Peninsula Enterprise, February 23, 1882

The Railroad.

Transportation -- Railroad - Legislation

ONANCOCK, Va., Feb. 20, 1882.

Editor of The Enterprise:

DEAR SIR:

It seems that at last we are to have a railroad through the Eastern Shore of Virginia. In connection with the subject, the following letter, written FORTY-SIX YEARS AGO, by the late Littleton Dennis Teackle, Esq., of Somerset county, Md., to the late Thomas R. Joynes, Esq., of this county, may be of interest to your readers. It was kindly placed in my possession some years since by Mrs. Sallie W. Joynes, widow of Thos. R. Joynes, Jr., Esq., a son of the gentleman to whom it was addressed. It will be observed that the letter points out the precise route adopted by the present company for their road, and refers to steam connection with Norfolk. Had my grand-father's suggestions been carried out forty, or even twenty-five years ago, it may, I think, be safely said that by this time this would have been the great through trunk line, between the Northern Atlantic and the Southern Atlantic and Gulf States, doing the carrying trade of fast freights, express matter, mails and passengers, and paying dividends equal to any line in the country; but in this, as well as in the matter of free schools, of which in Maryland he is remembered as the father, he was ahead of his times.

Yours very truly,

Upshur B. Quinby

CHAMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DEL'S., ANNAPOLIS, Md., Feb. 1, 1836.

DEAR SIR:

It is contemplated here to construct a railhead through the Eastern Shore of this State, commencing at the improvements in Cecil county and continuing to the southern extremity of Somerset, with a divergent line through Worcester to Accomack. The requisite enactments, including the reconnoissance and surveys at the public charge, and the credit of the State for the effectuation of the work, are in progress, with a fair prospect of success. I have taken the liberty of presenting this information in order that, should it comport with your wishes and policy, the proper measures to be taken to submit an application to your Legislature, with a view to a continuation of the road to some suitable point for connecting with Norfolk by steam vessels or otherwise.

I have the honor to be, dear sir,

Your obedient servant,

LITTLETON D. TEACKLE

P.S. I have written to your Senator and Delegates, and to John Eyre, Esq., on the within subject.

L. D. T.

THOS. R. JOYNES, Accomac county, Va.

Steamboats and Railroads.

Transportation -- Railroad - ConstructionTransportation -- Water - Steamboats

ACCOMAC C.H., Feb. 20, 1882.

Editor of The Enterprise:

Knowing the activity of THE ENTERPRISE in informing itself of whatever is of importance to our people -- especially the farmer class, and the alacrity with which it responds to inquiries in their interests, we don't hesitate to ask through its columns for such reliable information as it may have gathered in regard to the building of the Eastern Shore Railroad and the establishment of two new lines of steamers from this county to Baltimore. By common report the one is to be completed in the not far future and the other in operation in time for our spring trade.

We are deeply interested in these undertakings, and should there be any truth in the reports, may we hope, that that millennium of cheap freight rates and passenger fares, which competition always brings, will soon be upon us or may we expect these corporations to continue and make rates and fares to suit themselves, as the present Steamboat Company and sail-vessel men have done? The even tenor of the way of the Eastern Shore Steamboat Company has not been broken in fifteen years, and we hear it is a rich corporation, and we hear, too, if the new lines are established they will be composed of our merchants and old vessel men who have large circles of influential relatives and friends. With these and their capital will they not be upon so near an equal footing as to bring about competition rather than combination? Can the new companies adopt the tariff of the present company, when the keystone of their arch is lower rates and fares? Competition being the more likely, then may we not expect to see the fulfillment of our long cherished hopes -- five cents freight per barrel and fifty cents round trip fare to Baltimore? These low passenger fares will enable hundreds of our people who never saw a city to make a trip to Baltimore. They could transact their own business there, making their purchases in the city instead of the country store, thereby saving the usual twenty-five per cent. profit. We say, therefore, if there is any thing substantial in these reported enterprises, they should be encouraged, and when they become established facts we will reap a harvest of low rates for one season at least, and fares at the flattering figures mentioned. From what we can learn the railroad is more than likely to prove a success. We are informed that the company has a very capable engineer in the county, with an efficient and well equipped corps locating the road, and have already made the distance from Pocomoke City to Belle Haven. This railroad completed will bring to light our undeveloped resources, improve our lands in productiveness and value. Thrift will follow it and our people be taught new lessons in economy. In a word, it will force us from the groove in which we have spun for two centuries and a half and put us upon a level with this progressive age. We repeat, encourage these proposed new lines of transportation. We need all we can get. It is no concern of ours if there should be insufficient freights to pay all. The more we have, we know the lower the freight charges must be, even at the figures mentioned. So we say let the boys have the fun, and let us all frown down any attempt to depreciate one to the advantage of another. We want them all. Let us hear from you.

B.