The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-01-26
FRIDAY, JANUARY 2e, 1872.
To correspondents.
THE MARYLAND CENTRAL RAILROAD.


The Importance of the interests which
would be developed and fostered by the pas
sage of a railroad through our county, bring
ing us into close connection with the metrop-
oils of our State, and the absolute necessity
which exists for its construction if Hartford
and Baltimore counties would keep pace
with the progress of the age, have been so
often adverted to in our columns, that fur
ther reference to them would seem almost
superAuous.
There is one point, however, in connection
with the subject which we think has not
been sufficiently brought to the attention of
the people of Baltimore, by the press of that
city.
Since the completion of the Philadelphia
and Baltimore Central Railroad to our east
ern borders, large portion of the produce
raised in the section lying between Bel Air
and the Susquehanpa, and from large scope
of country either side of line between those
points, has been diverted from the nearer
market of Baltimore to the more distant but
more accessible one of Philadelphia. This
trade is not confined to the section of country
lying Immediately adjacent to the river, but
is carried on from points only mile or so
north of Bel Air, until at this time the num-
Der of wagons passing through our town la
den with country produce for the markets of
Baltimore, is scarcely one, where formerly
twenty were seen.
This fact is abundantly verified by the re-
port of the Conowingo Bridge Company for
1871. This report states that the number of
cattle and the transportation of heavy mer-
chandise over the Bridge has quadrupled.
These articles, let it be remembered, are the
farm produce of Hartford seeking other mar
kets than Baltimore, in exchange for the man
ufactures and merchandise of other cities.
Whether the trade of our county is suffi :
Gent in amount at present to make it an OBJ
ject with Baltimore merchants to secure it
undivided, is matter for them to consider !;
but one thing is certain, this trade would be
increased ten-fold by the construction of the
Maryland Central. The city of Baltimore is
the natural market for the productions of
Hartford. In common with the rest of the
State we feel just pride in our metropolis,
and with railroad connection between the
heart of our county and Baltimore city, the
entire trade of our county would inevitably
centre there.
We regret to see some evidences, on the
part of portion of the press of Baltimore
city, ola disposition to throw cold water
upon the enterprise, by discouraging the
city's subscription to the capital stock of the
road. 1t is true, the people of Hartford and
Baltimore counties have no right to expect
an enterprise so vitality important to their
prosperity to be commenced and completed
by the city of Baltimore alone. While its
Importance to the latter is very great, it is
transcendently greater to us.
Repeated efforts have shown conclusively
that the road can not be built by the private
subscriptions of our citizens. Let the aid of
the two counties, therefore, be brought to
bear in this direction, and the thing can be
accomplished. 1t will be manifestly sound
financial policy to issue the bonds of the
'ouhIf III Vi lllc plOJtCb.
largely increased value of the lands for many
miles each side of the route would amply
provide an increased taxable basis for the
payment of these bonds. The benefits of this
road would not be felt alone by those nearest
to it, but the enterprise and activity which it
would infuse in old Hartford would spread
through every section of our county. The
railroad in question would pass through one
of the richest agricultural regions of the State
the fertility and productiveness of which
would be vastly increased by the facilities
which the railroad would afford Of easy COM
munication with Baltimore, so that the pos
session of a few acres, which now scarcely
pay taxes, on account of inaccessibility to
market, would yield an ample support to any
industrious man.
The sources of prosperity to be opened by
railroad through our midst are not confined
to the agricultural interest alone. Rich
mines of iron ore, chrome slate, &C., which
now lie hidden and undisturbed, would be
thrown open, and the active working OF these
add to the general prosperity of the whole
county.