The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-09-12
'riday Morning, September IL, 1890


The directors of the Belt Line Railroad
Company, of Baltimore, last week awarded
contracts for building the road to McCabe
& Bro. and Ryan s. Mcdonald, and work
has been actually commenced 1t is believ-
ed that the road will be finished and in oper-
alton within two years from this time. This
Is good news for Baltimore and Hartford
counties, both of which have a vital interest
in the speedy completion of the Belt road.
The Inauguration Of this great work is es-
pecially gratifying to the people of Hartford
county, a large portion of which will in the
end be directly benefited by its construction,
while the entire county will share in the
advantages which are certain to follow
upon the completion of this Belt Line.
We are assured by those in position to
know that by the time the Belt Railroad is
finished the Maryland Central Railroad
will be converted into line of standard
gauge, with a connection with the Belt
road by which freight and passengers will be
landed in the heart of the city.
The consolidated Maryland Central and
York and Peach Bottom Railroads will con-
stitute an important adjunct to the Belt
Line, and it is safe TO say that this narrow
gauge line will form part of through line
extending from Baltimore city to the coal
regions of Pennsylvania. with connections
with all of the great railroad lines east of the
Susquehanua river.
1t Is also believed that the management of
the railroad system for which the Belt Line
will constitute the tidewater outlet, have sub
stsntialy determined upon building line
from Baldwin station, on the Maryland
Central Railroad, to some other point near
the Rocks of Deer Creek, on the same road !,
and from thence to the Susquehanna river,
crossing it at Peach Bottom. This cutoff
would materially shorten the way to
the coal fields. There is no danger,
however, that the intervening portion
of the Maryland Central, between Bald
win and the point of junction near the
Rocks, will be abandoned. Forest Hill and
Bel Air alone furnish business enough to
justify the best railroad facilities.
Coupled with these enterprises and con-
tingent upon the completion of the Belt
Line is the Deer Greek aud Susquehanna
Railroad. That enterprise has been long de-
layed although many thousands of dollars
have been spent upon 1t. The gratifying as
surance is given that this work, too, will
move along with the Belt Line, and by the
time the latter is finished the people of the
lower Deer Creek region will see the realiza-
ton of long-cherished hopes. Whether the
Deer Creek and Susquehanna road will cross
the river at Stafford or make through con-
nection at Havre do Grace, by way of a rail
road along the Tidewater Canal, are ques-
tons yet to be determined. We may be GER
tain, however, that when this road is COM
pleted, as the contract requires, from Bel
Air to Stafford, it will not be long before it
is extended.
In view of these facts the commencement
of the Belt Line is matter of the deepest in
terest to Hartford county. 1t is full of the
promise of great results to our people. No
county in Maryland is more favorably situa-
ted than Hartford with reference to the great
centres of trade and commerce of the Eastern
States. None possesses a more fertile soil,
more picturesque scenery or more health-in-
spring air and water but it has been handi-
capped for want of the railroad facilities
which the Belt Line and its connections will
afford. Therefore we have every reason to
rejoice in the commencement of the Belt
Line.