The Cecil Whig., 1883-07-21
B&O SUSoUEHANNA BRIDGE
THE COMPLAINTS OF THE PORT DEPOSIT
PEOPLE

of last week, we clip the following
sensible remarks upon the question now
agitating the people of Port Deposit.
Since the Baltimore and Ohio extern
sion is to be built it is to the interest of
everybody in Maryland that it shall be
well built, and it would undoubtedly add
greatly to its safety and attractiveness as
a route for passenger travel if it could
cross the Susquehanna river on a bridge
without draw. The desire of the COM
pany to erect such a bridge is, then, a
natural one, and no unreasonable Oh
stacles should be thrown in the way of
granting it; but if building the structure
at the site proposed would interfere with
the shipping of Port Deposit SO much as
the citizens of that town declare, it ought
not to be thought of. 1t seems singular
to any one familiar with the topography
of that part of the State, but having no
engineering knowledge, that it is not
practicable to cross the river above Port
Deposit, which is at the head of it's navi-
CATION. II there are, however, sufficient
reasons for declining to do this, then it
seems to US that the only thing to do is
either abandon the hope of having a
bridge without draw or else build it at
the height demanded by the citizens of
the town. 1t is not a question between
the safety and convenience of the travel
ing public on one side and the rights of
the people of "Port'' on the other, but
between the latter and the necessity of
greater expenditure than has thus far
been contemplated on the part of the
railroad company.
one just answer. No individual or cor.
poration has the right to impair the
value of another's property in order to
save his own; and this is what the rail-
road company would do if it were per-
mtted to build in order to save expense
to itself, a bridge that would destroy the
commerce of Port Deposit. The board
of public works cannot afford to sanction
any such proceeding. and the railroad
company ought to chee1fully acknow-
ledge the force of the objection and
either cross above the town or make the
structure higher. But, on the other
hand, the people of Port Deposit cannot
afford to throw any needless obstacles in
the way of the company's plans. The
new road is to be built, and the nearer it
can get to their town the better it will
be for the interests Of its people. At
present it is quite difficult of access de-
spite tn, short length of the branch con-
Meeting it with the Philadelphia, Will
mington and Baltimore road, because of
the smaller number of trains running, to
it, and if it could induce the Baltimore
and Ohio Company to pass directly
through it the property of the place
would doubtless double in value, since it
would be directly on a through line with
frequent trains running daily. This is
Polt Deposits side to consider, and the
people there should not lose sight of it,
and, in opposing properly what they re-
gard as serious blow at their rights,
they should still do all they can to make
it to the interests of the company to
build the bridge right at their town if
possible.
From the Baltimore american of yes
terday (Friday) morning we take follow
ing:
An adjourned meeting of the Board of
Public Works was held on Thursday in the
directors room in the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Central Building in Baltimore to
hear the complaints Of the citizens of Port
Deposit and vicinity against the building
of an eighty-f foot high bridge across the Sus-
quehanna river, near that city, by the Bal
timore Ohio Railroad Company for its new
line to New York. Governor Hamilton,
Comptroller Heating, State Treasurer Comp
ton and Secretary of State Briscoe were
present. A similar meeting was held in An
napolis last week, but nothing was done.
Many residents of Port Deposit AMI the sur
rounding country and persons interested in
vessels running to and from that place We're
present, among whom were Messrs. George
Hawkins Williams, John a. j. Creswell,
Jacob Tome, Senator Aydelotte, James NJ.
Touchstone, w. w. Nickle, E. j. Rhine
hart, f. Il. Frazier, J. J. Buck, Archer
Stump, and the firms of Messrs. James
Roswald Il Co., Barnes & Archer, Bond
Bros. and James \. Davis & Co. NJ. G..
A. Williams was the first speaker. He
said that the bridge if constructed Us pro-
posed would impede navigation, and be
detrimental to the interests of the citizens
of Port Deposit Captain Layton, of Port
Deposit, said that bridge only eighty feet
high would prevent the passage of his..vessel.
Mr.. John X. Cowan, counsel for the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad Company, said
that there was not merchant vessel leav-
ing this port that is not prepared to lower
its topmast in fifteen minutes in case of a
storm, and he did not see why vessel on
the Susquehanna river could not do the
same thing. Captain Layton then pro-
ceeded to show with a miniature vessel how
impossible it was to loosen the ropes and
stay and haul out the tackle, and then take
down the topmast in that time.
Captain Applegarth said he was one of
the largest traders on the Susquehanna, and
| considered it a very serious matter if the
bridge was built at a height Of only 80 feet.
1t would kill the lumber business of Port
Deposit.
Mr.. Greenleaf johnson said that he ships
millions of feet of lumber annually from
could pass under a bridge the height propos-
ed. They are all 81 feet to toplnast. There
are 9, 900 inhabitants in Port Deposit, and
| he hoped they would not be shut out from
| navigation.
Mr. James NJ. Touchstone said it was inn
| possible to show the board by draft the inn
portance of the matter to the people of Port
Deposit, but if they would go to the spot
and see for themselves they would surely
decide against the construction of the bridge
at the height named. Continuing, he said,
For Heavens sake, gentlemen, do not
shut us out. There are 1000 people in Port
Deposit. all interested in navigation, and
depend almost entirely upon the water for
a living We see Il chance in the future of
| improving our town, but if the bridge is
put up, at the proposed height, all our hopes
| will be destroyed"
Governor Hamilton-lfow many vessels
higher than 50 feet, inclusive of topmast,
ply the waters of the Susquehanna?