expense of labor, and the |
produce may be easily transferred to distant |
places.
One. great reason why some of the settlers |
from the North become dissatisfied after remain |
ing few months, is that many OF them come |
here expecting to find sort Of FL Dorado, where
life may be enjoyed without labor. They come |
among us on speculation, and buy farms on |
credit, paying but little down, and expecting |
next years peach crop to pay the rest This is |
drafting on twelve months uncertainty with |
vengcance Ii peaches fail they fail, ind that Is /
an end OF their little speculation. But whoever
comes here with some money, and willing to |
labor ard to wait" may expect the end to justify
the waiting.
The Nav Englander need not peck among
stones 10 plant his crop, but may strike deep in
kind and mellow soil, and med not fear a mig
gnrdly increase
Emigration into the Peninsula has been quite
extensive duing the last three or four years, aud |
many more are preparing to leave the uncongc-
niul climate of the North and settle among us.
10 this neighborhood there are quite a number
Of families from the State Of New York, aud
some from the lake shore of Wisconsin.
We may expect with confidence the develop
ments of the future. Respectfully, dc,
ScRIBLERUs.