The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-09-15
A JAUNT1NG PARTY
Drive from Western TO Eastern Mary.
land and 10 the Diamond State.
Written for Tie Democratic drOcae by one Of The Party

eumseribed circle of their immediate surroundings
will know but little of the world beyond. Travel
and observation are two of the best educators and
expand the intellect and widen the area of ones
ideas to greater extent than anything else Nor is
the money judicously expended in that way II
prohtess investment. Ii pays. If one will note and
profit by the improvements he meets with in such
excursions, sixty or an hundred fold.
Such were the reflections and conclusions of a
party of gentlemen who recently started from this
section of Carroll county to drive by easy and con-
venent stages distances, to the Eastern Shore OF
Maryland and the State of Delaware. The party
consisted of four Jacob Roop. Amos shaffer. Jabez
A. Bush and Henry Vanderford. The vehicle en-
ployed was a snug doube-carrage or jaeger, which
accommodated the four gentlemen, their yalises,
overcoats and umbrellas very comfortably.
Their route lay through Baltimore county to the
city, which was approached after n drive of over
twenty miles, via Druid Hill Park and Madison
Avenue to the pier OF the Ericsson Line of steamers,
corner of Light and Pratt streets. Here they EN-
barked with their horses and carriage slowed away
snugly on the forward deck of the steamer for
Chesapeake City, where the Chesapeake and Della
ware Canal debouches into the waters of Back
Creek tributary of the Elk river one of the four
rivers that empty their waters into the head of the
Chesapeake bay. The charges from Baltimore to
Chesapeake City were Sl1.00 for the two horses and
the carriage, and dollar each for passage making
fifteen dollars. This was the most expensive part
of the trip, but that route was chosen because it
shortened the journey by two days, and saved a
drive through Hartford and the upper part of Cecil
county.
We left Baltimore at o'clock p. M, in drizzling
rain, and steamed up the bay to Chesapeake City
where we arrived at IL O'Clock, the noon of night
after many stops at the different landings, to take
on peaches, calves and other freight, and number
of passengers From one wharf we took on board
AS boxes of peaches. The night chill and
cherries and very dark, and we expected to
reach our destination by o'clock, schedule time.
we did not take state rooms which would have been
an extra charge of 10 cents each.
This line is a great convenience for freight and
does large business in that way, its aecommoda-
lions for passengers are "cribbed cabned and con-
fined" The genial Capt Ireland and his gentle
manly clerk, however made up for many of the dis
comforts of the passage.
One of our party polled the passengers, and ascer-
tanned that there but solitary Harrison man
on the boat and he was from Pennsylvania. All
the rest were for Cleveland and Thurman. Our
Harrison and Morton friend was coddled and COM
forted, if he could derive any comfort from the
many good-natured twits he encountered from his
merry fellow passengers whose sympathies seemed
for he was alone in his party predictions
After landing at Chesapeake City at SO late an
hour it was the work of thirty or forty minutes TO
rouse up sumberng Landlords and sleepy hostlers.
However all difficulties yield to indomitable per-
severance, and we were ultimately ensconced in
comfortable beds by our excellent host, Hayes, in
whom one of our party found an old friend who
was much gratifed at this unexpected meeting.
Next morning before resuming our journey We
spent some time i'll calling upon old friends, in
viewing the canal and the water-works. and in
examining the immense water-wheel at the feeder
of the canal. One of our party was up by times,
and in his eager search after knowledge paid visit
to the engineroom of the Canal Water Works, and
interviewed the engineer, sturdy Englishman,
who was duly communicative in response to his
visitors questions to the capacity of the water
wheel, and the quantity of water it capable
oflfting out of Back Creek into the Canal He said
to his nterlocutor that it was the largest water
wheel in the world, and that its capacity was 26j
tons of water per minute. This statement was so
stunning that excited the wonder not the incre
dulity of our Carroll travelling companion, who
exclaimed rather bruskly, NOW tell the truth"
This took the engineer all aback who said-"Did
you suppose would tell you an untruth If you
did why did you ask" Go on" said his querist
land give me all the facts" In the subsequent
COuIse Vi OuI JSuIIegf Whenever EelnATk-
able attracted attention and likely be spoken
OF at home after return, the admoniton sure
to come-"Now tell the truth"
Leaving Chesapeake City, we crossed the canal at
Pivot Bridge, and drove along that beautiful and
productive region known as Bohemia Manor so
called in honor of Augustin Herman, a Bohemian
the first settler and proprietor. The roads were
smooth and level, rendering it easy to drive eight
miles an hour. The tourists were now approaching
what is called the backbone" of the peninsula
between the Chesapeake and Delaware bays. This
is more elevated ground near to the boundary
line between the States of Maryland and Delaware,
known Mason and Dixon's Line, starting from
Lewis Delaware, or Cape Henlopen, and running
north to the Pennsylvania line, then west between
Maryland and Pennsylvania. Crossing into Della
the tourists continued along the Canal until
they came to Summit Bridge, or what is known as
the Deep Cut" Stopping to survey that part OF the
Canal, we looked down upon passing tow Of boats
and barges, far beneath us, proceeding towards the
Chesapeake. We now turned our course southwark
and drove towards the beautiful and fourishng
region around Middletown. AS drove along
it was noticed that the roads were broad and
well rounded up towards the middle. This is a
popularity of Delaware highways which are
kept in the best condition, On every side nothing
was seen but Usage and buck thorn hodges uxuriant
corn fields, extensive straw ricks' stately and COM
modlons iarm houses WIN extensive lawns ana
beautiful shade trees ana shrnooery ana well-laden
peaen' apple ana pear oicnarus. me iace Oh uie
country was open ana sen'iy uiiuuia''is' sun,eien'
10 give tnorough ofaihase' Ahe i""ns were hise,
oiten embracing several acres Every evening hau
us mann entrance through tne ia"h ana sac en-
tlaiiee io' tie iaiHi ""soiS ie'uiis W '"e JAIN
our ourlol county 'ourisS were s'lucH WIN uie
beauty Vi lne iaiiuscaPe' tne "iue eAehueu heius,
the iuNuriahee Oh inc growing corn the extent Oh
the peach oreharus, !he neapy HlRHiec morn
heasos' Hha lhe osoau spoolh roauS' newer looAeu
upon such oeautilui country was oi'eh enthusi-
asLiealiy repeated
We ho" CANT u hiuuie'o"i' ohe Vi .he Pre'tles'
anu must thIll'y OWNS upon .ne Pehiiisuia Elk.
nov 'oni T. Ooenran resiaes Mltnin nan mile Oh
the o"h, uPon ohe Vi tAe esA'es III ine
S'Ve' ana uoE' D. l. Digs resides III tne uown' IN
one Oh us most coniooious ana most ADMIRED resi-
dences. indeed the Town IS noted ior It's many
beautiful residences ltls also the centre OF very
active trade, has two banks two printing offices, two
well-kept hotels two large carriage factories can
ming establishment, creamery, peach eyaporatiRg
or drying establishment large stores and many other
industries Our party put up at the well known hotel