The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-11-12
The Chesapeake Bay Railroad.

Active WORK Is IN progress III Inc DuHu-
ing of the roadbed for the proposed Chesa-
pcake Bay Railroad. Two gangs of men
are employed in grading There is one at
Seat Pleasant, Md, where the contractor,
H. T. Burrows, directs operations. There
is another at Marlboro where the meh are
in the employ of H. H. Green, contractor.
Mr.. Burrows says that he expects the work
of grading the roadbcd in the section of
the road from the District line to Marl-
horo' will be completed by January st.
A force of men, it is stated, is also at
work at the terminus of the line on Chesa-
peake Beach, where pier is being built,
which, when completed, will extend into
the BAY two thousand feet. 1t is stated by
the projectors of this enterprise that they
propose to have the entire road ready for
operation by May LIST.
Mr.. Charles Pepper, the treasurer of the
Chesapeake Bay Construction Company
says that, in addition to the work which
is above described, contracts have been
made for the ties, some Of which llavc been
delivered on the ground. A contract has
also been made for the rails.
He said that it would be necessary for
the company to get from Congress author
ity to construct its railroad within the
bounds of t..t District, but in order that
no time should be lost, the work of build
ing the rest of the line was being pushed
forward as rapidly as possible, and as soon
a permission was obtained from Congress,
he expected that the portion of the road
lying in the District would be constructed.
Mr.. Pepper said that the exact route Of
the proposed road within the limits of the
District had not fully been decided upon,
but it is understood that the line which is
looked upon with favor by the promoters
of this enterprise is one that practically
follows that of the Southern Maryland
Rail- oad AS will be remembered, this
latter road was constructed some twenty
years ago, and was fully completed, even
the tracks being laid. The scheme was,
however, never carried out, and while the
roadbed remains, the ties haverotted, and,
of course, the rails are useless.
1t is further said that the terminus of
the road nearest the city will be in the
neighborhood of Deanwood or Bcnnipgs
on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and at this
latter point it is said to be the plan to con-
meet with street railroad, which is to be
constructed by the Columbia Railroad cX-
tending from the present eastern terminus
of its line, at Fifteenth and H streets north
east, along the Benning road to Deanc-
wood. 1t will be necessary for the Colum-
bia Railroad to obtain the permission of
Congress to build this extension but it is
said that all the preliminary work is being
done, and that the proposed route has been
fully surveyed. 1t is stated to be the in
tention of the company to operate this
proposed extension of the road by the
overhead trolley.
With this railroad connection, by which
passengers can reach the heart of Wash
ington city, it is claimed that the entire
trip to the salt water in the Chesapeake
Bay can be made over this route from the
Treasury Department, for example, with
in one hour. 1t is the intention to establish
on the shores of the Chesapeake a pleas
ure resort, and the projectors propose to
erect there hotel and Il cafe
In talking about this matter Mr.. Pepper
said he thought many of the residents Of
Washington, especially during the heated
term, would be glad to avail themselves of
in an hour after leaving that city, and he
said provision would be made so those who
desired to do 50 could spend the night at
the beach, returning in time for business
the next day.
He said that the purpose in building
such long pier was to provide 4 means
for vessels to make a landing, and in this
way he said that oysters and fish could be
landed at the wharf and taken to Wash.
ingtOn within an hour after being taken
from the water. He said that the country
through which the road passed was capa-
BILE of development in the line of truck
farming, and this railroad would, form Il
ready means of access to the Washin gton
market
The proposed line of the. road from
Deanewood to the beach is twenty five
miles, and will follow more direct line
to Marlboro than the road which was pro-
posed to be built some five years ago. \
hri Ira il to no l,,,;;t Ia,
at Leon, Md, and then the line will be al
most direct to the beach
About five years ago the Washn gton
| and Chesapeake Railway Company was
organized, and right of way was secured,
and considerable work was done toward
constructing the roadbed. At the same
time about a thousand acres of land, having
| front of about three miles on the beach
! was purchased and it was the int ention tc
establish village there, and resort in
connection with the railroadssf;4s -
The financial depressI onieaiae a long, ant
other causes contributin githe, road went
into the hands of a receiver. 1t was final
| ly sold to one of the largest creditors,
firm in New York About two. nfsfth:
ago this road was purchased by a syndi
cate, which organized the Chesapeake Ba,
Construction Company, that is now en-
gagged in building the road.
The officers and directors of this com
pahy are as follows: Otto Mears, of Den
yer, Col, president: y. G. Dunn, of Ney
York, vice president; John l.. Mcneil, o
Denver, Col, secretary; Charles Pepper
of New York, treasurer, and David II
Moffat, of Denver, Col. The chief engi
necr is l.. H. Hyer. The personnel of tb
organization of the Chesapeake Bay Rail
road Company is the same as that of IL
construction company, and these men vii
manage the railroad and resort when tn
work of construction is completed.
| There will be a number of changes in &!
route as fixed upon by the former com