The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-07-14
HISTORIC SUSQUEHANNA.
Once a Great Highway, but now Only
Breaker of Dams and Bridxss.

Once a Great Highway, but now Only a
Breaker of Dams and Bridges.
The historic Susquebauna river, tba'
once great and important stream and the
great highway of the pioneers of great
state, is now only distinguished for wash
ing away dams and bridges and floating
few RATS in the spring while the water is
high. The river is a barrier as we'll as an
avenue of trade, and ferries were as well
known in former times as l.. "ge towns are
now. The most nntabl on lie lower river
were Wrights, Shencks, NJ, Calls, Peach
bottom, and Como wingo. Trere is now
bridge at the cid Connwngo ferry and a
railrosd bridge AT Columbia IN place OF
the one that was sacrificed ON the altar of
liberty. The Confederate ca, airy were
securing the country early in July 1868.
The citizens OF Wrigh sville and G 'lumbia
resolved to dispute their passage over the
bridge and into the town. They first
threw up extensive breast works, then
armed and equipped they awaited the
approach of the rapacious enemy. Their
suspense was not of long duration as a
small squad of Stuart's cavalry came
thunderi' z down towards the town.
While the enemy was ct at safe distance
the vlliant defenders of their country
fired volley, retreated aud fired the
bridge and looked compacently aJ live
hundred thousand dollar structure ling
up in smoke. The bridge that was
burned bad railroad track, wagon
passage and a tow path for canal boats,
now there is but a single track for the
cars. The first crafts that were used for
transporting produce dow Il the river we're
dugonts which were superseded by keel
boats with from five to fifteen tons capac-
lty. They were afterwards built much
larger. The first keel boat that arrived
ment, and stimulated business i'll the
Susquehauna country beyond calculation.
A project OF internal improvement was
soon started. There was ledge OF rocks
across the river at 5 satara, fourteen
miles above Wrightsville, that made
navi sarlon very dangerous. A committee
of the Legislature of the state OF p nn-
sylvania with the most notable men,
among whom were r bt Morris, Richard
Rush, and General Mlifiiu, viewed the
falls and formed plans to remedy the evil.
They recommended canal one huudred
yards long, eighty feet wide and five feet
deep to cost fifteen thousand dbl i y. 1t
was completed at cost OF over Il hun
dred thousa ID and WAS of great utility.
Before the days of railroads the furnaces
and FORCES were principally along the
rivers and The Susquehanna IS nned with
old looking runs of furnaces and iorges.
Charcoal was then used exclusive in the
production of iron. Now there is no
charc pal used Tor making iron aud the
S Isquehanna is almost useless as means
of transportation, excepting tor rafting
logs. Now there is a railroad running
down the east side of the river to Port
Deposit and canal on the west side
which terminates at Havre de Grace.
The canal is now owned by a company
that use their own boats for shipping coal
to tide water from whence they distribute
it to all parts of the country where they
can find a market for it. Formerly
much of the freight that came down the
river was wagoned to Philadelphia to
avoid dangerous rocks and rapids below.
Now there are from eighty to over a hun
dred freight trains going from Columbia
to Philadelphia every twenty four hours
and as many return, besides the freight
that goes to Baltimore via York and Port
Deposit, and a large amount on the
Reading Correspondence RenneH
Adodnce.