The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-01-14
THE ILGIS.
Bel .gl., MKT, Jan. IA, Hs70.
Correspondence
Hartford County Railroad.
BALTIMORE, Jan. 18th, 1870.

pie who take an interest in your Railroad
project. 1t is frequently the subject OF
conversation in this city, and one not I'M
frequently hears valuable suggestions from
practical men, in regard to its construction
and probable success. Passing along Bal
timore street, in one of the City Passenger
Railway cars, Il few days ago, heard a
conversation on the subject of your pro-
posed road, between two respectable look
ing gentlemen, which interested me some
what, on account of the sound and practi-
cal views presented by both. Their notion
was, that the road ought not to strike the
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
road near Magnolia, for the reason that the
nearer the connection was to the city of
Baltimore, the greater the probability of
AN early effort to fill up the gap between
Bel Air and the Susquehanna river, and
thus form connection with the Philadel-
phia and Baltimore Central road, already
completed to the Susquehanna. This, it
was urged, would be DONE beyond all ques
ton, at an early day, if the Bel AR and
Magnolia road was completed. The chance
for completing the Philadelphia and Bal
tmore Central road to the city, by any 9th
cr route or connection, was regarded as eX-
tremely doubtful, if not altogether out of
the question, at least for long time to
come With the Magnolia and Bel Air
route completed, there would not be more
tlan fourteen miles Of road required to
complete the connection between Phladel-
phia and Baltimore, by way of the Phlla-
delphia and Baltimore Central and surely
capital would not be long wanting to com
plete this connecting link.
The Philadelphia, Wilmington and Bal
timore have their road in the most COM
piete order, with double track, so that there
is the greatest facility for the rapid passage
of trains from Magnolia to Baltimore
True, it, may be said that this is not the most
direct route; but what signifies the obiec-
ton, if this is the only route likely to be
successful, as it certainly seems now? The
simple truth is, that a road can be compile
ted over the route indicated, while expert
ence has certainly demonstrated, if it has
shown anything, that all other efforts have
been and are likely to continue fruit
less Certainly no person living between
Bel Air and the Susquehanna river, who
would contribute to a road running direct
from the Susquehanna to Baltimore, could
find any good reason for refusing to con-
tribute to the completion Of road from
the Susquehanna to Bel Air.
From the point at which the Philadel-
phia and Baltimore Central strikes the riv-
er to Baltimore, by any of thedirect routes
heretofore spoken of, is if my memory
serves me, about thirty eight miles. Now,
let us see how much longer the road would
be, if connection was made with the Bel
Air and Magnolia road. From Baltimore
t. Magnolia is eighteen miles, and, accor-
ding to the late survey of MIR. Fuller, the
distance from Magnolia to Bel Air isabout
nine miles; and from Bel Air to the Sus-
quehanna is about fourteen-making the
distance between Baltimore and the Sus-
quehannl, by this route, about forty -one
miles, or only three miles longer than the
SHORTEST through route heretofore contempla-
ted and by this connection you have but
about fourteen miles of road to make, or
twenty four (2D miles less than if you run
direct through Baltimore county to Balti-
more city, or than if you run to Stemmer's
Run and there make the connection. What
possible objection, then, could any person
have of taking hold of the route indicated
10y me, if he be in favor of a road at all
While this route is three miles longer, there
are twenty-four miles of road less to make;
and surely five can make thirty eight miles
of railroad, we can make twenty miles
easier. But look on the road now under
survey as Il fixed fact, and therefore there is
but fourteen miles in reality to provide
for.
If the road from the Susquehanna to
Magnolia were made, on the line which !
have here indicated, itwould open up much
OF the handsomest and heathest coun-
try to be found anywhere. Indeed itwould
be difficult to find more desirable or valu-
able locations than could be procured in
the section of country which would be ira
yersed by road from Magnolia to the riv-
cr, by way of Bel Air. This being the case,
| hold that every ownerofproperty, at least
between Bel Air and the Susquehanna riv-
ar, who is on or adjacent to the route which
IA railroad must take between the two
points, is directly interested in the COM
plcte success OF the project to make rail
road from Bel Air to some point on the
Philadelphia. Wilmington and Baltimore
railroad, as greatly heightening the proba-
bility of an early completion of continu-
Gus line OF railroad from the Susquehanna
river to Baltimore city.
In my advocacy of this improvement, I
am actuated by no selfish motives or hope
of gain, but only because | do sincerely be-
lieve that no improvement has ever been
made in Hartford that has or can confer
upon its citizens, one and. all, one-fiftieth
part of the advantages and convenences
which this improvement is well calculated
to do. Besides the direct advantages con
terred on our own citizens, we are not to
forget tlie vast advantage it would be to
strangers who, from choice or necessity,
are compelled to visit the county town as
well as other parts oftLe county. The best
way to induce people to visit a place is to
furnish them with the means of getting
away again, and this road would offer
greater facilities for this purpose than can
DE devised in any other way.
am glad to see that the Railroad COM
mittee have directed the persons who have
been appointed to prepare the charter, to
provide for the construction of branch roads
from any point on the line, or from the ter
minus This is well thought of, and may
be found useful hereafter.
Thus far l have spoken Of the road in
connection with its continuation to the
Susquehanna river But suppose it termi-
mates at Bel Air. then l maintain that al
most the whole county is deeply interested
even then. Bel Air being the county town.
almost every person in the county has more
or less business with the various public
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