Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-03-04
STATE RAILROADS.


Enc sGId DomlniOn I" Enterprise.
MR. M'CBEADY's COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR DEyEL-
oplSG THE LOWER END OF THE sTATE--AN E1-
1EssIyE RAILWAY SYSTEM CENTERINa AT LEwEs
"a STRUGGLE WITH THE p, W. r. co.-IM-
FoRTANcE OF THE EASTERN SHORE ROAD.
TO the Editor of the Commercial:
As citizen Of Delaware have felt very
warm interest in the development of the railroad
system in Kent and Sussex. The people of those
counties may well hail Mr.. McCready and the
Old Dominion Steamship Company as their best
friends, for they are honest in their purpose and
sincere in their efforts to extend old roads and
build new roads, having for their purpose the
development Of the whole Peninsula, and draw
ing the trade to the Junction & Breakwater Rail-
road. There may lie selishness in this, where
personal gain is at the bottom of it, nevertheless
any investment of capital in this direction must
go directly or indirectly to benefit the section
named as well as the entire State.
1t is surprising that 80 many years have
passed without other men OF large capital and
Corporations of enterprise and farsightedness
seeing their opportunities and embracing them;
this has been reserved for mon of sister State
who apparently appreciated tie advantage of
such dc, elnpment-,nere thsa ourselves do
therefore let us not only give all honor to these
parties, but let Ills as citizens give every encour-
agement to carrying out the plans which are
matured with such excellent judgment. We may
do this first, by investing our money in the sew
eral enterprises along with Mr.. NtcCready and
his friends, and secondly lend State aid as has
been asked for this is one Of the most impor-
tant matters that can engage the attention of
our Legislators, and is happy relief from the
petty business OF considering. divorce cases and
preventing stock from running at large. Let
them consider the subject carefully and act vice.
ly, Tor certainly no such opportunity has been
offered the people OF Ken, and Sussex in the
present century to help them awake from their
long sleep of business inactivity, and judging by
the signs Of the times, they are certainly wido
awake nov, and ali moving i'll the right direction.
1t ia mighty revolution socially and CONNER
cally, which will end by making Kent and Sus-
EEK the garden spot OF our state, and give AMI
nation and prosperity to every interest, and de-
veop new enterprises not dreamed OF by the
Rip Van Wrinkles of our time.
While Mr.. McCready is maturing and carrying
out his plans 1t Is not to be supposed that the
L. w. u. II II. Co. are quiet and uninterested
lockers on F; the ripe pear that seemed ready TO
drop into their extended hands, was rejected,
and allowed to be plncked quietly by Mr.. Nc
Crealy and his friends, and they cannot charge
the latter with bad faith Or lack of courtesy in
any respect.
1t may be that through Disappointment and
startled by tho gigantic strides taken by Mr.. Nc
Cready, they may awake to the fatal error COM
mitted, and be willing to abandon their passive
policy to the various connecting lines with Della
ware Il. r., and show more liberal spirit in
their dealings with the peach-growers and citl-
Zens living on the Peninsula They have had
matters in their own hands 30 long, and have
felt SO secure in their position, that it is not to
be wondered that they have heard deep mnt-
terlngs of complaint that have come up annually
from the people, and now see determined Of
fort to throw off the yoke by helping build up a
great rival for the carrying trade by way Of New
York. II may be they will strive to crush this
rival before it attains its growth this can hard
ly be done now; 1t has got a start
and no opposing interest can hold it
back. They may fet,er it by influencing, and
perhaps controlling, legislation aud by encour-
aging rival roads such as the one projected from
Salisbury to Georgetown, in opposition to the
one from Demar to Georgetown, connecting
with the Eastern Shore H. R.or they may strive
to starye it to death by cutting down rates and
thus draw all the busineas from that section
over the Delaware Il. II This promises 70 be
the most enectual and would have the eRoct
OF combining the operatlone n.sinly to the Juuc-
| ton u Breakwater T. II. which OF itself cannot
( furnish business enough TO warrant the running
OF line ofs, elmships from Lever to New York,
hardly for two months in the Summer. With the
Old Dominion Company, extension means success
and perpetuity without this the continuance OF
The line would seem to be only question OF
time, and this fact the Z. w. 4 B. Co. certainly
is not ignorant Of, and will not be likely to let
slip the opp artunity to protect their own in
teree,, even If 1t should interfere wit the well
developed plans oil their rival.
The smaller the area they are confined to, he
less power they will have to do them harm and
interfere with the very profitable trade which
they now control, the increase in which, year by
year. has shown the Delaware r. II. and its trib-
utsIies to be of more importance even than the
main stem heuce this profitable trade will
not be lost 80 oatIly an the j. Il Is Railroad was
lost.
It seems to me that tic key of tho position is
the Eastern Shore r, Il. SO long as the p. W.
X .. r. Il. controls it aud compels il to work in
harmony they prevent Mr.. McCready from pass
ing north of tho Eastern Shore r. r., aud con-
fine him 10 the district south, thus keeping the
competition within a limited territory, while the
Eastern Shore r. Il, is used asa base of opera
tione the holder Of which can send oil branch
roads into the territory of the rival, and draw
business away fom him and otherwise demora-
lize lis operations at pleasure, and at the same
time the +. W. q b holds the Eastern Shore X.
IL as the link which preserves il as great through
| freight line between the North and South, and
enables it to carry freight cheaper and more ex'
| peditiously than by way OF Baltimore. Hence
the Importance Of holding this link Is fully ap
preciatei by the P. W. & B.
On tie other hand il Mr.. McCready should
| geU control of the Eastern Shore II, X. and ex
| Tend it 10 Georgetown by his new road, which
will undoubtedly be built, he then closesrthe
back door against the p. W. 4 B. h. Il. cutting
them off from their southern connections by the
! Peninsula aud confines them to their local trade
over the Delaware II. r., while he will have al
uninterrupted connection from Bay to Bay, ant
from the very nature of the position will be able
to carry ont his enlarged views OF railroad ex
tension and secure to the Junction & Break
water Il H. and the Old Dominion Steamship
Co. the .ntire carrying trade from the Peninsula
south of the Eastern Shore H. X without let ol
hindrance from the p. W. X b.
Mr.. McCready, like a wise, ekillful general
has not failed to protect his roar, which he does
by his new road to be built from Milford to Do
yer, and which may be extended farther North
if tie necessity arises.
While have sketched the position of the Pc
nineular rivals it is only far TO presume tina
each company will have respect 10 the annua
dividend day, and avoid ruinous competition
that can only bring grsf to the stockholders
however much such competition would tend Z
stimulate trade aud encourage and develop al
the Industries of the State. Come what wi
Delaware will feel its life blood pulsatng witt
an unwonted vigor, and in a few short year
will find that i'll material prosperity she is no
behnd some of her new sisters of tho Wes'
thanks to the enterprise and liberality of MI
McCready and his friends. A LOCKER on.