The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1908-03-14
Peoples Column

Port Deposit, Nd, March II, 'oS.
Editor OF the CECIL WING: i
The citizens OF Cecil county should
get busy at once against the proposed
legislation on the old r., b. x w.
bridge across the Susquchanna river,
at Perryvillc understand the bill
proposes that the counties OF Cecil and
Hartford shall appropriate five hun
bred dollars annually for maintenance
OF bridge, the Railroad Co. agreeing
to give the old bridge and so per cent.
OF the cost OF putting il in condition
for travel 1t is estimated it will cost
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
to complete the bridge.
The specially invited company OF the
p. X. X. Co. that proposes to operate
this bridge is to issue bonds for the
balance OF the money and the couh,ies
OF Cecil and Hartford are TO back up
the bonds, but il is not definitely stated
what is to be done with the stock.
IL is also proposed to annul the stop
ping OF fast trains at Perryville. This
accommodation at present is very much
enjoyed by the travelling public in this
vicinity. This same bill and by the
same proposed company was in the
Legislature last session, and the best
they could secure was an extension OF
time for removal OF the old bridge,
two years over the act OF 1904, all OF
which violates the pledge made by the
K. X. Co. when they secured permits
sion To build the new bridge. The En-
ginccring Department OF the u. s.
Government has already ordered the
removal OF the old bridge, to dredge
and remove to depth OF 10 feet from
shore To shore at this point, and il is
estimated it will cost the K. X. Co. sew
cral hundred thousand dollars to com
ply The States rights politicians OF
Maryland seem Ia think they have the
veto power over the national govern
mcnt for the owners OF automobiles
are all in line for travel over the new
bridge II there were two hundred
thousand people at Pcrryville and
Elavre dc Grace, and the bridge was in
good condition. including the piers, it
would probably pay. but not under the
present conditions. Ii is well known
fact that the reason the R. R. Co. was
compelled To abandon the bridge was
due To the piers which are on piling
and are unsafe. They resorted to rip
rapping for some IS years (done at
nighD and were finally stopped by the
L. :. Engineers; hence the new bridge.
Could the new company maintain
tow boat at draw, which is required TO
give safe passage OF boats, at SIS
per day would the revenue be sufficient
TO pay four men at draw and extra
watchmcn at either end? Ii is esti-
mated the yearly income would not be
sufficient tn paint tho bridge. or relay
the floor plank This f. {. Plant Is
planned for unloading on the two coun-
ties. We should have one bridge for
railroads and the travelling public. 1t
seems the present old bridge has been
a plaything Tor politicians for many
years. The joint act OF PENNSYLVANIA
and Maryland Legislatures OF 1901 and
1873 declared the river Susquehanna
public highway and every effort should
be made by the properly constituted
authorities to preserve it as such.
D. K. ARMSTRONG.
70 the Editor oi the CECIL WING.
Us a constant reader ! note in yours
81 the a-ao-'oS, that We are To have a
big highway bridge soon. Very good
to think OF and much better il il should
stop at that
FirSt--llow long would it remain
highway with its condemned piers,
which have outgrown their days OF
usefulness
Scc"nd.-Wc note that the progress
Sivc Board al Trade oi Havrc de
Grace have received a levy from Har-
lord county ni $500 and the Lower
Council 20 ask Tor an annual appro-
priati"n ii 5000 and Cecil county is TO
be asked To do likewise
Third. The +. X. r. is willing to
turn their elephant loose and assist its
| capturcrs in Harvesting him up again,
providing they are exempted from Civ
ing Tree transportation between Perry
willie and lIavrc dc Grace. Though
they fail to say how much they are will
ing To- give toward the Harvesting %
this great monster
Fourth--lt is To be remembered
that Is per cent. OF the vehicles that
traverse said route are automobiles,
whose owners are not citizens OF either
county
Fii,h--oS per cent OF the pedestrians
between the aforesaid points are citi-
zcns ri tho immediate vicinity cngag-
ing the privileges accorded to them in
the charter OF said bridge. Let us
hope that We may not degenerate into
a herd oi swine or Drift into stupidity
and allow the wolf Of political or iinan-
cial greed to rob MS OF orr rth-right
and pay cents for the privilege OF
walking over the aforesaid highway
Now that the Governor mas prom
iScd to awaken the Legislature from
its Slumbcrs. let us hope to hear OF
many good things being accomplished
Yours Fratcrnaily,
SHANDY McGUIER,
Seventh Election District Cecil county