The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-08


Mr. Dawson took his amid prolonged and enthusi-
astie cheering.
REPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN RAILROAD.
To The stockholders Of the Metropolitan Rairoad Company
GrSrLKaEs The president and directors present the
following as the first annual report of the operations OF
the company since its organization ana It's prospects OF
success &C:
The first meeting OF the directors held the 3oth
Of July 1853 for the election Of presidents and at sub
scauent meeting, the llth OF August the chief engi
elsetsd who at selected one corps OF as
stants and commenced the work of surveys on the 22d
Of August Another party was formed in November last
orr s1d the inrr bscs. fedic and Hasrstown
From the rough Of the country through which the
road is required to be made careful examinations
were found necessary, with view Of finding the most
eligible and central route through Montgomery county
the time to make the selection Of line for loea
ton such would give general satisfaction TO the several
interests involved in the work.
very large of duty has been performed by the
engineer department. and greatly TO the satisfaction of the
board-54O miles having been carefully surveyed and es
mated while the whole distance Hagerstown is but little
10 miles Besides the several routes surveyed many
reconnaissance. made and levels taken PARIS
Ridge in Montgomery county, and on the two ranges of
mountains between Frederick and Hagersown, in all of
whicE very favorable found and the line
adopted for location TO correspond almost with the
exact terms of the charter
The board desire call your particular attention to the
accompanying report Of the chief engineer 1t is full and
forcib drawn up showing eonclusiye that the Meropo
length with any other in the country and must inevitably
be very profitable indeed be otherwise leading
as i does from the seat Of by connecting roads
10 the great western and lake sections of country.
The Baltimore and Ohio road will find the Metropolitan
10 lie very great contributary 10 their road, and viii
doubtless favor its speedy construction for mutual benefit
is ascerined that the distance from Cleveland
Lake Erie, to Washington by the Cleveland and Pitts
burg the Connellsville the Baltimore and Ohio and the
Metropolitan roads will be but 440 miles while to NASH
ngton via the Relay, Baltimore using the Conncs
vile road il will be 4s5 miles and by way Of Philade
pha, travelled 62s and by way of New York 800
This advantage to be gained by the Metropolitan road
will induce much travel that avoids Baltimore and
Washington from the West to take those cities the
route from the cities of Philadelphia New York
and Boston, and without loss Of time for it is conempl
ted that passengers reach Washington in twelve hours
from Cleveland, in place of twentyfour, In
nexion with t subject not be amiss for the board
that already the Connevile road direction
expressed anxiety for the early construction of the Ne
ropoitan road likely to be Of much benefit 10
theirs.
Again: is found that the distance from Piedmont to
Baltimore by the Baltimore and Ohio road is zoo
miles; deduct miles 10 be gained by contemplated
cut through Kn0by mountain have 1919 TO Baltimore
100 to the Relay, 22l to Washington; whereas by
the use e Of f Se SS1p JSa will b h ha"
from Piedmont to Alexandria, by the Alexandria Lou
doun, and Hampshire road, under construction the
completion Of which will place passengers in Washington
in about 49, miles in place of 22l before stated via
Relay that without the Metropolitan road the Bat-
more and Ohio road will not only lose the Washington
passengers from Piedmont but sustain very great loss of
Alexandria for export by in ITO miles in place Of
to Baltimore, But by the use of the Metropolitan
road the Baltimore and Ohio road can retain ell the travel
their road to within sxtythree miles of Baltimore in
place Of losing much Of it at Piedmont The viii
apply to coal.
The amount of subscriptions which the Metropolitan
Railroad Company organized is 100000; which
the to the commissioners amounted to S5009o
The whole of expenditures for the pay officers
and engineers and The necessary expenses attending the
Office and surveys, 24S03 80 to July ls 1854 the par
ticulars of which shown by the treasure report
The board have made efforts increase the indvid-
ual subscriptions, thinking it well to await the result
of the application TO Congress aud the city Of Washing
ton.
a memorial Was Congress some time since ask
ing for aid towards the construction OF road the
ground of its being in part District of Columbia work
running from the Eastern Branch Of the Potomac the
navy-yard thence the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad de-
pot the Capitol and through the city of Washington
to Georgetown and thence to the District line the
contemplated receiving reservoir of the Potomac aqueduc
Many precedents warrant the expectation Of donation
this ground-namely tire giving of $45o0OO towards
the construction of the aqueduc of the Alexandria canal
the whole cost of buding free bridges the grading paw
ing and graveling of the through Washing
ton and lastly the Of the great work Of
introducing pure water into Washington and Georgetown
| 10 cost over SH,000,000
But other grounds Congress may grant us aid and
in the space OF reasonable number of years gain by
doing in memorial the offer is made to transport
the mails, troops military stores &C, forever without
charge II is therefore 10 be hoped this application will be
successful
mortal the corporation of Washington by subscription
OF at least S5Qoo00 it fully expected that city win
receive trecfourths Of the benefits be derived from
the construction of the road principally great
1 crease OF travel to the seat OF government
AS An evidence OF What be expected il is but
TO assert that II is correctly stated that the amount
received for the of passengers the Washing
ton branch OF the Baltimore AND Ohio road ia ly equal
TO that received for the the main road from al,i-
more TO Wheeling clearly showing that it is only neces-
to introduce railroads into Washington bring
/ from whatever direction such roads lead
No subscription has been made BY the cities Of Fred
erck and Hageriown both greatly to be benefited by
the making Of road yet the board have been with
out sanglne hopes Of considerable aid from both these
/ cities
1T is greatly TO be desired that the road should reach
Hagcrstown rs early possible in addition the adj
yantges to be derived from the with the Balti-
more and OHIO road Others viii be found be of al
most equal magnitude by the with the Franklin
and Cumberland Valley roads and many others through
I Pennsylvania to The lakes
When the full location of the road is complcd so that
the sever farming interests viii sec which, il mostly to
be benefited liberal individual subscriptions ought
to be and doubtless viii be received rather than work
Of great Importance should he stopped want of means
TO carry il through
In conclusion the board have onl, to say to Won that
without liberal subscription from the city of Washing
il would not be al all advisable commence the work
of construction and beyond that much more will be re-
quircd from other insure the completion OF The
road TO its terminus
BY order Of the board
TRAS. DODGE President.
GroHsEJpwN, %. CO. July 3, 1854