Evening journal., 1915-07-28


Chester, still close to the Delaware,
crosses the schuylkill at Grays Fer
~ and entered Philadelphia, p dis
lance of 9S miles from start in Bal
timore
Robberies OF the stage coach were
numerous near the large cities. but
not confined to those places One
noted place for a hold-up Of the coach
was Mil Greek on the road between
Elkton and North East a gloomy for
saken place in the "Barrens." which
name is suggested by the condition
Of the soil in that locality Here have
occurred many robberies of the mail
coach Seems strange the same spot
10 be selected even though Il be a
propitious place.
Last summer this stretch Of road
was alive with automobiles. for now
II is a fine concrete road, smooth as
floor, a regular boulevard Tile last
link in the route from Boston 10
Washington was that between North
East and Charlestown. and It is now
finished. Up TO this time many motor
lists have gone out of their way to
cross the Susquehanna at ConOwingo
or even as far up as WrightsWlle,
Pa.
The Pennsylvania railroad gave
their old bridge over the SusGuehan-
ma TO the counties OF Hartford and
Cecil AT first the offer was declined
owing to the cost of making II a We
| hicular bridge The railroad COM
pany then put il in order at q cost
: Of nearly one hundred thousand dol
/ lars, / am told. and then turned it
over to the counties. This time il was
accepted The War Department had
notified the railroad company TO re-
move the bridge and ahutments,
which would have been a costly I'M
dertakine They chose the cheaper
plan Of giving il away. The bridge
is now managed by a company who
operate Il as toll bridge and an eX-
ceedingly fine one It is.
! / walked across II one morning
about o'clock The sun was just
rising from the middle of the river
The view is superb. To the north
straight up the Susquehanna. | saw
Watsons Island, over which the
handsome Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road bridge runs. To the right was
the little town Of Port Deposit cling
ing TO those granite hills, on the left
Hartford hills lifted their beautiful
heads. ! slowly turned to look down
the river, and such a sight az net
my gael The sun had burst forth
and Hooded that whole section. land
and water with a golden splendor.
The Battery. Turkey Point. Speutia
Island, all cleaned in the early
morning light. Havre lie Grace look
ed so pretty IL seemed a pity for it
10 wake up.
A few miles down the river. 1T
tie below its mouth. and slightly be-
yond Turkey Point, we have the best
view Of the head waters Of the Chesa-
peake Bay. a magnificent stretch of
water. The Susquehanna coming
from the north and as its name IL
dicates the North East river from
that point. Like the wise men of old,
the noble old Elk travels FROM the
east, and from the southeast the plac-
id Sassafras flows. You think 7 have
forgotten my subject? Not at all but
have digressed a little All these
rivers figured in travel by post road
land had to be reckoned with But
with the movement OF time, the cross
ing Of a great river Is small under
taking Engineering he's advanced so
rapidly that most rivers can be bridg-
ed, except one eThe River Of Death
and with this fearfnl solemn thought
we leave thu. Old Post Road
acknowledge the courtesy OF III,
librarian of the pennsylvania Histor
ioal Society for data on this subject
Scharfs History of Philadelphia
Johnston's History OF Cecil County
and Scharfs Chronicle of Baltimore
have already been referred to as au
thorities