The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-05-17
M i s G eilan Q O u 8.
From tile Baltimore Sun.
NARR0W-GAUGE RAILROADS..


MARYLAND AND Observation-Disclosures
TIoNs OF THE ROAD FROM YORK, PA, TO
DELTA, Md, ETC.
The middle division of the Peach Bot
tom Narrow-Gauge railway has its present
terminus at Delta, on the MARYLAND
and Pennsylvania boundary line, which
has sprung into existence since the road
was built from York, Pa. Four miles of
track, to be laid over route already grad
ed, will make the middle division complete
from York to the Susquehanna river and
the Underwater canal at Peach Bottom
What is known as the eastern division of
of the Peach Bottom railway traverses
Lancaster county, Pa, on the east side of
of the river Nine miles of track are to
be built on that side to Quarryvile, and
the Susquehanna is to he bridged at Peach
Bottom. From QuaTyville the Narrow
Gauge line reaches Lancaster, Reading,
Pottsville, and the coal regions. From
York to Delta is 35 miles, from Delta to
Quarryville 10 miles. from Delta to Balti-
more Al miles, which will give an outlet
to the sen and complete useful interior
Narrow Gauge system of traffic and travel.
The Peach Bottom Narrow Gauge road
from York to Delta has been opened two
years. The track is three feet wide and of
30 pounds iron. Its construction and
equipments was done for about $4,000 a
mile. The engineer was Mr.. James M.
Hood, who is now the energetic President
of the Western Maryland railroad For
cheapness and adaptation to the ground it
beats anything in the way of railroads in
the country. For eighteen miles from
Delta ENTHUSIASTICALLY it follows the crook
ed course of Muddy Creek, stream of
considerable volume and velocity, which
winds between rocky hills over rough
bed. Riding on this road is swinging
around a perpetual succession of half cir
Giles, which is to weak stomachs like going
to sea in a cockboat. Some of the curves
are so short as, to be barely possible, and
would not be practicable Tor anything but
Narrow Gauge tracks. "Orson Glen"
wild and rocky locality, is picturesque
spot for excursions on the line convenient
to the town of York. A tumbling stream
| rushes through the G len, which is thickly
shaded with forest trees and is always cool
| and damp. In very dry and hot weather
| it is doubtless delightful retreat for few
hours.
One grade, about niue or ten miles from
York, over Red Lion ridge, is 105 feet to
the mile on both sides of the summit
About the only cutting on the line has
| been done at this point, and here it could
not be avoided but the engineer only cut
the summit down to what was possible for
the little engines drawing over it, To
economic in construction, also, he has on
ly scraped away earth enough to give road
way betwiXt the hillside and the bank ofthe
stream. In leveling for the road bed barely
enough earth was taken from the elevation
to fill up the depressed places, and through
out the ground has been stuck to as closely
as an office holder sticks to perquisites.
All the stocks and bonds of the railroad
company are owned in York, and while
some pride is manifested that the road was
built cheaply, there is not the same salts
faction in regard to it for immediate re-
turns on investments. No dividend has
been paid on the stock and the coupons
are over due on the bonds, and likely to
remain so until the river is reached and
the eastern connection consummated. The
capital stock paid up is $192,0OO; the
bonded debt is 1923, 1000 and floating debt
$4,000 For the year 1877 the earnings
were $751; 500, expenditures $4,000 net
earnings $15,500, which was applied to
1
short road, with one end in the air, this is
not IA bad showing, however, and the traffic
has increased every year.
transportation OF merchandise for 1877
included, in TONS the following Coal 619,
bark SOB, grain 1880, fertilizers 1866,
lumber 915, general merchandise, including
express fieight, which the road controls,
5000, roofing slate 1870, also 11S,500
bushels lime, 1871 cords of wood and
10670 cross ties. The number of passen-
gers carried was $4,000.
The equipment of the road Cncluded in
the original cost, $4,000 per mile) COM
prises engines of 10 to 20 tons each, and
costing from $4,000 to $1,000 each, first
class passenger coaches, 5 second class
coaches, 2 baggage and United States mail
cars, and 40 freight, box and gondola cars.
The passenger coaches are feet inches
wide, and have seats for Al passengers each
"a row of double seats on each side and
an aisle in the centre IS inches wide-in
fact regular coaches on reduced scale,
yet with room for two persons on the dou-
BILE seats, but a close fit for heavy weights.
The equipment is sufficient for the present
business.
Between Delta and York are thirteen
stations, the most important of them being
Red Lion, on the summit, which was for
some time the terminus of the road. The
land is to large extent owned by an en-.
terprsing woman, who made use of the
opportunity. Afterwards, when the road
was opened to Delta, she offered such in-
ducements to settlers as to continue the
advantages of the village, and it has gone