Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1832-01-12
THE BALTIMORE & OHIO RAILROAD.

j THE BALTIMORE OHIO RAILROAD.
i This is one Of the most interesting
enterprises of internal Improvement
which has been, OF which can be IN.
dertaken in the United States IL is
intended to unite the city of Baltimore.
central point on the Atlantic coast.
with the Ohio River. the great naviga-
bic highway Of the Western States
When completed il will form the most
direct commune alton between these
two great portions Of the country, each
Astounding in productions wanted by
the other. The commune alton by this
channel will be not only the most d.
rect, but il will be so cheap as to admit
of the transport Of the coarser articles
OF merchandise as well as the richest,
aud will be so rapid as TO make an
entire change in the mode Of transact
ing business, between the two remote
sections OF country .hus united. IL
must have a great effect on the pros.
perity OF the city Of Baltimore, as well
as of the whole western country. We
have heard il stated, as the opinion of
well informed men in Baltimore, that
the effect OF the raj! road on the sale.
able value OF the real estate in that
city, has been such rs to enhance il in
an amount more than equal to the
whole cost Of the road. This opinion
we can easily imagine TO be correct,
since IL 10 manifest that when the rail
road is completed, the easiest, quickest,
and safest route Of travelling, 10 any
point on the Ohio river, from Philadel-
phia, New York or Boston, will be
through Baltimore, and over this
road.
The whole course Of the road, and
Its point Of termination on the Ohio,
are not yet determined. Ii is defni-
lively located only 10 the. Point. of
Rocks, on the Potomac. q distance Of
90 miles. To this point one track
will be completed in another season.
A branch TO the town Of Frederick is
also completed, by which . channel is
opened for the transportation of the
produce Of that rich agricultural coun-
try. The progress Of the road beyond
the Point Of Rocks is interrupted at
present by controversy and law suit
between the Rail Road Company and
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Com.
pany. When this controversy is ter
minated, the rail road will in short
time be extended twelve miles farther
to Harpers-Ferry,an the mouth Of the
Shenandoah river. This will lay open
to the Baltimore market one of the
richest and most productive sections of
the State Of Virginia, the valley of the
Shenandoah river. A further exten.
sion Of so miles will carry the road to
WiIliamsport, and another prolonga.
ton Of rs miles will bring il to Cum
berland, and to region Astounding in
rich bituminous coal. From this point
I the distance will be about 40 miles 10
Pittsburg, should that be chosen as the
point Of termination, IN sking the whole
I length Of the road 325 miles. II is
stated in the article az which we pub.
iished part yesterday, that measures
are already in contemplation Tor send :
! ing the coal from Cumberland down
the Potomac river TO the Point OF
Recks, aud thence TO Baltimore. The
opinion is also given, that in the ensu-
4 ing twelve months the income which
will be derived from the part of the
road already nearly finished, will be
sufficient TO pay fair interest on its
cost.
IL is known that the cost Of the first
division Of the road from Baltimore to
Ellicott's Mills, was extremely heavy.
This excessive cost arose partly from
the intrinsic difficulties Of the country
through which the road passed, and
/ partly from the adoption Of the misia-
ken idea that 1t was important 10 re-
duee the road as near as possible to a
level, even when this could be done
only at an immense cost. If this sec.
+ Ii0n~tSeTe 10 be now made by the same
directors and agents, with the advan-
tages OF their present experience, we
have reason 20 believe that by slloVing
slight inslina,ion FROM o horizontal
line IN parts 0f tue DAD which are now
level, IL would be constructed NJ o
much smaller cost, end in a more iii.
rect course. They ought not, howe.
yer. 20 De repTOaebed for having made
one mistake, II, a. we believe Il must
be admitted, this was one, 10 An enter.
prise 70 novel, and 10 which there was
80 little IN the history 81 other similar
enterprises to guide them since the
whole progress Of the work is full Of
the most satisfactory proofs, that they
have with femsiksble Judgment and
IngenuIty, taken everI advantage Of
their az experience, aud Of that Of
persons engaged IN other similar work ..
TO fsake Improvements ~ the mode Of
construction. aud ia the collateral ar
rsngemeDis for the use Of the road. -
several sach impfo,em o( g1eaf
Importance. have been made by the 10
ieliigent agents cu'rioyed on this soad,