National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-09
ADAY IN THE COUNTRY.
Fields and Forests That still Retain
Their Froshness-A Narrow-Gsugo
Railway.

Their Froshness-A Nsrrow-Gaugo
Railway.
Special Letter.
H1dH POINT, hartford. COUNTY, MD,
Aug. This place has taken its name
from it's relative elevation. 1t is not the
summit OF mountain, rs might DO
imagined, nor is II q bold promonto.y that
overlooks the sea. 1t is simply the high
est point within tho circle Of vision, and
the landscape slopes away on all sides
until fields and forests arc lost In the dip
Of tho horizon. There is no abru pit
ascent by which this upper plateau is
reached. Approaching from the direc-
tion Of the Chesapeake bay, we have the
usual alienation of uphill and down
hill, but the ascending grades must DO
longer than tho descending, for after we
have travelled eight or ten miles we find
ourselves probably 600 or 800 feet above
tho level Of tho bay, with an unobstructed
view in overy direction as far as tho eye
can reach.
do not think there is more attract
i've region to be found within hundred
miles of tho Atlantic coast. There is
delightful freshness about these fields,
and woods and winding lanes, which is
alike pleasing to the eye and restful to
the weary brain. The farm houses are
embowered among the orchards and the
orchards are embowered among the corn
fields. This particular section Of that
vast domain which city people call "the
country" has not yot been spoiled by over
cultivation. Land is not so valuable, but
that some of it can be left unclearod, and
the farmers do not think 1t necessary to
chop down the trees that grow in rocky
places and along the water courses in
order to enlarge the area of arabic ground.
Tho picturesque has not been wholly
sacrificed to tho practical. 1t must not be
supposed from this remark, however, that
tho farming is wasteful and negligent.
On the contrary, these luxuriant corn
fields show the very best culture; the
wheat stacks that cluster about the barns
and in the corners Of the stubble6elds are
sufficient proof that the crop is beyond
the capacity of tho barns to hold it, and,
as for the grass its growth is exuberant
and spontaneous.
There is considerable sprinkling Of
the Quaker element in the population
and the thrift and industry of these rural
Friends" are quite apparent in tho pros
porous agriculture, while their intelli-
gence and traditional integrity have had
marked influence upon the tone of
society. am staying with Quaker
Friend" who, perhaps, has crossed the
line that divides middle life from youth.
He has an estate of nearly four hundred
acres on the summit Of this knoll that
lifts its head above tho lesser hills. The
soil Is rich, and everything that is planted
grows in profusion. The fields are flanked
k,,f tab hna raI 10 ;g
day. Some of the trees are of gigantic size.
This whole region is well watered, aud
on this particular estate there are little
rills winding through the fields and
woods Springs Of pure, cold water gush
out at two or three places, and to max o
the round of these rustic watering
places" is mornings walk.
Why does the spirit of Arcadia still
linger among these hillsP Because 1t has
not been chased away by the scream {
the locomotive. Until within the past
two years there was no railroad within
ten or twelve miles Of High Point. PEG.
pie who wanted to go to Baltimore by
rail were obliged to start from some sta
ton on the Philadelphia, Wilmington
and Baltimore railroad, which skirts
along the eastern edge of Hartford county,
and when they reached the station they
were good deal farther from Baltimore
than when they left their homes. By the
country roads the distance to Baltimore Is
not more than eighteen or twenty miles.
A narrow gauge railroad now winds its
tortuous way through ravines and over
hills, taking most Of the towns and viii
lagos in this part of the county in its
course. 1t is a local road, built for the
accommodation of the people who live
too far east to reach the Northern Central,
and too far west to reach the Philadelphia,
Wilmington and Baltimore road. Its
northern terminus is at Delta. on the
Pennsylvania line, and its whole length
is forty miles. Although 1t has been ol
immense advantage to the country, and
has greatly increased tho value of prop.
erty, up to this time ii has not disturbed
the spirit of peacefulness that for hun.
dred years has brooded over region happy
in its seclusion.
A trip over this narrow gauge railroad
is novel experience. There is scarcely
so picturesque a route to be found east Of
the mountains. 1t is ono of the peculiari
ties Of Baltimore that as soon as you gel
outside the corporation limits, especially
on tho north side, there is nothing tC
indicate the near presence Of great city
The transition from the city to the coun
three minutes after the narrow gauge
train leaves the depot at Boundary ave
nue. it turns into wooded ravine, which
retains its native wildness, and although
IT runs through some Of the finest subur
ban estates, the natural features hav,
been so well preserved that you nigh
imagine you were in a virgin country
which had not yet passed out of the perioC
of pioneer cabins.
Now and then tho road strikes tn,
open country, but for tho most part i
follows the secluded by-ways, occasionally
crossing ravine or high trestle bridge
and sometimes hugging the base of {
hill, apparently for the purpose Of keep
ing out Of sight. Twelve miles from
Baltimore it strikes the Gunpowder river
and passes in sight of the dam at Loci
Raven, where a portion of tho river il
turned into the mighty tunnel that fur
nishes the city with y supply of waite
far beyond its present needs. A column
of water, 20 feet IN diameter, MOVING
through this subterranean shaft would I'll
all the reservoirs and deluge the city, i
it was permitted to run for any length o
time. Leaving the valley of the G un
powder the road traverses stretch o
open country, famous for its fertility
which is known as the Long Green,
and so on throughout its whole lengt
there is succession of wild gorges, woode'
ravines, and fertile fields. The Difficult
ties Of the route are overcome by numer
Gus sharp curves and high bridges TIL
regular passenger trains mako sbou
fifteen miles an hour, including stops
which are very numerous. Anybod
that wants to test the merits of the mar
row gauge, ought to mako tr ip from
Baltimore to the rocks of Deer creek on
fine summer day.