New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-04
BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD.

BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD.
This great work projected in the year 1871 in
sequence of the sensible withdrawal of Western
trade and business from Baltimore by means of New
YoIks completed Erie Canal and the partially con-
structed Public Works of Pennsy vans The Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal had been the first hope Of Baltimore,
but report from Gen Bernard proved the passage of
the Allegheny chain by Canal enormously expensive
if not utterly mpracticabe The first meeting in favor
Of the Railroad held the 10Th Of February 81,
at the residence of Geo. Brown where Committee Of
seven was appointed to report the feasibility and
importance of the work which it did to an adjourned
meeting on the l9th, through Philip E. Thomas, its
Chairman. There was not then Railroad Of any i'm
portaDce in the wOrld) The Report was adopted at
the adjourned meeting and Committee of twenty-five
(Ony four of them now living chosen apply to the
Legislature for a Charter. The Charter framed,
applied for and obtaned-the venerable CHARLES CAR.
Of CarrotOn, he last survivor OF the Sguers of
the Declaration of independence heading the list.
be had done the Committee Of application. John v l..
Mcmahon drew the Charter and was one of It's abest
advocates. On the 4th day Of July, 1S2S, the first
stone Of the great work laid by the illustriOns
Carroll, amid imposing ceremonies in which the whole
population of Baltimore enthusiastically participated
Before the close of 1925 the subscriptions the stock
amounted to $iOOO,OOO and the first 60 miles of the
work PREACHING TO the Point Of Rocks) put under
contract. The laying of the rails commenced in
1929 the first division of the Road opened the 22d
of May, 1890 IL consisted of but a single track
tending only to EcOtt's Mills II miles from Balti-
more and the drawn entirely by horses loco
motives being then in their infancy. The first three
engines were constructed in 1891 but only of them
proved serviceable It's fuel was anthracite aud its
weight 81 tuns its pace about 10 miles per hour but
it was powerful enough for any but easy grades.
From that time however all the energies of the Com
pany we're directed to the and Improvement Of
steampOwer The first train Of freight-cars from the
Point Of Rocks on the Potomac reached Baltimore on
the LIST of April 1872
The Road was stopped for some time at the Point of
Rocks, in pursuance of a compromise of a formidable
difference with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Com
pany-the compromise binding the Railroad not TO
ascend the Potomac beyond that point until the Canal
should be completed to Cumberland Meantime, the
Washington Branch constructed, and opened July
both, 1885. In 1886, the surveys were pushed west
ward of the Point of Rocks and the Railroad opened
to Hancock, AZ miles farther, June lst 1872, and
Cumberland, the nucleus Of the Maryland Coal region
LIS miles from Baltimore the 9th of November, 1872
Already, serious pecuniary embarrassments had been
experienced the ability and public spirit of wealthy
citizens bad been severely tested the States subscIp
ton Of S30O00OO had been exhausted and the States
credit seriously shattered by nonfl6lment Of her
gsgemens subscription Of $500 900 by the City of
Baltimore finally ensured the completion Of the work
The continuation of the road west Of Cumberland an
N hufx FL
in 1s49 and in 1851 large sale of bonds was made BY
the company at eO-Or promise to pay 800 with in
tertst for every $50 received The last sale of bonds
(S7C00O0) was made at s. During the two years end
ing with September 1851, the expenditures of the
Company for construction amounted to $7,27l732,
probably adding 100000 the issued stock and debt
Of the Company The road was opened to Paramount,
Va. Con the MonOngas) June -, ls52; and the first
Baltimore train reached the Ohio at Wheeling on the
LIST day of January lS53,-twenty four years and a
half from the FIRST breaking ground at Baltimore.
The original estimate of the cost of construction
vas $1,000 eco; the length estimated 1t 290 miles
the annual income $4,000; the time engrossed in
passing from Baltimore to Wheeling Cpl hours The
Geinal cost Of the main stem SIS 62 963 or more
than thrice the original estimate which equipment,
interest, shares &c raise the OF the Road
10 its stockholders % at least 9000O,000 or four
times the first estimate Its Express Trains already
make the passage in 20 hours and the receipts of the
unfinished main stem for the year ending with Sept
last we're : ,S25563 they are already $4,000 per
month ard viii certainly exceed 81 10000 for the
year. We presume those Of neat year wIll reach
IS OOC GEO. with tendency rapid and indefinite in
crease The Road hardly fail prove profitable
investment While immensely increasing the business
and wealth Of Baltimore, and opening vide region
otherwise secluded and well nigh inaccessible.
-For the facts embodied in this sketch We are in
debted to handsome and fairly illustrated account OF
the History ard Progress Of the Baltimore Railroad"
just issued by John Murphy 4 Co. Baltimore. II lis
work which by its brevity elearness and force does
credit TO its Unprecedented author.