The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-05-10
INT 1 s G Han o O u q.
Correspondence Of tie Baltimore Sun.
Maryland Internal Improvement.

NARROW-GUAGE RAILROAD-DEVELOP
BALTIMORE AND hartford COUNTIES
THE SLATE QUARRIEs OF MARYLAND
GREAT ENTERPRISE, sc.
A vigorous effort is now being made in
| Baltimore and Hartford counties to connect
this city with the steadily growing interior
system OF narrow-g gauge railroads, from
which much is expected in the way of de-
velopment of the rich region of country
bordering on the Maryland and Pennsyl-
vania line. | have just driven through the
| counties from Baltimore to Delta, in the
northeastern part of Hartford, where the
Peach Bottom narrow gauge railroad from
York, Pa, now terminates. When the
Peach Bottom road reaches the terminus
| of its middle division it will be at the Sus,
quehanna river and the Underwater canal at
the store of McConkey Brothers, fourteen
miles above Lapidum. The plans for the
Pennsylvania narrow gauge system contem-
plate crossing the Susquehanna at McCon-
keys into Lancaster county, Pa, via Quar-
| ryvlle and other towns, to the Schuykill
coal region and the Reading railroad
branches. This will form the eastern
division ofthe Peach Bottom narrow gauge
! road. From Delta, in Hartford county, to
the canal and river east, four miles, the
| Peach Bottom line is graded. From York
| to Delta, the narrow-guage road, 35 miles,
| has been in operation two years, with de-
gree of success which has inspired the wish
to extend the system in order to realize all
| the results which the enterprise will afford.
ROUTE TO DELTA.
From Baltimore to Delta, a. miles. the
route is through a much finer country than
hoc hoan nhocan for film Daool, Ia
from York, Pa. 1t is reasonably expected
| that "A narrow-gauge road in Maryland,
run in connection with two branches in the
heart of such rich counties as York and
Lancaster, Pa, and fed by the river and
canal, would be OF much advantage to the
! trade of Baltimore city, as well as of prime
| Importance to the agricultural interests Of
| Hartford and Baltimore counties.
From Baltimore to Towsontown mar
row. gauge track has been graded in large
part, which it is proposed to utilize in the
more ambitious project of extension via
Bel Air to Delta and the Pennsylvania
Peach Bottom system.
| The intention is to run out of Balti-
more from the vicinity of the Western Mary
land railroad, along the Falls road and
Stony run to its hcadwaters, touching the
farm of Mr.. }. l.. Sutton, passing through
the estate of eX.Gov. A. w. Bradford
crossing Charles street avenue at Mr.. Perot's
and re-crossing at the gate ofthe Shepherd
Asylum; thence on the south side of Tow
sontown, along the Lmekiln valley and
| Gunpowder watcrworks, the Summerfeld
valley, and the beautiful Long Green
neighborhood to the Little Gunpowder
river, into Hartford county, together form
ing over twelve miles of the most beautiful
agricultural lands to be found anywhere
A route through Twining's valley was sug-
gested, but it will hardly meet the require
ments. In Hartford county the route from
the Little Gunpowder is through the beau
tiful Fallston neighberhood, via Waters's
Mill, Hartford Almshouse property, and via
Stony Branch to Bel Air; thence northeast
erly, via Forest Hill, the bold Rocks of
Deer Creek, the iron works of E. Stanley
Rogers, the Bellarm district, Pylesville, at
the head OF Broad Creek, the slate quarres,
to Delta.
The stations on the line so far as deter
mined will be MS follows: Baltimore
County Towsontown, Loeb Raven, Long
Green. Hartford CONTEMPLATION, Water
vale, Bel Air, Forest Hill, Rocks of Deer
Creek, Pylesvile and Delta.
BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.
1t is true to say, in passing, that more
beautiful country cannot be found any,
where, or lands that are better titled than
the rich valleys through which it is now
proposed to have the locomotive whistle
echo for the first time. On this May day,
under blue sky, flecked with silvery clouds
and a brilliant sunshine, we have wheat
which has headed in April, and fields that
are as green as emerald hills and valleys
that seem to chase each other to the far
blue horizon, and on every plateau vast
reach of vision, comprohending on all sides
peaceful plenty and abundant prosperity.
In Hartford, the Belfarm neighborhood
rivals the Long Green valleys of Baltimore
county. The Rocks of Deer Creek, to
which it is a pleasant afternoon drive from
Bel Air, constitute one of the picturesque
resorts of the county. Here one finds a
rapidly rolling stream, crossed by a mar
row hanging bridge, swung from the trees
on both sides of the creek between rocky
hills, through which waterway has been
!, cleft. Great boulders are piled upon a
solid basis $50 feet above the level of the
stream. A winding path to the summit,
and a seat on the ledge, where birds OF
prey find secure resting place and wide
range of vision, constitute some of the at
fractions of the Rocks of Deer Creek
Myths and legends cluster around the spot
as they always do, unnecessarily in this in
stance, where no invention is needed, and
art fails in the presence of nature.
SLATE QUARRIEs.
The slate quarries constitute distinc-
tive feature of the country half mile from
Delta. These quarries are on a ridge over
five miles long, extending from the town
of Bangor, in Pennsylvania, just over the
Maryland line, into Hartford county. Slate
forms the back bone of the ridge, and it ia
quarried from the top. Ofthirteen quar-
ries which have been opened, all are in OPP
erntion eXcept two. and they employ 200