Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-09-19
NEED or A NEW RAILROAD.

A Suggestion That Direct Limo Between
York, Pa, aud This city Would Prove
Profitable and of Great Advantags-rho
Country ~ Would Traverse and the In
terests It Would Serve.
"If Wilmington had direct railroad
connection with York, Pennsylvania,
think ii would be great benefit to
the city," remarked gentleman who
has the welfare Of the city at heart, to
reporter of The Gazette Thurs
day afternoon. 1.-THE distance be-
tween the two cities is about so miles,
he explained, and such line would be
without competition or opposition. In
my opinion il would pay. 1t would
pass through Lancaster and Chester
counties and would be direct line
from York, which is railroad centre,
to the sea. !"
The speaker exhibited map which
was outlined with what would be a
feasible route. The route suggested
passes through Avondale, Quarryville
and other business centres. and be-
sides terminating at York would have
easy connection with Lancaster. Avon
dale is about Is miles from Whining
ton, Quarryville 80 or 40, Lancaster 50
or 30, via the Lancaster d Reading
railroad, and many other towns are in
close proximity to the suggested route.
At York there would be connection
with the Northern Central railroad fol
all points west and also with Other
roads. York is manufacturing and
agricultural centre, and Lancaster
county, through which the suggested
line passes, is one of the richest aRri.
cultural sections of the country. Min.
erals also abound, and there would be
little difficulty in establishing a trade
between that rich district and viii
mington, where ample shipping facili
ties can be found.
With the present railroad facilities
between York and the ocean it doel
not pay TO conduct much business tha
way. 1t is argued that direct rout,
would not only enable the present pro
! ducers of Lancaster and neighborinl
counties TO establish an ocean trade
| but it would encourage others to rails,
and ship produce and handle othel
commodities. If such line should b.
established it would be an outlet for
district that nov practically has nj
opening Freight rates to the scaboart
| would be very materially lessened anC
the time for making shipments woulC
be shortened considerably. and bust
ness would be very much facilitated.
But the most important local interes
is the undeniable fact that such lin
would be Of untold benefit to vii
mington. Most of the business iron
York and the intervening territory
which is now scattered about, woulC
undoubtedly come direct toWilmington
| Our merchants and business men coult
cater 10 the trade, and there would b.
little trouble to draw it here. Whole
salers would reap immediate benefi
and retailers would get their proper
tionate share.
| In York there are large manfactur
ing concerns and if they could get thei
wares to the sea without trouble ther,
is likelihood that they would max,
use of such facilities. A road sucl
as has been suggested, with an cutie
on the Delaware river in this city
would afford splendid opportunity 70
Southern Pennsylvania shippers, be
sides making new business for Will
minton.
Land on our river front could be Sc
cured at nominal figure, and the i'm
provements in the shape of wharvel
and docks could be constructed prob
ably cheaper here than in most cities
and there would be no obstruction q
all to an ocean trade. Manufacturer
and merchants having business on tn
other side of the Atlantic would lint
such facilities more convenient thai
what can be obtained in Philadelphia
or New York, from the fact that Their
is plenty of water and plenty of room
and Wilmington is so near the ocean
Then again coastwise line could b.
established with cities in North AMI
South America.
The gentleman who made the sug
gestion to the reporter has recent,
| given the matter considerable though
and he has in his possession maj
with feasible route outlined. Will
he is not a capitalist, he would like +
see capitalists take the scheme in hant
and push it on to completion. II
thinks it would not only be paying
venture, but would be so beneficial l.
Wilmington that it would pay loca