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Help Protect This Land 
 

When County Line Quarry gave the Mason-Dixon Trail System permission to run the trail across the land south of Wrightsville, they said that they planned to develop the top of the hill.  See Figure 1 is copy of part of Map 3 with location of land and Figure 2 is a photo of a view of the Wrightsville–Columbia bridge from the Mason-Dixon Trail on the Quarry Land.  This relocation enabled the M-DTS to be moved off of a very dangerous section of Route 624.  The Quarry has submitted a sketch plan to Hellam Township to start the development process.  The Quarry needs the money to replace heavy equipment that is wearing out.   However, the Quarry is interested in protecting the land as open space by selling it to a conservation organization.   
 

If the land gets developed, the M-DTS will end up on multiple private plots of land with all of the problems that would create.  When publicity photos were taken, two bald eagles were spotted flying close to the hill.  The tract also contains an archaeological site registered in the PA Archaeology Site Survey files.  The site is actually a complex of sites spanning several prehistoric time periods, and numerous artifacts have been recovered or are known to be present there.  Below the hill but not on the quarry land is the only double lock of the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal.  The canal went between Havre de Grace and Wrightsville and was completed in1840.  The lock is visible from the M-DTS when the leaves are off the trees. 
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Figure 1  Quarry Land Location 
 

 

 

Figure 2 Rt. 30 and Rt. 462 Bridges from MDTS on Quarry Land

The Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County has agreed to be the lead organization in getting the land protected.  However, we need to raise the front-end money for such items as obtaining an independent appraisal of the land’s value.  The more citizen participation by people making small contributions, the easier it will be to raise money from various government and private sources for the actual purchase of the land. 
 

If someone wants to contribute toward the cost of the appraisal of the Quarry Lands, they should make their check payable to Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County.  The Trust’s address is 156 N. George Street, Suite 300, York, PA  17401.   Put Quarry Lands project in the Memo or send along a note that requests the donation be earmarked for the Quarry Lands project.  Farm & Natural Lands Trust will send a thank you letter acknowledging the contribution. The Farm & Natural Lands Trust is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization and are registered with the PA. Bureau of Charities.  Thanks.