Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-06-09
THE RAIL ROAD TO HANCOCK.

We stated in yesterdays American, in q
hurried and Of course imperfect manner,
the circumstances connected with the Bal.
timore and Ohio Rail Road from Har-
per's Ferry TO Hancock, on Monday last,
accompanied with brief notice OF the
prominent structures and other works on
the line of the road. The completion oil
this new division of AL miles, added 10
that previously in operation from Balti-
more to Harper's Ferry, makes contin-
uous line of 1891 miles of railroad now
open for daily travel and transportation.
The extension Of this work TO point con-
siderably farther West than is reached
by any railroad east Of the Alleghanes,
cannot but have its due influence on the
stream Of travel which is continually
flowing between the Atlantic cities and
the Valley of the Mississippi. Since Mon.
day last the various lines Of stage coach
es which previously ran between Fred
erlck and Wheeling or Pittsburg, have
all been taken off that part Of the route
lying between Frederick and Hancock
and the latter town is now the place at
which travellers to or from the West by
this great Central Route, take or leave
the stage coaches. The railroad trains
between Baltimore and Hancock run the
distance in seven hours-making a gain
of Ten hours in time, besides avoiding the
fatigue and dust encountered on the old
route. The completion Of the railroad
to Hancock has led to another result, al
so, in which travellers have direc. inter.
est. By an arrangement entered into be-
tween the stage proprietors operating be.
tween Wheeling and Hancock, and the
Baltimore and Ohio, and Philadelphia and
Baltimore Railroad Companies, travellers
can obtain tickets for the whole Central
Route between Philadelphia and Wheel
ing, at the reduced rate of fifteen dollars.
The purchaser of a through ticket has
the privilege of stopping at any point on
the route, and of resumiag his journey
when it suits him-his ticket always
guaranteeing him passage on the par,
ofany and all the companies comprised
in the chain oftravel. The passage from
Baltimore to Wheeling is now performed
in about Al hours, viz, from Baltimore to
Hancock by Railroad in hours; and
from Hancock to Wheeling in stage
coaches, l73 miles in about "a hours.
The present terminus of the railroad at
Hancock is only about five miles from the
Berkeley Springs-so that persons who
leave Baltimore in the morning may reach
the Springs on the afternoon of the same
day. We doubt not that this new facil.
ty will attract many vislters to them du-
ring the ensuing season. We presume
that an arrangement will be made for
regular daily conveyance between Han.
cock and Bedford Springs during the wa
tering season, inasmuch as it would tend
greatly to increase the number of visiters
from this quarter.
We cannot conclude this article without
again adverting to the admiral qualities
of firmness smoothness and strength which
distinguish the new portion of the rail-
roads, and of the various works and struc-
lures, such as bridges, arches and tunnel
ling, along the line. We may add that
the entire work, from the first making of
the route to the final completion OF the
whole, stands, and will long, stand, as an
honorable evidence of the genius, skill
and industry Of the Chief Engineer, b.
Fl. LATRoBE, Esq. and his efficient as
sistan,s. There is not, we may venture
to say, in the United States finer speci-
men of railroad workmanship than is ex.
hibited in these forty odd miles just added
to the Baltimore and Ohio road. The
graduation and bridges Of the remaining
So miles between Hancock and Cumber-
land is finished; ten miles OF wooden super
structure are laid, and most Of the mate
rails for the track delivered. The early
reception of the iron rails now looked for
will, it is believed, enable the Company
to complete the road to Cumberland du.
ring the ensuing Fall.