Year: 1872

Correspondence.


Baltimore and its Suburbs, Rail-


roads, dc.


MeSSrS. Editors The gentlemen residing in
the neighborhood of Baltimore have been much
interested by the series of articles lately publish
ed in the city papers, relating to suburban rail-
roads and improvements.


Nothing shows the progress of city more than
the extension of its environs. Whilst the busi-
mes naturally centers around the docks, wharves
and railroad depots, yet they arg not healthful
places of residence after the work OF the day is
over. The tired workman, whether of mind or
body, naturally seeks relaxation in purer stmos-
phere. No where can such country be found to
better advantage than the neghborhood of Balti-
more. 1t is unequaled in beauty and nhealthful-
ness, and the climate is q happy medi q. etween
the extreme cold Of the north and the long sum-
mers of the south. The land rises gradually on
all the rvenues leading to the city for FIVE or six
miles out to height Of four or five hundred feet
above tide water. From every hill there are
beautiful views of the River and Bay.


This deli ,htful county, until within a few
years back, has been comparatively unk nown.-
The land was mostly owned by few gentlemen
who were satisfied 10 let things remain as they
were. Many of these gentlemen have gone. to
their loag homes, and their descendants imbued
with the progress of the age have found out that
in no way can this so well be done as by means
of broad avenues and city passenger railways
Wherever these have been built the land has
greatly increased in value new villages have
sprung up like magic, and handsome buildings
ornament every hill and valley. The owners OF
the land, some Of whom peradventure have been
earning a scanty subsistence by cultivating the
soil, wake up some morning and find themselves
.ok 6 81. thas- hxrf ftoo oaRo
is now by the front foot, and they rub their eyes
in astonishment ane VIC ider that they did not
see it before. sdI


This is no pootical picture formed out OF specu-
lative materials, but rlain statement OF facts
which as respects Baltimore are only beginning
TO be developed. Every day its population is in
creasing, and its suburbs extending but in
thousand years TO come there will not be one acre
more of land.


It has been said that man made the city and
God made the country. There are q Ss4s inveter-
ate cockneys who can see no beauty outside OF
hricks al d mortar, but most of US are glad for a
time, at least to escape from the dirt, dust and
heat of great city. Like Nebuchadnazzar of
old, at certain seasons of The year we all go to
grass. This inclination is not confined to age,
sex or quality, and especially is feltby the poorer
classes. To them suburban railways are a real
blessing Their chief enjoy ment is to escape for
day, or even a few hours, from the city in the
hot weather. A beneficent charity has lately
heen inaugurated in the northern cities by some
kind hearted persons TO provide cheap excursions
out of town for the poor and destitute. To the
rich the suburban railway is convenience, but
to the poor it is necessity Ii prevents crime
and dissipation, contributes to health and the cul-
tivation of domestic virtues. In the low drink
ing houses and places of resort in the city for the
laboring man, be seldom takes his wife or any
members of his family, but TO cheap excursion
out of town be could hardly do without them
1t is his wife who spreads the lunch on the grass,
and takes care of the children. This is decided
ly better for the children than playing among the
narrow alleys and dirty cutters of their city
homes. They all return better and happier
family, and go to work with renewed vigor.-
Suburban railroads decrease the amount of crime
in the cities. and save US much taxation. OBJ
serve the quiet that reigns in city on Sunday
where there are cheap transits out of town. Quiet
and order prevail for the day the policeman S
avocation is gone; he gazes listleosly and
down the solitary streets, almost wishing for a
row to keep him awake.


On Sunday, the 9th of july in New York it
is estimated that over fifty thousand people left
the city to spend the day in the suburbs, and an
equal number filled excursion boats and trains to
the sea shore and river resorts the following day.
This could not have been accomplished without
the great number of cheap conveyances that leave
New York on every side. This is one of the
principal causes of the wealth that is pouring in
to that city. Let Baltimore follow her example
and provide according to the wants of her popu-
ation. She has commenced the good work and
let it be continued. Men of capital open your
purse strings and subscribe literally Only one
main avenue leading TO Baltimore is yet deficient
and that is the Hartford avenue. From some
cause or other this one of the most crowded
throughfares out of the city, and formerly fash
ionabe drive has been suffered to remain in in
glorious obscurty. On the line Of its neighbor,
the York road, land brings more by the lot than
an acre will On the Hartford. In fact the Hartford
road has rather retrograded than advanced. Its
rough and stony bed has deprived it of pleasure
travel, the most profitable travel to turnpike
company 1t passes through as pleasant country
as any part of the neighborhood of Baltimore,
but the want of proper copveniences of travel,
and the bad condition of the road, deters most
people from purchasing land near. MANY Of those
who reside the line OF the road, prefer % ride
miles out of their way rather than incur the dis
comfort of travelling over it, The depreciation
of property hJ this state Of things can hardly be
estimated, but il is no exaggeracn to s2y that it
represents 6 difference of two hundred dollars ar
acre Property in and around Waverly is worth
S4, 900 an acre, which six years ago before the
passenger railroad was in existence the same land
could have been bought for $500 an acre.


There is now a probability that the condition
of things on the Hartford road will be changed
Some Of our men of capital and brains have taken
the matter in hand and we hope before the close
of this year that the tinge of bells will also be
heard on the Hartford road. That it will pay the
enerprising gentlemen connected with it., there
is no doubt. Even in the city it supplies de-
6cency that has long been required. 1t starts
from North street, goes up Fayette to Asquith,
and from thence by Madison to Central avenue
and to Hartford avenue and turnpike. The present
charter only contenpatts going as far as HALL $
Springs, distf Ice of three miles from the city,
but there is no doubt of its being continued fur
ther when this roint is reached. The hotel at
Halls Springs is well kept and the grounds
around especially adapted for rural excursions.
To this place it is ow almost continued village.
Stretching along the line we have the beautiful
estate of John Hopkins which is devoted to a
great public improvement, a monument to its
generous donor and lasting benefaction to the
'ty. N doubt at early day il will be con-
nected by a broad avenue or boulevard with
Druid Hill and Patterson Parks And when that
shocking nuisance the basin, is filled up and a
broad and deep channel to the Chesapeake is ex
cavated so that the fleets of all nations can unload
their csrgoes at our wharves, what can prevent
the city from being the most desirable place OF
residence in the Union whether for pleasure or
profit. Nature has been bountful to US, and we
should not fail to seize the opportunity for Prov
idence always extends the most assistance to those
who help themselves. PROGRESS.


Letter from the Sed-ShOFe.


SEASIDE Aug. 18th, 1872.


Dear Union Lynn city Of strikes and Shoes
lies about ten miles north of Boston, at the head