The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-25

line" thoroughfare to all these points, command
ing the best of the trade of the Ohio and the Mssis
sippi.
In the course of the past year, Mr. Swan stated
that he had visited most of the great works Of in
ternal improvement at the East, including the
Erie railroad, which had been constructed at coat
oil S27 ,0OO,OOO, with but single track, and he
stated that he saw nothing that great line Of
road that could compare with the noble structures,
substantial equipments, and general properties of
the baltimore and Ohio railroad. which had been
constructed, with all the bridgings, track ways,
and tunnelling for double track throughout the
whole lns, for less than half that sum. The Stats
tics and comparisons he gave in this connexion
were truly interesting to all Baltmoreans and
Marylanders.
Mr.. Swan proceeded 10 review the legislation of
Virginia, and the course of himself and the board
in connection with that Legislation. The Parkers-
burg route had always been his favorite; but find
ing 1t impossible TO obtain that, he had approved of
the acceptance of the Wheeling charter, feeling
conhdenttha the Parkersburg route would ulti-
mately be obtained. He felt great pleasure in con
graduating the citizens of Baltimore in the attain
ment OF the great northwestern charter to Parkers-
burg, which he characterized as the greateat rail
road charter, III its prospective results, ever grant
ed TO any city, and called for the enthusiastic
support of its citizens 1t not only settled the point
IN iavor OF Baltimore, but put an end to all pros
poets oil some routes that were projected to cut off
the advantages of the shortest and most speedy
communication between the great valley of the
Mississippi and our favored city; and when the
time comes for its construction, he felt confident
that Baltimore would be found, as she always has
been, ready to furnish the means, and pledge her
credit II necessary, to assist in its speedy con-
struction.
Dc. Claude, the Treasurer of Maryland then
rose and expressed the qualification he felt whilst
listening TO the remarks of the president OF the road
and expressed his mistaken belief and approval of
every statement made by him, looking forward
with confidence to the early completion OF the road
and the accomplishment OF all those gratifying re-
suits in the onward course of the State of Mary
land to unrivalled prosperity and greatness, which
must succeed the securing of the shortest and most
pleasant thoroughfare connecting the Atlantic with
the Ohio. In the course of his remarks he alluded
to the Chesapeake and Ohio canal; and although
he expressed his belief that the Cross cut canal
from Georgetown to Baltimore never can or will
be made, without the prospect of which Maryland
never would have embarked in the enterprise, he
still had confidence that Maryland will ultimately
derive some remuneration even from that great
work also.
His honor Mayor Jerome, of Baltimore, now
arose, and was received with most enthusiastic
cheering, and addressed the company in few eo-
quent and appropriate remarks. He pledged in
behalf of the city of Baltimore the hearty co-ope-
ration OF its citizens, with their and credit
to maintain her supremacy and ensure her success
In the great contest now going on for the main
terry OF trade and travel with the West and South
west. He thought there could be no doubt on that
point; and when the time comes, nothing will be
wanting on the part of Baltimore to ensure the
entire success of the project, which was already
point at this day thathe United States is the great
est nation the face of the earth. and it was his
confident hope and expectation to see Maryland
maintain her position as equal if not in the lead of
the most prosperous States of the Union. He con.
cluded his remarks by neat alluson to our present
advancement OF national greatness, before two
thirds OF a century OF our independent existence
had passed, as compared with the nations of the
old world that had centuries in the start of US, but
still behind in all that constitutes true ma
iional greatness.
The Mayor frequently interrupted by the
most enthusiastic cheering heard in these wild
mountain passes, which was continued long after
he took his seat
Benjamin Latrobe, esq, the chief engineer of the
company, rose to respond to the following compli-
mentary sentiment offered by VIM. b. Norris, esq
III. %. Latrobe, esq, Chief Engineer Of the BaIfi-
more and Ohio Railroad COmpany-Whose science
and energy have overcome the obstacles of nature
and corrected the received opinions Of men of
science.
He returned his thanks for the enthusiastic re-
ception of the compliment, and remarked that
he was unaccustomed TO public speaking he must
call on his brother who was the taker of the COM
pany, to respond for him. Although he had been
educated and admitted to practice as lawyer, ma
ture had never designed him for the position as he
was always frightened az the sound Of his own
voice. and consequently he quit it for the more
laborous work Of engineering. He concluded by
repeating his thanks and giving the following
toast:
The assistant Engineers Of The Baltimore and Ohio
counsel and assistance the labors of the chief eng
neer would have been of no avail
J, H. IL. Latrobe, esq, the counsel OF the compa-
ny, was now loudly called upon, and responded in
one OF bis happiest veins, relating many facts and
anecdotes illustrative of the triumph of steam over
water, and the rivers and mountains-frst starting
as singular fact in connexion with his brothers.
appeal 10 him for response, that those who thought
they knew better had designed and educated him
for an engineer, and his brother for lawyer, and
that, when OF age, he was called poor engineer,
whilst his brother was respectable county court
lawyer But when they came to the age of discre
ton they changed the order of things, and his
brothers. works had already spoken for them
selves. He concluded with the following senti
ment
Steam and its t,co mighty Conquests-The Mis-
sissippi and the Aleganies.
DIR. Graves, baltimore city register, remarked
that old Maryland having been highly compli-
mented, he thought that Virginia, having render
ed noble assistance in this great work, should also
receive some praiae, which he doubted not would
be responded to by distinguished citizen of that
State now present He therefore offered the follow
ing:
Old Maryland and Old Vnginia-By their iron
ties with the great West, they have added strength
to the links of the Union.
William S. Clark, ESQ.,, president of the Win
chester railroad, responded to this complimentary
sentiment IN behalf of his State, declaring that
Baltimore and Virginia were connected together
by social and commercial ties that desired no ri
valry. He also highly complimented the public
spirit always evinced in Baltimore on the subject
OF internal improvements, alluding to the fact that
when the road over which he presided had run
out OF funds, and there seemed to be prospect of
raising it at home, an appeal was made to Balti-
more, and some fifty of her citizens promptly step
ped forward with loan of 100000, without
which the road never could have been completed.
But time and space will not permit me to give a
more detailed report of the interesting remarks.
lie concluded by asserting that the valley of Virgil
MIA was bound to Baltimore by social and CONNER
cial ties as strong the nuptal tea tie which
third parties should not be allowed to interfere in.
Colonel McKaig, of Alegany, was here called
on and responed most appropriately
A complimentary sentiment to the President and
Directors Of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Rail-
road brought Robert M. Magraw, esq, president
Of the road, TO his feet, who the course oil his re-
marks expressed the qualification that he expert
enced in viewing the magnificent works of engi
neering over which he had passed, and expressed
the confident belief that the solidiy of it's struc
ture, and the perfection of all the appointments of
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, will compare ia
Vorably with the best equipped and constructed
roads in the country. Mr.. Magraw's remarks
were listened to with great interest, Astounding
hey did in the moot interesting facts and stats
lies. He concluded by offering the following SEN
ment:
The Pioneer Of this Work-Who, twenty three |
years ago, had the wisdom 10 conceive and the |