Here's the text of a letter written in 1836 from Gunpowder River mill owners to the president and directors of the Baltimore & Susquehanna railroad:
Gentlemen:
We the subscribers being owners and occupying of mills and dams on the Gunpowder Falls, express our fear of the great injury we are likely to sustain from the great quantity of trees, wood, & parts of trees that is thrown into the Falls by the makers of said road, in the event of a freshet they will break every dam below on said Falls, we therefore respectfully recommend a removal of said wood, trees, &c &c to avoid the great loss. If the injury should be sustained we hereby notify you, that we hold you accountable for the same---with respect we are yours truly
William Bosley
Johnston Simms & Co.
Wm. Tyson & Son
Mary Westerman (her mark)
W. and E. Patterson
John McKim & SonsBaltimore County
10th February 1836
[NOTES: The original letter was purchased by John McGrain at an antiques show at the Timonium Fairgrounds, October 23, 2005.
Johnston Simms & Company were owners of the Warren Cotton Factory downstream of the railroad construction.
This folded letter has no postmark, so it was probably hand-delivered.
Mary Westerman owned Westerman’s Mills, which was replaced by the Phoenix Cotton Factory.
William Tyson & Son were probably operating at Marblevale on paper Mill Road.
The McKims owned the Gunpowder Copper Works where Harford Road crosses the Gunpowder falls (Md. Route 147).
The Pattersons owned Joppa Iron Works, a nail-making works near the present CSX railroad, the lowest mill site above tidewater, a site now in the Gunpowder State Park.
