Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-10-23
eERks COUNTY RAILROAD.

THE NEW MINERAL AND AoRrcrITrRA1
ARTERY-CARRtAGERID RIDE OVER THE FyrTRE
ROUTE. ''
Messrs. Henry Bu,hong, banker and prosi-
Gent OF the Berks County Railroad Hugh q
aw;;n; iron manufacturer and President Of the
wilmington and Reading Railroad. Wn",,
Detiavch, of DclIaven & Brother tbe wsii
known bankers of Philadelphia; Isaac Ecksrt
iron manufacturer and President a. the
Farmers National Bank, Reading; \ A. Betts.
resident OF the First National i;ank of viii
.l n"gV"u,, Arl., anu director OF the Whining
ton q kcading and I'erks county Eailroaos.
Sosepn Iatnell, extensive -four manufacturer'
at wilmington, Del, and 5. y. Worth. n large
iron manufacturer at C0atsville. Pa both
directors Of the Wilmington .S Reading Rail-
road: >. Dmtton steele, of PottstOwm, Chief
neer. l. r. Fisher. Real Estate Agent and tSe
following Directors of the Berks County
Railroad; George Learch, extensive dealer i,
hardware, Henry 5. Eckert, and j. Y. Craig.
ron manufarturers. OF Reading, left this CITY
IN carriages on Tuesday morning, at 81,
CLOCK. Tor thc purl )se Of passing over and
inspecting the entire route of the Eerks
county RAILROAD, preparatory to placing under
contract the balance OF the road Accomna-
nylng the party was representative Of The
Daly Eagte. Thcy returned by rail to tLis
city on wednesday night Thetrip was very
to have enjoyed themselves greatly
The first day the party ourneved tn len
!iartsviie. lserks county, 20 miles from Read
ing, which Is a; far rs the building Of The
road has yet been placed under contrac.. All
the contractors are making satisfactory pro
Hrrss. So Aithough the work was commenced
only 60 days ago. the grading of this portion
OF the road Is already half finished. The firsl
grading noticed was on North River street
this side of Lebanon Valley Railroad Brdrc
over the Schuylkil, and during tile whole
days journey evidences of work on the road
,v Mere constantly observable After reaching
the Maiden creek the route lay along the bank
OF that stream. and the easy grading Of the
road was noticeable.
The party halted at Bushongs' MoseIem
furnace and partOOk Of an excellent dinner
at the hotel OF Mr.. Jacob Boyer, after which
they drove to the summit of the hill and took
birds eye view of the famous Moselem iron
ore banks and the valley to the east 40 900
tons OF the richest ore are now taken out of
the innrsa year, and 1t Is expected that by
the time the new road is completed tbs mines
will be worked so as to secure 80, 600 tons 1t
y tlie intention or the Berks County Railroad
Company to build 4 narrow gauge railroo. i
from the furnace to the mines, Il distance of
Pa miles. For every 1000 tons of iron made,
at the Moselem Furnace there will be ;,O, 900
tons OF transportation for tho Berks County
iiailroad. ihe coal consumed at the furnace
vile, on the line OF the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad, distance of miles.
Several miles this side Of Lenhartsville there
is very valuable stone quarry, which the
party examined 1t has been worked; splendid
slabs 20 feet in length are taken out of this
quarry. The day OF she visit slab by feet.
and inches thick, was split into five slabs
each an inch thick, and the sides of all OF
them ware nearly as smooth as if they had
been pIaned. Doctor Martin is compelled to
cart his slate to SlatingtOn, q distance of Il,
miles, at an annual cost ef ST, 900 to 81 900 for
the present production. His shipments
amount to some $4,000 a year, and they will
increase very considerably after the comple-
ton of the railroad.
The party pursued the Journey through n
rich agricultural district. beautiful and mag
nifcent scenery, passing here and there EN-
powered mansions, crossed Jordan creek and
| its fertile valley at right angle (where the
farmers and their thrifty "women. folks
were observed husking the golden corn in th,
( fields) and followed Wer's creek in north
easterly direction to Slatington, the terminus
Of the route. where the party arrived at 2 p IN,
start, and partook of a hearty dinner at the
hotel of Mr.. Il. +. Peter. 4 number OF the
leading citizens of the town called at the hotel.
| and several hours were spent with them in
conversation respecting the new enterprise.
All seems convinced of the perfect feasibility
v.
ing through u populoas and fertile country
rich in agricultural and mineral resources, al d
abounding in houriShing mills, tanneres. &c :.
it was the general opinion that local traffic and
travel sut1iciant to make the wor king OF the
road profitable would be at once obtained.
Besides, rs the road will connect ut Slatinpton
with the I4ehigh Valley Railroad and perhaps
also with the l.ehigh and Susquelanna, it will
form short, direct and easy railroad cOnnee- :
tiOn between the large pine forests and mex
haustible coal fields of the lehigh and Wye-
ming Nallies and the Wilmington Il Reading
Railroad, which will he the means of a larsr
important trade.
Although the whole aspect Of the valleys
beSpeaks plenty, comfort, good farming and
generally prosperous toll, yet after the COM
pletion OF the railroad the lands will Ee
brought to Il still higher state of cultivation,
because the farmers will have good market
within easy reach for their cereals and other
produce. New villages and towns will spring
| up along the line, the old ones will increase
RAPIDLY in population and additional manu- :
factories and mining operations, rs we'll as
nav industries will make their appearance
at various points, and each year there will
be an increase In the extent and value of the
tonnage traffic Of the road. The enterprise.
considered as whole, Is a most admirable
one, and cannot but prove very profitable to
the projectors of the road and the stock.
holders.
luz cust loI tie coistTuction oi the BerkS
County Railroad will be comparatively light
less than tho average of roads. There are
stretches Of eight or ten miles where but little
grading will be required. There will be few
cuttings of any consequence, and few bridges
will be required, and the material for these
can be obtained near by where they are to be
erected. Almost before we shall be able to
realize the fact, the Berks County Railroad
will be ready 10 take its place among the com.
pleteI lines OF transportation and travel
which bring the interior districts into direct