The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-08-29

Just as the people of Hartford were begin
ing to despair of soon realizing the advan-
tages Of railroad communication with the
world of business and pleasure outside, the
hope is revived that the Maryland and Penn
sylvana Railroad will become verify. We
are unwilling to risk another prediction in
regard to railroads through our county, and
therefore only present the following, from
the local columns of the Baltimore San, as
sured that it will be interesting to our readers:
That another railroad between Baltimore
and Philadelphia in addition TO the present
admirably managed line of the Philadelphia,
Wilmington and Baltimore Company would
be ultimately constructed, both for the ac-
commodation of the increasing local and
through traffic, has long been evident On
this legitimate basis of actual business roads
private enterprise and capital will be forth
coming for the purpose, and doubtless
thus etiecting parallel line and competing
line in connection with the newly projected
line through New Jersey, hence to New
York. During the greater portion of last
winter several railroad contractors made
their headquarters at the Smedley House,
Towsontown, Baltimore county, and with
force of laborers graded six miles of land ly-
ing between TOwsontown and the Gunpow-
der river. The contractors were extremely
reticent as to what the grading was intended
for, but within the past week it is claimed that
the fact has been developed that a party of
capitalists in Pennsylvania are constructing
an independent air line double-track railroad
between this city and Philadelphia.
The bed of the road is now graded and cul-
verts completed from Towsontown to point
on the Gunpowder river, known as Crom-
wells bridge, and the past week surveys were
made between Towsontown and Lake Station,
on the line of the Northern Central railway,
but no arrangements have been made with
that railway Tor the use of their tracks from
Lake Station TO this city. Two miles and
half of the road bed between that station and
this city will be used by the Baltimore and
Towsontown Narrow Gauge railroad, by
means of a third rail, and grading upon the
Same was begun on Tuesday last. The Mary
land and Pennsylvania and Juniata and
Pennsylvania State Line railroad is spoken
of as being the chiefspirits in the new enter
prise.
1t is proposed that the road shall connect
with neither of the existing lines of railways
diyerging from Philadelphia toward this city,
but that it shall be strictly an independent
line between the two cities. Work upon the
Philadelphia end of the line was commenced
last summer, since which time two hundred
miles of the route have been located. After
leaving Philadelphia the road will pass
through West Chester, the right of way
through that place having been donated by
land owners. The line will then pass through
Oxford, and thence to the State line The
only land for right of way not yet secured, it
is said, is a few lots at Towsontown and a
small tract beyond Gunpowder river.
The chief engineer of the road is j. N.
Hood, of Oxford, Pennsylvania. On Satur-
day, the 10Th instant, q meeting of the direct
ors of the Maryland and Pennsylvania and
Juniata and Pennsylvania State Line rail
roads was held at Rising Sun, in Cecil county,
Md, when l.. Montgomery Bond, of Pha-
delphia, was elected president and Hon. j. b.
Alexander and w. j. Pollock, Esq, were
elected additional directors of the company.
The board now consists of the following
gentlemen: President, l.. Montgomery Bond;
directors, Hon. j. b. Alexander, w. j. Pol
lock and George w. McPherran, Esqs., Phila-
delphia; Job Haints and b. c.. Reynolds,
Esqs., Rising Sun, Md, and Hon. J. Morri.
son Harris, of Baltimore, Md. The Phia-
dephia directors are understood to be men
of extensive capital and influence. Assuran-
ces have been given by the president, Mr..
Bond, who is also president of the United
States Banking Company of Philadelphia,
that the work is to be pushed forward with
energy, in view gifts completion from Balli-
more to West Chester, Pennsylvania, via
Rising Sun and Oxford at an early day. The
portion of the road passing through Balti-
more and Hartford counties will open up
section of country in which are some of the
finest farming lands in the State, and is ex-
pected to obtain remunerative business at
once There is already in existence as is
known the Philadelphia and Baltimore Cen
trail railroad, passing near the same route to
the Susquehanna from Chester, and with
which the Port Deposit branch of the Phila-
delphia, Wilmington and Baltimore road con-
meets, the whole being controlled and worked
by the latter company. The newly projected
line would appear TO be an out and out OPP
position one.