The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-22
From The Baltimore Patriot Of yesterday
The Extension OF the Baltimore and Oil,
Railroad West.


This day marks another epoch in the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. To day it will be finally opened
from Cumberland to point some thirty miles
west of that city, and thus be brought into closer
proximity with the coal mines in that region.
This morning, at eight o'clock, the president
and directors Of the company, with the Mayor and
City Council Of Baltimore, with other invited
guests left in the special cars provided for the pur
pose, to make an excursion over the road to the
point TO which it is completed. AS we stated on
Saturday, they will reach Cumberland this even
ing and remain there over night, and tomorrow
make the excursion over the main part of the road.
This, it is expected, will occupy them the whole
day, and in the evening they will return TO Cum
berland where they will stay over night, and come
down with the regular train to Baltimore on Wed
nesday.
The progress Of improvement has been SO fast of
late that few do take note OF events as they
pass. II will surprise many who look only az what
has been done to be told that the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad the pioneer of all railroads in the United
States, and that when it was commenced no similar
work OF such magnitude was ever proJectedin the
world. And even more striking Is the fact, W hen
we look upon what has been done in the interval
that the first train of railway passenger in the
United States was put in motion December 2Sth,
1929, upon the Baltimore and Ohio railway, which
opened on that day to Ellicotts Mis, distance
of thirteen miles from Baltimore. A long intervals
the road opened to Frederick, then the branch
road 10 washington Guy, tneh the main ROAD 10
Hancock, and then-so many years ago we will not
attempt TO recollect the exact time-it was opened
to Cumberland. Here it stopped ever since, now try
ing to get Virginia to give 1t proper right OF way
to the Ohio river; and again holding back, because
Pennsylvania was not inclined to give it free
passage through her territory. At length Virginia
granted terms which the company, for want of
better, was obliged to accept, and the work of max
ing the road to the Ohio river at Wheeling was
commenced with vigor From the day that the
first shovel ofearth removed, the line of the
road of Cumberland, it is only just to say that
every officer OF the company-the president, the
chief engineer, and all the others-haye shown an
energy and an ability, and have persevered in the
work with such admirable success, that the day of
it's completion to Wheeling, fixed by them, is
regarded by everybody, who has looked into the
matter, "fxed fact" upon which all reliance
may be made.
To day it is opened to Piedmont station; on the
first of next November it will be opened to Cheat
river; the frat of next Februaryt will be opened
to Tygart g valley; the fret of the April follow
ing il will be opened to Fairmont and on the first
of January 1868, it will be opened TO Wheeling; SO
that in less than year and half we shall have a
locomotive running from the waters of the Chesa-
peake to the Ohio river, which will take passengers
from Baltimore to Wheeling in the day Light of a
summers day!