Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-10-26
WILMINGTON & WESTERN
OPENING THE NEW ROAD
A GALA DAY AT LANDERBERG
SPEECH or PRESIDENT HEALD
Full Report of the Opening
Ceremonies.

ever remembered as great u0y IN inc an-
nails Of Wilmington, as the day when the
great Iron city broke the last Of the bonds
which have too loug cramped her aud aud
stretched forth hand after her proper
share Of the treasures Of the wonderful
West, for Saturday saw the formal opening
Of the irst section Of the Wilmington ~
Western Railroad which Is destined to re-
store trade 10 its natural channels aud
materially help in realizing the clty's
magnificent destiny.
The day dawhed propitlously, and as
the crowds Of people locked TO the new de
pot Of the road on South Market street the
sun shone forth as he only does shine
these glorious Octobes days, bathing in
rich flood Of light the delightful valleys
through which the road wends It's way.
The excursion train, provided for the
accommodation Of the numerous guests
invited by the company to participate In
the opening ceremonies, consist, Of ten
passenger cars and one covered platform
car for those who did not mind the crisp
October air. All the cars were we'll filled
with citizens Of Wilmington and the sur
rounding country, and number Of distln-
guished guests from other places.
Among the latter were Col. j. w. For
ney, of Philadelphia, Col. stephen G. Boyd,
President of the Peach Bottom Railroad,
Martin Landenberger, ESQ philadelphia,
Samuel Dickey, ESD, Vice-presdent of
the Peach Bottom Railroad, DIR. Frank A.
Taylor, of West Chester, Pa, and num4
Der of others. A number Of ladies, too,
aso graced the occasion with their pre-
sence.
At about 1920 the train started and at
every station on the line Of the road, sta
tions, by the way, with such tasteful and
appropriate names as Greenbank, Faulk-
land, Wooddale, Mount Cuba, Ashland,
Auburn, Horkessin, Southwood, Broad
Run, the train halted to receive aecessions
to the excursion party from along the line.
Leaving the city the train swept rapidly
through the valley of Little Mill Greek
and across nearly level tract of fertile
country to the valley of the Red Clay
Greek, into which It abruptly turns nj
Marshall's Rolling Mills The beautiful
scenery along the delightful valley Of
pleasant homes and busy industry, bright
ened by the wondrous autumn hues of the
foliage and the bright sunshine, called
forth the heartiest expressions of admira-
tion from all.
The extravagant electives in which the
sex induges spring eXplosively from the
lists, while their heightened color and the
brightness of their eyes aitested silently
their rare delight, and even grave Bank
presidents, and busy manufacturers, and
keen brokers found their tongues indulg-
ged In nnaecustomed exercise in praise OF
the scenery. A complimentary sneeze 10
honor of the place as we passed the great
snuff mills of W. Il. Garrett ~ Sons, and
leaving the romantic valley Of Red Clay,
we swept like the wind through the peace
ful valley Of IOekessin, pa ssing the great
kaolin works there and haltng at the
Hockessin Station in view Of the home OF
John G. jackson, Esq, the Chief Engineer
of the road and the marble quarries on his
land which this road will bring into prot-
tahie Development.
! We leave Deiaware now, and crossing
| into Pennsylvania pass over tue cXtensiy,
trestlo work of Broad Run, and ther
rising by moderate grade we reach Ian
deuburg the present terminus of the road
where IL makes connection with the Penn
syvana IL Delaware Road (from this point
TO Pomcroy on the Peunsy lyania Rail
road,) giving the new road direct conncc
tion, by the last named greatest Of roads
with the whole West.
And here, before entering Landanborg
!
| history aud projected future OF the new
road, but both are so fully treated Of IN
the speeches we report below, that We are
relieved of the duty.
On entering Landenhegg We found the
village and the factories which give ili
Inhabitants employment gaiy decorated
with American and German flags and
filled with people from the surrounding
country. Here and there were large sign'
bearing the inscription "Welcome TO Ian
denberg."
The seven or eight hundred people or
the excursion train alighted and forming
in procession marched up the vilag,
street headed by the Independent COme
Band OF this city, which hld played a
every station on our way up the road, ,play
ing lively airs. The procession proceed
cd to the residence Of Charles Weller Esq.
the grounds around which we found beau
.ifully decorated aud crowded with pe0pl
who were being entertained by music flon
the UHionville Cornet Band. Mr.. Wei'e
is the active partner Of the firm of Martil
Landenberger IL Co, owners of the exlcn
siye mills here and also President of tn
Pennsylvania IL Delaware 4. R., Will
which the new road makes connection
He had made the most elaborate aud per
| lttN dIlAuEtulNilNo lOl lhG nA7llAAbAh All
teitainment of the great host Of people
and 30 far as we observed they weie en-
tirely ample. OF his genial warmth an
hospitality as a host we can speak Of ou
own knowledge, while his enterprise an
energy are attested by the mills and rail
roads which are raising this stragglingivil
lage into thrifty manufacturing town.
Arrived on the grounds the meelin
was at once organized, the assemble
multitude being first greeted with son
of welcome from the male and femal
operatives of Martin Laudenberger
Co, who under the leadership of Mrs
Watt, sang an original song beginning
Welcome Welcomed Welcomed
Welcome Welcome Welcomed
We welcome you, dear friends, on this OF
opening day.
Samuel NJ. Harrington, Esq, counsi
of the road, then called the meeting
order, and nominated the following f
officers of the meeting, who were electe
! by acclamatlon -
President, Washington Jones.
Vice Presidents, Martin Landenberge
. Francis Barry, George S. Capelle, d
Swithin Chandler, David B. Niyen, Eva
Brown, Spencer Chandler, Hayes Grave
1 John Jones, d. Mcdaniel, John Marshal
uONh AiAAntAAF NN9NlA ~ htNAANof nun
Sharpless, Jr., Zadock Townsend, OtlI
\ \ Vernon, Stephen Wilson.
! Secretaries, Geo. W., Stone,E. F. Jane
]. Boughman, John A. Cranston, Eve
! Graves and Thomas B. Hoopes.
Mr.. Jones, on taking the Chair, said !
knew no speech was expected of him, bl
he could not but offer his sincere al
y hearty congratulations first to Mr.. Heal
the President of the road, TO whose pc
/ sislence, devotion and liberality its eXis
! ence is largely due, and who thus prov
once more that he stands A, No. l, upt
4 the list of live men In Delaware. lie co
II graduated also on the completion Of III
! work the Directors and stockholders Of d
u company who had 30 admirably back
u their Presidents efforts, and the people
u Wilmington and along the line of the rOf
. who have so literally furnished the moni
to push the work to completion.
= Rev. Jacob Todd, Of Grace Churc
y Wilmington, then made an appropria
y prayer for Gods blessing on the enteTpri
y and His protection for II hereafter.
~ Chas. Weller, Esq, welcomed the pc
II pie to Laudenberg as follows; The ret
dents of Landenberg extend hearty al
ie ernest welcome to the President al
Board OF Directors and Others who may
l interested in the welfare of the Wilmin
y ton q Western Road. The energy, indr
y try and perseverance displayed by tho
], who have had the management Of 1
u construction of the road must comma
70 the admiration of all who regard su
e sterling abilities as the elements Of sr
cess. We are happy 10 join hands tod
with our friends tiom the State of De
ware and predicta prosperous result viii
Y Will be mutually beneficial 10 both Stat
To-day Wilmington may consider h
ga un1r "a harriYnr afFanfad an as.franaa d