The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-29


Mr.. Swami, the President Of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad, in the course Of his remarks last
week. on the occasion of celebrating the extension
of the road west Of Cumberland, said:
ssThe Baltimore and Ohio railroad, gentlemen
has always occupied high rank among the lead
ing worka of internal improyementin this country.
So far as have been able 70 form judgment, and
speak not without deiberation, il has parallel
in any State or section of this Union. II has been
convenient for me, within short time past, TO
make myself acquainted with prominent enter
prise In another State which ls now attracting more
OF the public attention, and Justly 80, than any
which has heretofore sprung into notice. allode
to the New York and Erie road--a road involving
capital OF more than 1927 900 900, and travers-
ing distance of four hundred and sixty miles.
Shore Mr.. Swami turned 10 the President OF the
Susquenanna Company, and asked II he was right
In ms assumption Of the cost OF the Erie road;
TO which he nodded assent) Far be il from me
TO detract from the character of that splendid
achievement of engineering skill IL reflects credit
upon the State of New York-mighty and powerful
she Island still more upon those public sprited
citizens by whose activity and energy it has been
pressed to an early completion. Ii 10 honor to
all whose names have been In any way associated
with it. But deem il my duty to say He-c. and
say il with pride as Marylander-I say it In JUS
tice to the chief engineer OF this company, who
may not feel himself at liberty TO speak with
the same freedom that may do, on a subject with
which he is SO intimately connected, that whe-
Their considered in reference to its engineering fea
formidable they have been, with which it has
had TO contend from its origin, the Erie road can
not be named in the same category with the stu
pendous work which lies before you. [Cheers.l /
say this in spirit of vain boasting-l say il with
no wish to enhance the importance of the abors of
this board Professional men will soon have an
opportunity ofjudging how far am justified in
this assertion.
Since the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was COM
menced, gentlemen, more than twenty years ago.
a great impetus has been given TO the progress OF
railroads in this country. New discoveries have
been made In the science of engineering. Roads
have been projected in almost every State of this
Union. The whole face of the country, north and
SOUTH and east and west, has become net work
OF railroads. have, however, seen nothing in the
past can anticipate nothing in the future, in the
midst of these stirring developments, which should
impair confidence in the ultimate success Of the
work in which we embarked
have seen it stated, and with some degree Of
triumph too, that the Erie road, of which have
just been speaking, had realized during the month
of June a revenue of $22b,000. This is great
revenue, more than has been produced by any ex-
isting work in this country it is worthy the En-
pire State of New York. But what do we behold
here ?
"The Baltimore and Ohio railroad, with a CAPT
tai Of less than $4,000 900 invested in that part
the road which Id already in use, terminating, as
you have seen, gentlemen, in the gorges Of the
mountains that surround you, depending almost
exclusively upon its local trade and travel, pro-
duced during the same month Of June revenue
of y 0,00O-nearly one-half of what this great
New York enterprise, complete and fully equip
ped with all the advantage of novelty, and the
fact of its being in advance of any other road
Meeting with the commercial centre of the West
had realized in the same space of time. ICheersl
When your road is complete, and fully graded for
toO tracks, it will have involved total outlay of
less than = l6,OOO,OOO, against 1927 10000 ex-
pended upon the single track of the Erie road II is
too much to anticipate now what We may at least
expect to compare favorably with what is now ad-
United to be the greatest railroad enterprise in this
countryp'