The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-06-10
CURVES TAKEN OUT.
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE P, W.
AND B. RAILROAD.
BY the Strengthening of the Tracks in
Cecil County Nearly Half a Mile Has

BY the Strengthening of the Tracks in
Cecil County Nearly Half Mile Has
Been Gained.
Passengers over the Philadelphia, Whining
ton IL Baltimore Railroad, have noticed re-
Gently that the work on the strengthening Of
the road-bed around Elkton, which was be-
gun three years ago, has been completed, to
the comfort Of travelling and the advantage Of
the railroad facilitating speed. and causing
less locomotive power in freight traffic
About three years ago the company put Il
corps of surveyors to work surveying between
Elkton and Iron Hill, Il station three miles
north of Elkton. with the idea of purchasing
land. and the strengthening of the tracks be-
tween the two stations. There was one Of
the most dangerous and ugliest curves be-
tween Baltimore aud Philadelphia, known rs
Cooper's Curve about halfway between Elk
ton and Iron Hill, and after the survey was
finished the company lost no time in pur-
chasing the desired land from Jacob Howard
James A. Merry, William McKelvey and
others.
\ contract was made with Simms 4 Co, OF
Philadelphia, 10 build new road between
the iron bridge over Big Elk Creek. at the
edge Of the town limits OF Ekton, to within
IA quarter of Il mile of Iron Hill station. which
was n distance of over two miles. The work
was completed in about one year. To do
L.. 8
earth had to be removed. Between the Big
EIk iron bridge and III" beginning of what is
known as Iron Hill, the road bed had to be
made from 20 to 40 feet high. This was over
Il mile in length. When the hill was reached
it was desired to cut down the grade rs much
us possible, and, therefore, in some places the
cut made was from 40 to 60 feet deep. Not
only did il require the building OF road. bed,
hUi som" four or five larg" rulv"rt- were con
structrd also. BY this change in the he
cUn>idrrabI" grade was dOur away WITH the
dangerous curve taken out, and from one
g ghth to Unc-qURr'cr Of Il mile in distance
saved
During th" progress Of this work survey
or had been at work on other parts Of the
nu", ard Is soon It. The work between Iron
Iil.i and E.kton was finished. u contract was
made to have n" curves hatwren Bacon i!ill
and North En.i, AID North East and Charles
town. although q distance, of six miles, taken
out. The work Wa started. and the new
rod't-bcd crossed the old bed some ily" times.
cutting out two bad curves The work began
al point about ono mile abpy" Bacon Hill
station to within Oh" mile Of North East sta
zion, and from point about onc-hall mile
below North Eat to IL short distance below
Broud Creel, cu,veft, about one mile above
Charc-town. The rXprnse incurred in max
inc these changes was very heavy. The en-
ginreriug department was III charge of j. T,
Stuart.
To do this work, tn" contractors had three
steam shovels, six narrOw-gauge and four
Standard gauge locomotives, 10 narrow ard
u standard gauge ears, and 10 hosting IN
Gines employed on the work. The highest
number of men employed at any one time was
80 To give some idea Of the magnitude OF
the work, over III 600 cubic yards Of dirt
were moved, representing over $4,000 large
carloads and 10000 small carloads Five new
arche- We're built and two old ones enlarged,
representing over 10 600 cubic yards Of
masonry. Part of the new road-bed went
through the edge OF the river, aud this was
filled in with the dirt from cuts. The length
OF the change between Bacon Hill and North
East was 7 800 feet curvature eliminated. 10
degrees 81 minutes line shortened by change
IS G10 feet. The length OF the change be-
tween Bacon Hill and North East was II 1856
feet; curvature eliminated, 100 degrees and
OF minutes, line shortened, SOB feet The
total distance saved by all of the changes is
from one quarter to one-half mile. baltimore
american Of Sunday last.