The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-06-29
Deer Greek and SuSQQelanDa R. R.
Discussed by the Deer Creek Club.
THE RAILROAD CAN BE HAD IF A
SLIGHT EFFORT IL MADE.
A CONDITIONAL CONTRACT SIGNED.

The Deer Creek Farmers Club held its regu
lar monthly meeting, last Saturday, at the resi-
dence of Mr.. Parker Il. Lee. The President
Mr.. VIM. B. Hopkins, was in the chair; Mr.
JAS W. Hanna Secretary. The active anC
honorary members and others present wert
Messrs. Parker Fl. Lee, James Lee, George Il
Silver, Thomas Lochary, R. Harris Archer, w
d. Lee, John Moores, D. q. Wharton Smith
James B. Kenly, s. NJ. Lee, Judge James ID
Waters, WIN. Munnikhuysen, Geo. X. Stephen
son, Z. NJ Allen, Geo. j. Finney, $. A. vii
liams, Dr. G. A. Hollingsworth, stephen b
Hanna, Turnbull Murdoch, K. A. Kelly and f
w. Baker.
Messrs. Moores, Lochary and Stephenson
were appointed to report upon the condition OF
the farm and buildings The farm is one of the
finest in the State. 1t is devoted chiefly TO graz.
ing cattle, much of 1t being IN sod. One large
field, it was said, had not been plowed for fifty
years, and the sod is very heavy, affording most
nutritious food TO large number OF cattle. A
fine, bold stream runs through this place, Civ
ing IL peculiar advantages for grazing purposes.
Large crops of corn, wheat and hay are also
grown. The committee said they could find
nothing TO criticize, the stock, the outbuildings
and the garden being in first class condition.
They particularly mentioned pair of fine
colts, and remarked that the raising OF
horses is growing and useful industry
in Hartford county. They also spoke of a field
of corn which had been planted regularly but
very thick, which Mr.. Lee said he intended to
cut mp and feed the stalks, ears and all TO his
cattle after frost comes.
ARAILRoAD TALK.
Instead of discussing, as usual, a topic
especially relating to the farm, II was resolved
to talk about the proposed Deer Creek and
Susquehanna Railroad, surveys for which, from
Bel Air TO Stafford, on the Susquehanna river,
have recently been made.
James Lee spoke of the Importance Of this
movement and remarked that everything the
club could say or do to advance the enterprise
should be said and done.
Geo. +. Silver, one of the directors, said it is
important to show the people that we must have
railroad and that affairs are now in such a
shape that they can have ii If they want it. 1t
is necessary, however, for all interested to do
something. Those persons through whose pro-
perry the railroad will go must give the right
of way, and ifthey want the railroad they should
be willing to make some sacrifices for 1t. The
advantages would, without question, far exceed
any temporary damage which might be done to
any man. The railroads bring the West prac-
tically nearer to the great markets of the coun-
try than we are, and it is absolutely necessary
that we should have this railroad or we will
go behind every year. Besides the right of way
II Is necessary to subscribe $500 to the capt
tai stock. If this is done there is no doubt about
the railroad coming and coming soon. He had
also reasons to believe that this road would not
stop at the river but would go on towards
Philadelphia.
s. A. Williams another director, said that
thanks to the efforts of Mr.. George NJ. Jewett
the railroad project which has been discussed
for the last twenty-fye years, has assumed de
finite shape. He would only say that If the
people interested will secure the right of way
and raise bona fide subscription of ESQ, 900, he
felt he could guarantee that the road would be
completed before next spring. 1t remains for
the people OF the county to say whether they
will have this railroad or not.
Il. Harris Archer spoke of the advantage the
railroad would be to our county roads by the
withdrawal Of heavy teams, which cut the roads
to pieces and increase the cost of keeping them
in repair.
s. N. Lee said he had never known railroad
built anywhere that Improvements did not fol
low. 1t would bring in more population and
more property.
John Moores said he lives 2h miles from the
Maryland Central, and would not have it remov-
ed for 5000 He can farm with two or three
horses less than he used to and can put 500 bush
els of wheat on the cars in one day. There are
thousand other advantages which any farmer
near railroad will appreciate. The improve
ments all along the line of the Maryland
Central have been wonderful. Even greater i'm
provements than these would follow the CON
struction of the Deer Creek and Susquehanna
Railroad. Too much can not be said in its favor
nor can its advantages be over estimated
ID. Z. Wharton Smith, also director of the
ID. Z. and s. Railroad, gave succinct state
ment Of the condition Of affairs with reference to
the proposed railroad. He said q meeting of
directors had been held last Saturday, at which
Mr. George NJ. Jewett, President OF the Com
tors much encouragement Mr.. Jewett had en-
ployed corps or competent engineers, who had
made survey and found that road could be
built, the steepest grade on which would not be
over 81 feet to the mile. He had also seen some
contractors and had met some gentleman of high
financial ability, the result being that he had
made contract with them which the directors
ratified on Saturday. This contract is not only
that the road shall be putt from Bel Air to the
probable, he thought these geltlemen would I'M
dertake to build merely local road of ID miles
some prospect of gain ahead. The conditions
are that the people of Hartford shall grant the
right of way and subscribe $4,000 to the capital
stock. The road will be commenced within ten
days after this Is done. 1t is provided that a
working train shall be on the road by the 3lst of
next December and the road be open to travel by
January 3lst, 1899. The stock of the road, he
thought, would eventually be valuable as an in
eSp Ihe haa selected MGss
rights of way and subscriptions and they had
consented to undertake the task and begin work
on Monday. He felt assured that when this road
is built the Maryland Central will be converted
into IA wide-gauge road. and thus the people of
middle Hartford would have an outlet North and
South for their produce. The road is not only
possible but probable IL every man interested
would treat the matter in liberal spirit and use
his influence with his neighbors If these con-
tractors willing to take stock as part of their
pay we must conceive the idea that the stock is
going to be valuable; The stock subscriptions
can be paid in installments, but not before the
work is under way. Tho first section of Is miles
Is from Bel Air to the river. the second includes
carries the road through Cecil county to the
Pennsylvania line. No money is TO be paid until
the road is under way. When Ave miles are COM
pleted one-third of the stock subscriptions must
be paid another third when ten miles are ready
and the remainder when the road is graded
to the river. The work ia to be done under a
competent engineer selected by the directors.
The question Is, said Mr.. Smith, do the people
of Deer Creek want a railroad2 II they do thisis
their golden opportunity.
W. Beatty Harlan, of the board of directors,
said Mr.. Smith had been entirely frank and had
put the meeting in possession of all that was
known to the directors. A railroad is a symbol
Of progress and where there are no railroads the
people are getting behind in material progress.
There never has been before definite propo-
sition to build this road and the conditions must
be met at once or the matter will be dropped and
IL may be many years before we have another
such opportunity. Mr.. Jewett has taken part in
building seven railroads and says he had never
known 80 favorable a contract offered to a local
road. 1t can be easily shown that this railroad
will be worth more than $4,000 and the right of
way to this county. 1t will cost at least 100000
to build the fifteen miles from Bel Air to the
river. This amount will nearly all be put In cir
culation here and do the whole county good
The project was further discussed by others
present, including e. NJ. Allen, Geo. H. Stephen
son, Judge Waters, VIM. Munnikhuysen and
others.