The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-05-03
THE REZN.
BEL AIR, FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1873.
The Baltimore and Delta Narrow Gauge


We have already called attention to the pro-
ject for narrow gauge road through Baltimore
and Hartford counties, for which, under the name
of the Baltimore and Delta road, surveys have
been made and subscriptions taken up. VIZ
have also stated that along the line of route
parts of the road to be constructed have been
graded and part of the mason work built. We
now propose to describe the route the road
will take as at present located by the engineers.
We may premise here, for the better under
standing of what follows, that the Baltimore
and Delta road will consist, when completed,
of two roads brought into connection with
each other and forming one continuous line of
narrow gauge, running enthusiastically TO the
Susquehanna river, at Delta, on the border
line of Hartford county, Nd, and York county,
Pa, and thence enthusiastically from Delta TO
York. Thot part of the road between Balti.
more and Delta, distance of forty-four miles,
is the part which is yet to be built. good
deal of grading has already been done upon 1t at
points, as we have said, along the line. The
other part of the road, from Delta to York, a
distance of thirty-fve miles, has been built and
in operation for more than year, and is known
as the Peach Bottom road. The two sections
of the road when joined together will consti
tute line of narrow gauge seyenty-nine miles
in length. From Delta, the point of junction
of the two roads, the distance to the Susque
hanna river at Peach Bottom is about four
miles, and is at this time nearly all graded. On
the eastern side of the Susquehanna is another
gauge, nineteen miles long, and terminating at
Oxford, where it meets the broad gauge of the
Baltimore Central, which runs from Oxford to
Philadelphia
The distance from Delta to Baltimore being
forty-four miles and from Delta to Philadelphia
seventy-six miles, the advantage as a market is
evidently in favor of Baltimore if the Baltimore
and Delta road should be built. As local road
its importance arises from the fact that the line
as laid down runs about midway between the
fiant ral nd he nd lrni m
ton and Baltimore roads, and would open up
section of country containing some of the best
farm lands in the State, and capable of furnish
ing, in addition to farm products, good deal of
freight in the matter of lime and limestone fire.
stone, chrome, iron, iron ore, and slate of super
ior quality. The line, as laid down by the en-
gineers from Baltimore to Delta, starts from
East Baltimore, (Old TOWN. at or near the
Western Maryland railroad depot, runs thence
by means of third rail on the track of that
road to point between the Union depot and the
northern boundary bridge until it reaches the
partly graded narrow gauge to Towsontown
leaving that county seat it passes along the Lime
kiln valley, where good deal of grading has
been done, to the permanent water-works of the
city on the Gunpowder river, and thence by way
of Fallston, Bel Air, Forest Hill, Chrome Hill
and Pylesyille to Delta and Peach Bottom.
Turning now to the probable cost of the road
and the prospect of its early construction, we
learn from gentlemen who are deeply interested
in the enterprise and have embarked money in it,
that, like the Peach Bottom road, il will be of
three feet guage, and that as the Peach Bottom
road in 1884 graded, ironed and equipped, was
$ll 500 per mile, the unconstructed part of the
road can also be built and equipped for S11 900
per mile or less, and that contracts can now be
made at the last mentioned sum. Assuming this
estimate to be approximately correct, the total
cost of road built and equipped would be cover
ed by about half million of dollars. OF this
sum the directors expect to get ore-half in stock
subscriptions and to raise the remainder on
bonds for which this stock subscription would
be good basis. The amount already subscribed
to the stock of the road is S165 000 leaving $685.
600 yet to be secured. The engineers est imates
will be completed and the road ready to be let to
contractors by the LIST of July; but the directors
very prudently declare their intention not to let
the work until the amount of stock is secured
that is necessary to insure its mpletion.-Bal-
HnorG SUM-