Evening star., 1898-12-15
DRUM POINT RAILROAD
Arrangements Practically Completed fol
It's Immediate Construction.
Shortening Travel Distance BetweeI
Washington aud the Atlantic
OceaR-CGSt of Construction.

1t is understood that arrangements have
been practically completed for the imme-
diate construction of what is known as the
Drum Point railroad. If carried to success
the opening of this road will in effect bring
Washington ard Baltimore much nearer
the Atlantic ocean. The franchises of the
Baltimore and Drum Point railroad were
sold in 1892 to award Lauterbach of New
York. Mr. Lauterbach is associated with a
number Of large financial interests, and the
delay in carrying out the Drum Point pro-
ject is explained being due to the de-
mands for cnte; pr.ses In which Mr. Laut r
bach and his associates are more heavily
Interested. 1t is now stated that he has de-
termined to take up this project and carry
it forward to completion.
Considerable work was done on the line
before construction was stopped. In Cal
vert county the grading was finished. OF
I'D miles in Anne arundel, between the
Cavert county line and MllersVile five
miles remain to be graded, while north of
Mi:ersyile and betw cen that pont and
Baltimore, about five miles have been grad
ed Between Drum Point and Mlersvile
the right of way has been secured for all
but four and one-half miles AS as
the line is constructed and equipped from
Drum Point harhor to a junction with the
Annapolis, Washington and Baltimore rail-
road. ii is said ii can at once be operated
without waiting the completion of the line
between MillersVilie and Baltimore. 1t is
eStlfnal ted that ii VIII cost about SI1o 40 to
complete the line "ataaen Baltimore and
MillersVille. A subscription of SlUOU00 in
bonds by Calvert cCuI.y will be available,
It is understood, wh"r the company has its
line in operation i. . ugh Calvert county
The state of Mary!..j subscribed S152 90
In aid of the enterprls., which was eXpend-
ed on work already done.
Affords Deep Water.
The southern terminus of the proposed
line at Drum Point harbor, near the mouth
of the PatuXent river, at the southeastern
extremity of Calvert county, has attracted
prominence because of the extent of deep
water it affords and its adaptability for
use as n naval station has been commend
ed, 1t is said, by a number of authorizes.
The lack of railroad facilities has, however
been held against the deveiopment of this
locality. Its location within eighty miles
of the Atlantic ocean is pointed to one
of its strong advantages for the building up
of an important shipping trade
From Drum Point karbor the road runs
northerly 33. 20 miles, through the entire
length of Calvert county, to the Anne
Arundel line; thence, continuing still north
erly, 2I.J miles through Anne Arundel coun-
ty, to i junction with the Annapolis, Wash
ington and Baltimore railroad at Milers-
vine; thence, still northerly, in Anne Arun-
del county via Severn river, Tracy'S station
and Curtis creek. for a distance of sixteen
miles to the county line of Baltimore coun-
ty on the southern shore of Patapsco river
near the village of Brooklyn. distance of
20 miles fur ." through Baltimore county
carries the i -, to the Baltimore city lin
its. The tot: Stance b. ween the ter
minal points is, therefore, approximately
eighty miles,
The charter of the company gives it au-
thOrity to operate steamboats, to connect
its railroad system with other coast ports
Besides lessening the time to the lower
counties of Maryland the new road will
also greatly reduce the time from Balti-
more to Crsfe!d and other points in the
southern counties of the eastern shore of
Maryland and in Accomac ana Northamp-
ton counties of Virginia.