The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-09-19
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
THE sTEWARTSTOWN BRANCH R. R

Editors Union The formal opening of the
Stewartstown Branch Railroad, which connects
Stewartstown, York county, Pa, with the N. y.
r. r. at New Freedom, took place at the terminus
of the road on Thursday of last week, 10th inst.
A brief history of the road, as far as can be
gathered may not be amiss. Mr.. j. r. Straw
bridge of York, as we'll as Fulton the presi
dent of the road, said, when reviewing the history
of this road that previous to the building OF the
York and Peach Bottom Railroad, the building OF
n road from the Susquehauna river, at Peach Bot
tom to some point on the Northern Central, was
projected by the citizens Of Shrewsbury, Hope
we'll Fawn, Peach Bottom and Lower Chancetord
townships. Largeand enthusiastic meetings were
held all along the proposed line and considerable
interest in the then new enterprise was awakened.
Mr. Shoef, an engineer from Lancaster, made the
first survey, from point on the Northern Gen.
trial. near Hanover Junction, as far east as Stew
artstown, but considering the grade too heavy, a
further survey was abandoned, and with it any
further organized effort to build a road between
the Northern Central and the Susquehanna river.
On stormy day in the winter of 1871-72, Mr..
Thomas Sykes, an enterprising citizen OF Stew
artstown, a skilled mechanic, with his mason's
level traced line over the hills from New Free
dom to Stewartstown, claiming that the building
of railroad between the points named was not
impracticabe. Acting on his opinion, in the same
winter, in February, Mr.. James Fulton, the en-
ergetic and indefatigable president of the Stew
artstown Railroad, assisted by the late COL Full
| ton, made q trial survey of the proposed road
which satisfied him that the road was feasible.
In the summer of 1872 James Fulton employed
| your correspondent to make a survey from Stew
| artstown to New Freedom, which was done, and
report and estimate of cost given; but consider
ing the high price of labor and materials in con-
| nection with the heavy grades, further effort
was considered frutless The hard times, too, had
something to do with it at that time.
| wa towards n Or-
ganized effort to build the road until early in 1882
| At the instance of Rev. B. F. Stevens the ami
versary of Washington's birthday, Feb. %, 1888,
was observed by dinner at Stewartstown hotel
Some fifty or sixty leading citizens participated.
| After the dinner among other toasts referring
| to a prospective railroad from New Freedom to
| Stewartstown was responded to by Thomas Leib,
ESQ.,, an official of the Northern Central Railroad
Company. After his remarks one of the party
| proposed to suspend for time the regular toasts,
| and by the appointment of a committee thrust at
| once upon the community an organized effort to
build the present road. The proposal was hearth
| ly agreed to and committees appointed. The pro-
| posed road was talked about, meetings were held,
| and early in the summer of the same year an or
| ganization was effected survey and estimates of
cost made by your correspondent, assisted by Col.
| w. w. Stewart, and in the spring of 1884 final
location was made, committees appointed and
| subscriptions of stock were taken. By an agree
ment with the SUBSCRIBERS OF StOck uOI uolldr
the money subscribed was to be paid until all the
stock necessary by the estimate to build the road
| had been taken. This obviated the necessity OF
mortgaging the road, confidence in the manage
ment was inspired, the subscriptions were liberal
| and the payments prompt The grading OF the
road was begun in the fall of 1884, under the
| supervision of Col. Stewart, engineer. Luther Y.
Diller was contractor. Track laying was COM
menced ut New Freedom on the I'd day of June of
this year, and on the I'd day of the present month
the last rail was laid and the last spike driven at
Stewartstown.
To President Fulton is owing mainly the build
ing of this road. He said the Stewartstown Rail-
road was estimated to cost IS, 900 per mile but on
the completion the seven and one-ffth miles OF
| track cost a fraction less than $4,000, sum
much smaller than was expected. There will still
be required $4,000 to $4,000 to equip the road
wit engines and cars. The rails of this road are
of st. i, so pounds per yard. They have one en-
CINE and one car at present and are now using the
| cars of the N G. R. r. The road, with a 3O-ton
locomotive and combination baggage and passen-
ger coach, cost $4,000.
This road opens I'D what has been heretofore an
almost isolated but rich and fertile section of
| country. The road was projected by the people
for their own accommodation so that they could
come in direct communication with Baltimore and
other cities. The terminal facilities at New Free
dom run in conjunction with the Nothern Central,
ana STATION Dy on leet uelu5 eloOtou aI tnos
place for their common use. The Stewartstown
Railroad will be operated by its own managers.
1t will receive 10 per cent of all passengers and
freight traffic, both inward and outward, over its
own and the Northern Central road between Bal
timore and Harrisburg. twill derive its support
from the rich agricultural country which surrounds
it. It's trunk will probably soon be extended.
The officers of the road are-President, james
Fulton president, J. W. Anderson; secreta-
ry, A. G. Bowman; directors, Andrew Anderson,
James c. Jordan, John Wiley, John Manteller,
John B. Gemmell, VIM. Hammell, John Y. Keeney,
M. w. Balm and Jacob Althouse. The engineer
is Col. W. W. Stewart, of York Springs, Adams
county, Pa.
might have written more, especially in regard
to the successful realization of the peoples hopes,
the earnest wishes of years past, the country, &C.
but have already extended this article far beyond
what expected, so will close for the present.
Jos. S. GIT.
New OXFORD, Pa, September IA, 1885.