The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-09-30

One OF Our Correspondents on "tho
Road."-My last letter closed at Rouse's, on the
Philadelphia turnpike about II miles from Balsi-
more. Going norlhWard from this point for about
one mile We turn TO the left and descend rough,
steep bill 10 the little Gunpowder falls, which
divides Hartford from Baltimore county. Cross.
ing this stream BY very rough and dangerous
fording We come 10 the remains Of an old iron
works, one Of the many establishments Of the
kind scattered over Baltimore and Hartford cOun-
ties, now standing idle or fallen 20 ruin, which
show that n once valuable industry has been lost
10 this region, perhaps never 10 be restored.
Passing on BY n narrow roadway along the old
mill race,on the bank Of which stand some gnaFled
and crooked old catalpa trees which seem TO be in
sympathy with the decay around them, We soon
como In sight Of the blackened walls ofthe Frank
iinville cotton factory, destroyed by Gre abou, \
year ago. Turning 10 the left We ascend n hill
rather rougher and sleeper than the one by which
wedescended on the Hartford side Of the falls, and
ut the top find ourselves within rod or two ofthe
main street Of the factory grounds. We turn
aside to take \ look nj Il. Il appeared TO be de-
serted. No living thing was in sight save an old
horse tied 10 post and n solitary dog, which
gazed at us as if tho sight Of strangers was un-
usual with him. No sound fell upon the gar but
the ring Of an anvil In blacksmith shop out upon
the county road. Climbing over n fence We
stroled up to the top Of ahiil to get view Of the
surrounding country. Everything wore different
appearance from the region In Hartford through
which We had passed the day before. The sweet
gun, holly and pin-oak which with chestnut
formed the most Of the forest growth, had disap-
peared and white and black oak, hickory, poplar
and walnut clothed the hill.sides. The soil, too,
had spring and elasticity rs you walked on IL,
unlike the yielding sand or compact clay Of the
Hartford lands.
The whole region Of county from Edgewood to
Franklinville bears unmistakablc evidence ofhav-
ing seen better days. The old farm houses
N All al n
are and oftcn presenting that slovcnly and neg
lected appearance which indicates that they are
"rented OUT, still show that their occupants were
q more refined class Of people than tho owners Of
the newer buildings. Most Of the latter are plainly
men whose slender purses compelled them 20
choose cheap lands aud whose architectural efforts
were directed more towards the practical than the
ornamental. Log houses or rough frames form
the bulk Of the more recently erected buildings
over this whole region Of country.
But having reached better soil II was 20 be ex-
pectcd that No should End evidences Of a greater
worldly prosperity. Thus. the outlook from our
point Of observ alton proved TO be true. Most Of
the farm buildings in sight presented = commo-
dious and neat appearance and showed that their
occupants were people In easy circumstance.
Still evidences Of decay visible even here in
some Of the older homcsteads, where the buildings
and fences were In u dilapidatcd condition.
Re.cntcring our wagon drive &c about u mile
over gently rolling country brought Us to the
village OF q Salem, lively little place, where
thercarc several stores pos,ofce, church. school,
blacksmith shop and, of course, n canning house,
conducted BY Mr.. |. Stamford & Co. We enter
and find them canning apples and upon express
ing our surprise at there being n demand for tho
fruit IN such shape. were informed that good
varieties carefully put up. paid very fair profit.
Noticing that gasoline was used for heating sol
der irons. We asked Mr.. :. his opinion ~ TO the
danger in it, use, when hc was candid enough to
IA al. l.. IA.
used every possible prccnuiion TO prevent acct
dent. This testimony differs from that Of most
persons using this article Who IL their word is TO
be relied upon. regard IL as u perfectly harmless
liquid.
Leaving Salem we turn southwark a gain towards
the Philadelphia turnpike, passing over a fnc
piece OF road nearly level. Of about miles In
length. We noticed a number Of cooper. shops on
this road and learned that many Of the kegs used
in Baltimore for shipping oysters during the win
ter season were made In this section Of the county.
Many fnc views Of Gunpowder river and the neck
country are afforded TO those driving over this
road from Salem 10 the turnpike. We halted for
4 considerable time enjoying the scenery and
watching the trains on the 7. W. u. railroad as
they crossed the bridge over Gunpowder river.
My companion, contrary to his usual habit. ap-
peared to take no interest in the fin" view before
US. turned 10 him and found him absorbed in
thought. cnquircd what he was thinking about.
lie replied "di you see that card tackled on tho
fence by tina, wood pile back there a, the forks Of
the road p I answered that neither saw the
card nor the wood pile. "Ycs," he replied tartly
CHATS just like you. Well was more interested
in that card than in looking at the river or the
cars either. IL was inscribed: Wood for sale
Sis per cord delivered. s?.jO.' Now old Grab
all. over there on the n. Z. X. r., where I live,
asks 81 per cord for wood delivered. People say
that railroads benefit country, but my opinion
Is that when man has TO put his hand in his
pocket for everything he wants he had better
keep away from n railroad. I'll bet my bottom
dollar this minute that n man can live ten miles
from railroad for about half what Il costs TO live
on the y. c. r. H., any where within 10 miles Of
Baltimore lie paused for a reply when said
was not prepared TO dispute his statements. We
had now reached n point on the Philadelphia
turnpike. Is miles from Baltimore, where for the
present leave your readers. s.