The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-03-05
The Elkton and Massey's Cross Roads
Railroad.

Railroad.
The Baltimore City Councils debated the
ordinance, on Monday last, to endorse and
guarantee the first mortgage bends of the
Kent County Railroad Company to the
amen, t Of 100000.
Mr.. Tine move that the ordinance be
referred to the committee on ways and
means, with instructions to inquire which
cue of the contemplated railroads ON the
Eastern Shore will, if completed, be most
likely to secure the trade of that section to
city of Baltimore.
Mr.. Trippe, in support Of this motion,
said that the council should first consider
which, of ali the railroad projects before
the council, would be the most certain to
bring the trade of the Eastern Shore to the
city before granting aid to any. He did
not believe in building read that would
cause the trade to go to Philadelphia in
stead of bringing it to Baltimore, which he
contended would be the ease if the Kent
County Railroad was completed to Rock
Hall, as contemplated. He was utterly
and wholly unwilling to vote dollar to
the Kent County Railroad. Philadelphia,
he believed, sho I'D b lid that road. He
was IN favor of constructing the railroad
from Massey's Croos- Roads to Elkton,
where the Philadelphia railroad would be
tapped about midway between Baltimore
and Philadelphia. He did not believe in
Baltimore legislating to build up Philda-
phia.
The Kent County Railroad terminus is
at Rock Hall, point on the Chesapeake
Bay. Such road would necesstate the
re-shipment of freight from cars to boat,
which is an sffectual bar to any railroad,
when unbrekon railroad communication
can be had to market.
In the course Of his remarks, Mr.. Trippe
said he believed to complete the road frem
Massey's CROSSROADS to Elkten would be
the best for the interes of Baltimore
The Philadelphia road operated against
Baltimore because Wilmington, where the
East IN Shore connection was made, is only
80 miles from Philadelphia, while it is 70
miles frem Baltimore. Tap the road in its
centre, where Baltimore would have equal
show with Philadelphia.
Mr.. Carter, another member of the Coun-
Gil, said he would vote cheerfully for Mr..
Trippe's motion to refer this subject to a
committee, Ii, did not care what that COM
mittee might he, and he believed they
woulo fall short Of their duty if such refer
ence was not made. All Of the roads pre-
pose to get back to Baltimore that which
was once hers, the trade of the Eastern
Shore, and it was just and proper that the
different projects be investigated. The
freight would, any way, reach Massey's
CROSSROADS and the question was which
was the best way to get it to Baltimore, to
construct a road to the bay or to E'kton.
and from there by the Philadelphia road to
Baltimore.
Mr.. Trippe's motion to refer finally pre-
vailed, and the friends of the project to run
= road to Rock Hall were defeated. The
prospect for assistance from Baltimore City
to build the Elkton and Massey's Cross.
Roads Railroad, in view Of this action Of
the First Branch Of the City Council, is
decidedly favorable. That this is the only
feasible plan of connection between Balti
more and the Eastern Shore, should be APP
parent to every practical man. Past ex-
perience demonstrates the folly of buldin.
railroad to point on the Chesapeake
Bay, with the idea of continuing the route
to Baltimore by water. 1t was this fallacy
;ol, S>I,,IaJ p,lt In, tIo E,r
Shore Railroad was originally projected
Oh, the Eastern Shore trade is ours beyond
peradventure. Her numerous streams,
navigable for steamboats,, secures the trade
to Baltimore, argued the Baltimoreans, but
the Delaware Railroad has proved how
mistaken this theory was. The time and
expense necessary in re-shipping heavy
freight from cars to boats, when line of
railroad is open to Philadelphia, must for
ever operate against all such roads as the
ting at Rock Hall; while direct line of
rail through the Eastern Shore, tapping
the Philadelphia, Wilmington, ahd Balti-
more Railroad at Elkton, places Baltimore
only three miles further from all points on
the Eastern Shore, than Philadelphia
That this is the emily possible route by
which Baltimore can hope te secure the
trade of the Shore, or contest it with equal
advantage with her rival, Philadelphia,
would seem so obvious, that it is difficult
to conceive how any one should hesitate to
arrive at just conclusion. Baltimore City
would not be contributing 5000, 900 for the
mere building of a short piece of read be-
tween Elktoa and Massey's, but by the
completion of this link the metropolis of
Maryland has continuous line by rail to
all parts of the Eastern Shore, and the
shortest that it is possible to make. This
consideration is Of vast Importance to the
trade of Baltimore, by the side of which
the guarantee of few thousand dollars of
bonds is as nothing.
But our citizens, who are directly inter-
ested, have work 10 perform, if they
would accomplish this desirable Object
They must shake off that spirit of indiffer-
ence aad luks-warmness, and seek by every
means in their power to advance the inter
est of this proposed road. Were it built,
thousand would soon he added to the pop
ulation of Elkton, with a corresponding
amount of business, which now steadily
tends toward, and is absorbed by Whining
ton. New shops and dspots would have
to be erected at the junction, and new
interest would soon spring up. which would
add to the wealth and industry of the town.
forming manufacturing and producing
nucleus round which ether and similar in
dustries would cluster and build up.
WHAT Our NEIGHBoRs SAY. The Treas
ury of Maryland is in bad condition, in
consequence Of the excessive expenditures
since the Democracy came into power
The Legislature was informed, on Monday
week, by the State Comptroller, that after
the payment of current liabilities, there