The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-03-25
CHILDS TO PROVIDENCE.
Completion of the Cecil Branch
of the Lancaster, Oxford N
Southern Railroad.

Southern Railroad.
The Cecil branch of the Lancaster,
Oxford and Southern Railroad is not as
yet very long railroad, but it is no less
an important one TO the mill owners
along the Little Elk creek. For years
one OF the great drawbacks to remunera
tive manufacturing along that busy little
stream, was tho expense OF banning
material aud supplies to the mills
Originally Elk Landing was the nearest
point OF shipment tor the paper aud IRON
mills. The construction OF the L. W. "
railroad in 1896 shortened the distance
only a mile, and from that year until the
completion of the B. II D. railroad to
Singerly the expense OF hauling was
big item to our local manufacturers.
But now, the completion OF the l. y. "
Southern, gives them all railroad facill
ties at their mill doors Starting at
Guilds it touches Marley paper mill
giving it twelve Car siding, then it
passes Harlan's book board mill even
unpeasautly close, running up the west
side of the creek to Carter's Cecil paper
mills, where max ing loop it crosses the
Little Elk creek twice, and still follow
ing the west bank of the stream it passes
the Messers. Lewis & Bros. ttoprirg
mill, and Their on to Providence paper
| mills its present terminus.
| On Saturday last the road which is
four and eight tenths of a mile long, was
inspected by ALr. W. Vausant Smith, Sup
erintendent of the Philadelphia division
of tn 3. & o. railroad, VIM. NJ. Frank
lin, Esq, President of the l.. 0. e 5 Mr..
| A. NJ. Nevin, Chief Engineer OF the
same road, while the interests OF the
county was represented by County Com
mlssioners Price and Cameron, and Mr..
| Charles II. Smith Clerk of the Board,
Mr.. Samuel J, Reyes, and Messrs. Ash
and Torbert of the local press completing
| the party. Those familiar with the
Little Elk creek know it to be a winding
| and tortuous stream. Following its
course, the railroad is substantially built
and stone ballasted In its present con-
dition it would not be adapted to rapid
travelling, but no such demand will for
the present be made on it. as its business
for some time will be confined to its
freight traffic. Owing to the necessary
excavating, grading and bridging 1t has
been an expensive branch to build, It's
average cost being about twenty
thousand dollars per mile. But import
ant as this road is to Mr.. Singerly, this
Messers. Garter, and the mill OWL ers
generally, at 10 very distant day it may
Prove very important link in opening
up tho southern section of this county,
while its northern extension of eight
and half miles will reach Oxford, Pa.
Here it will connect with the the Narrow
Guage road running from Oxford to
Peach Bottom a distance of twenty
miles. Tnis road now running under the
name of the Lancaster, Oxford and
Southern is a narrow guage road, but is
about to be relaid TO standard guage.
At Quarryville about six miles from this
line the Philadelphia aud Reading rail
road touches. The Cecil branch will for
the present be operated by the Baltimore
aud Ohio railroad. A Locomotive with
crew will be run daily from Wilmington,
which will do the freight work along the
line and return to that city in the even
ing, and tho freight receipts from the
start, will it is expected meet operating
expenses.
On Saturday for the first time, pas
senger coach passed over the line, and
which Messrs. Smith and Franklin used
as an observation car. While the curves
are sharp, the grades are not severe,
and when properly settled the road will
be safe and substantial one. AS in
duty bound Messrs. Price and Cameron
called the attention of the inspecting
officers to the necessity of several
changes at crossings, noticeaoly at the
trestle bridge at Childs, and at the
crossings at Brogans and Lewis where
some grading is still needed and road side
tenders are required. These improve
ments will be made doubtless in due
time, when the branch road becomes in
better working order.
The little inspection trip was made
pleasant social occasion by the gentle
meu conducting II, both Messrs. w. Van
Smith and Mr.. Franklin being quite as
as courteous as gentlemen, as they are
successful railroad and business men.
Mr.. Smith is son OF the late VIM.
Prescott Smith who was master of trans.
portation of the b. & o. during the try
ing days of the rebellion, and the con
tdential friend OF the late JOHN w
Garrett. MIR. Franklin President of the
L. o. & Southern railroad is we'll
known lawyer of lancaster, and at
present District Attorney for Lancaster
county.