376 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1850. 



well adapted to the purpose for which they had been erected,) 

 the County could be provided with a better farm in another local- 

 ity, and with new buildings, very much better calculated for the 

 accommodation of the paupers. The old property was accord- 

 ingly disposed of by the Directors of the Poor, at the price that 

 has been mentioned. In the mean time, the present County farm 

 in Middletown was purchased, and the present neat and sub- 

 stantial Alms-house erected. 



Prior to the passage of the act authorizing a vote to be taken 

 on the subject of the removal of the seat of justice, several 

 routes had been experimentally surveyed through the County, 

 for a railroad to West Chester. In adopting the present loca- 

 tion for the road, the site of the new County town doubtless had 

 a material influence. On the other hand, the completion of the 

 road, rendering access to Philadelphia easy and cheap, has aided 

 in the rapid growth and improvement of Media. 



Since 1845, up to the breaking out of the present disastrous 

 civil war, the improvement of the County, and the increase in 

 the substantial means of its citizens, have been rapid beyond any 

 former period. During that period, the Delaware County Turn- 

 pike, the Darby Plank Road, the West Chester Turnpike or 

 Plank Road, the Darby and Chester Plank Road, and several 

 less important artificial roads, were constructed ; a large propor- 

 tion of the money necessary therefor being furnished by citizens 

 of Delaware County. These improvements became necessary on 

 account of the improved condition of the farms throughout the 

 County, and the increase in the number and extent of our manu- 

 facturing establishments. The completion of the West Chester 

 Railroad, and the Baltimore Central Road, through the county, 

 to Oxford, in Chester County, has given a great impulse to 

 business in the districts of the County through which they pass, 

 and even now, in this period of our great calamity, the trans- 

 portation on these roads is highly encouraging, as affording 

 evidence of the improvement of the northern and western parts 

 of the County. 



It had been the intention of the author to conclude his narra- 

 tive with a notice of the part that has been taken by citizens of 

 this County in suppressing the present rebellion ; but he finds it 

 impossible to obtain sufficient data to enable him to make out 

 anything like a full and fair account of all that has been done. 

 He has, therefore, been obliged to abandon the task; but he 

 regrets this less, because he was obliged to put the work in press 

 while the great struggle was still in progress. He will venture 

 to affirm, however, that in the number of men furnished to the 

 army of the Union ; in the amount of money provided for the 

 support of the families of those enlisted and in service; and in 



