American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-12-28
from the Cincinnati Daily Atlas.]

BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAIL LOAD.
A very interesting document, in the shape of
a Memorial of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
Road Company to the General Assembly of
Virginia, has made its appearance, from which
we shall extract the substance, for the informa-
ton of our readers.
| The company was incorporated by the State
of Maryland, in 1927, and were Invested with
all tue rights and powers necessary to the con-
struction and repair of Rail Road from the
CITY of Baltimore to some suitable point on the
Ohio river, to be by them determined"
In the same year, the Legislature of Virgil
MIA granted to the said company the same
rights and privileges within the Territory Of
Virginia, as were granted to them within the
Territory of Maryland, with the exception that
the said road "should not strike the Ohio at a
point lower than the Little Kanawha."
The State of Pennsyl proceeding upon
the ground that the road must pass through
portion of that State, incorporated the same
company, in 1928, but with the condition that
if the said road should terminate near Pitts
rgh, a. branch should be constructed to con-
ct the main route with that city.
although it was evident that the unreasona-
Die condition imposed by Pennsylvania could
not be complied with, the company accepted
these several charters to commence the work,
in the confidence that such changes as should
prove to be necessary of the success of their
great enterprise would be granted at some flu
ture time. The State of Maryland and City of
Baltimore, each subscribed and paid half
million of dollars, and the further sum of
$4,000, 900 being contributed by individuals,
the road was began July a, 1928; and at the
close of 1884, double track was completed to
Harper's Ferry; distant 81 miles from Balti-
more.
The original time for completing the road
having been limited, the State of Maryland in
1885 extended the time, five years longer; and
that State and the City of Baltimore each sub
scribed S., 600, 900 for the further extension OF
the road, the former in bonds of the State, the
latter in money.
Virginia, also, extended the time for making
the road, and subscribed 81 ,05S, 400, being two
fifths of the estimated cost of constructing the
Z IoAd through Virginia, from Harper's Ferry to
Cumberland this subscription was not to
be paid until the completion Of the road to
Wheeling, nor until the city of Wheeling
should subscribe and pay 100000. These
conditions were accepted, and the city OF
Wheeling agreed to subscribe 1000, 900, I'M
der certain terms not necessary to recite.
pennsylvania was now applied to for an ex-
tension Of the time limited by her former act,
ever, to the previous requirement, of construct
ing lateral road to Pittsburgh, of new and
onerous conditions, and determinations in IA
vor of the Pennsylvania trade 1t was now
considered, that in consequence Of the exac-
tions of Pennsylvania, and of the discovery
that Wheeling could not make the payment
required of that city, that it was wholly i'm
practicable, not only to complete the work
within the time limited but to complete it at
all, according to the provisions of the Virginia
act--that is, to take the road to Wheeling
The company proceeded, however to COM
plete the road to Cumberland, making the
whole distance to Baltimore about l60 miles
which had cost them seven millions, six hun
dred thousand dollars. They then determined
to husband their resources for more favorable
times, to suspend the further prosecution OF
the work, and to extend their researches over
the country south of Wheeling and above the
mouth of Little Kanawha, to ascertain the
pfacticability of other routes, which by avoid
ing the territory of Pennsylvania would enable
them to escape from the restrictions imposed
by that State, and to construct the road to the
Ohio, at point more advantageous to all the
great interests to be promoted by the work.
This reconnaissance was made in the summer
y~of 1913, and various routes have been examined
aud are satisfactorily shown to be practicable
These have three principal terminating points
on the Ohio river, viz: The mouth of Fishing
Creek, the mouth of Middle Island Creek, ant
the mouth of the Little Kanawha, at Parkers
burgh.
There are five of these routes pointed out
viz
l. From Cumberland, via Fairmount, to the
mouth of Fishing Creek, forty miles below
Wheeling.
ii. A route via Bridgeport, to the mouth Of
Middle Island Creek, &c miles below Wheel
ing.
III. A route to the last named point, via
Clarksburg.
w. A route to the last named point, via
Shinstown.
V. A route to Parkersburgh SO miles below
Wheeling, by way of either Weston or Mil
ford.
These several routes would pass about sixty
miles through Maryland, and the remainder o
the distance varying from 1876 to 1853 miles
through Notwithstanding the whole distance
from Cumberland to Parkersburgh, from lSt
to 223 miles, and the whole distance from Par
kersburgh to Baltimore, by the longest route
less than 400 miles.
The object of the Memorial, which is abb,
written, is to ask another act of incorporation
from Virginia. extending the time, authorship
change of route, to avoid Pennsylvania, ant
such other aid, meaning money, as may be con
sistent with the policy of the State to grant
We hope Virginia will give all that is asked
and especially be liberal of her money.
What should Ohio do? The road will now
come, most probably to Parkersburgh, and il