Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-03-08
THE TOWN OF ELKTON.
1 DELIGHTFUL LITTLE TOWN
WITH A MODEL JAIL.
Local Option and an Extensive Pulp
w6rks-sevcrsi Blns uharches
and Comfortable Homes.

ference convened last Thursday, IL o.
thriving little town not far from the
Delaware line, In Cecil County, Md,
about nineteen miles from this city.
The railroad station is Immediately OPP
posite the Cecil County fair grounds, at
the very edge Of the city; in fact, AZ
soon as a visitor turns from the station
he finds paved sidewalks and realizes
that be is already sin town." without
travelling mile or more, as ct Newark
and some other stations. The Streets
are improved, but on most OF them
oy ster shells have been placed until a
roadbed almost as hard as floor ha
been formed.
The majority Of the houses are frame
and stand back from the building line,
leaving com modious plots In front for
flowers or plants. There are also good
sized pieces of ground In the rear OF the
most OF the residences, which are no
doubt utilized as vegetable gardens
during the spring or summer. The
large amount of ground possessed by
nearly every house conveys the i'm
pressioD that more ground 10 sold by
the acre than by tho foot. Although 80
many houses are frame there are o
number OF fine brick residences, which
will compare favorably with many in
any Of the cities. There are two old.
fashioned hand engines for use In case
OF FIRE, but IL seems very evident that In
the event OF fire getting q fair start
among theee many frame dwellings
there would be but little hope Of saving
the town, unless assistance was given
from other cities.
The majority of business places are
provided with grenade fire extinguish.
ers, in which at least some Of the people
place The greatest confidence. A gem
tleman, when spoken to by visitor
abont tue apparent danger of q large
confisgration, Immediately spoke Of the
OK inguishers, and In support Of their
merits told how some time ago q fre
broke out In the oil room Of n drug
store, which was extinguished In q
very few minutes with three or four Of
these useful articles. The population
is about 1000, and the people seem 70
be frugal. Industrious and very hos
pitahle. There are seven churches.
being one for about each three hundred
of this population, which is certainly 9
good showing from q religious stand
point. There Is one Catholic church,
ore Episcopal, one Presbyterian, one
Methodist Episcopal, one Free Metho
dist and Two colored Methodist
churches.
The Presby terian church, which standt
on the main street, Is one Of the most
pretentious buildings In the town. 1t Ii
constructed Of stone aud has tall spire
pointing heaven ward, which can be
seen for m lies distant. There is cosy
little chapel adjoining the church,
while In the rear is al large graveyard.
whose white stones point cut the places
where many loved ones rest. The trus
tees OF this church, with that christian
fraternity which should exist between
all denominations kindly rendered the
use OF the chapel, during the Fession Of
conference, for committee meetings.
The Methodist church in which con-
ference is holding Its sessions stands
about one block from the Presbyterian
! church, on the main street. 1t is . neal
! brick building which has been rough
coated, in imitation Of stone, and was
erected In 1859.
1t is larger than the Presbyterian
church and has a commodious lecture
room, class rooms, &c, on the ground
floor, while the auditorium has a'largt
gallery across one end. The interior II
nicely fitted up, and with the gallery
will probably seat from eight hundred
10 one thousand persons There Ii
quite q large piece Of ground in thu
rear which is used by those cominI
from q distance for leaving their horseI
and carriages during service. Th'
Rev. j. P. Otis has been pastor during
the past year and the church IL in 1
prosperous condition with about thre'
hundred members, and has large ant
hourishing Sunday school.
Tho Episcopal church 10 severa
lsquares further down the main stree
and is q model place Of worship. It |
built of stone, and although small, |
very attractive aud sure to draw tn
Iatteption of q stranger.
The county court house is dilapi
Idated looking building, in some respect
like the cid court house at New Castle
There Ia line of one story bnilding
lconnected with IL, which are used IA
loffices for the Clerk of the Peace, Pro
thonotary and other officials. The Cd
Fellows have q fine largo building, tn
upper part OF which 10 used for lodg
meetings, while the lower floor Is ut
lizsd as stores, with restaurants in th
basement. The Grand Army Is ais
represented In the town by U. s. Gran
Post, Department of Maryland. Thel
are four newspapers, az follows Gee
Democrat, the Cecil Wing, the Gee
News and the Appeal. The count
iail ia situated a short distance froI
the railroad station, and is q sma
building surrounded on three bides wit
o high stone wall. Sheriff Mackey is
courtsous, hOspitable gentleman, an
when called upon by u represen tatiy
of the REPUBLICAN, received him In
) cordial manner and conducted hii
Through the institution.
There are two tiers IN the Jail, wit
, ten cells In each, making twenty in al
the majority Of which are 8xlO feet
size. They are provided with the regl
r lar grated doors, with massive loci
| on the outside of these. A large oell
one end of the building has a numb,
of drawings, mostly ships, on the wal
which are executed In an artistic mar
ner. They were done by two prisoner
some time ago, who adopted this meaI
Iof passing the weary hours. There al
at present eleven persons in the jai
seven Of whom are prisoners, while u
Iothers are insane. No restraint, beyon
being confined In the building, is place
upon them, and all the cells were III
locked 30 that they could pass in or Of
at will. A back door, leading to lari
lyard, was also unfastened, giving the
an opportunity to 60 out and take exc
else whenever they desired to do 80.
, is certainly a model Jail, and as the IL
mates are supplied with good, SUI
stautial food, 1t seems that If they a
not coutented they are very ungratef
and should be kicked out.
There has been 5000 appropriated
construct building for the insane
the almshouse, and when that is col