The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-07-25
coRRUsPoNDENcE
border Letiers-No. 4.
corresponaence Of the Richmond Dispatch.


tmde and the Bold Engineering Required IN tfs
Conssrresier--E nstrpyise Of Bc'simore and Ma
rytaad Il. Projecting and Completing tf-Cca-
frasfsd tr,fA Richmond and Tirgiaia-APpeaf
to Notwithstanding 45ont the Baltimore
and Ohio Road from Baltimore 10 HdfPsrs
Ferry. 80,
uARpgR,s FERRy. July 18th.
A detention of some days at this place, has
afforded me an opportunity OF becoming moio
familiar than had been with Whatever = le.
markable about 1t, and especially me losslJ
scenery that here delights the Traveller. LET
mr. first before speak of these. say few
words OF that grand work, the BaisHnofc ana ana
Ohio Railroad, and the scenery which MARKS
its way TO this place ,,u,,, &, ~
spect To fhe works of magnitude Of its class,
the first projected in the United States II IS
located through a country which presents op-
stacIes that were enough 10 deter the enteI-
nrisine community that conceived 1t from
going on withit; and it stands now. completed
rs IL is I believe, without rls:ii IN the mat
ter of the stupendous DISTRACTIONS II mas over
come, aud the brilliant engineering, ana the
bold constructive skill and genius displayed
in its bridging trusseling. and tunneling. Al
all events, none equal 1t for the magnitude OF
these grand specimens OF engineering aha
construction. / am not particularly Interest
I'd, as you know, In the advancement OF Baiti-
more--and especially in the extension OF hef
commercial projects in Virginia but ] say
planning and completing, with comparatively
little aid from any other quarter, one OF Inc
most expensive, as well rs difficult, pubiic en-
terprises of the age in which we hive. ms
great undertaking she planned While lith
rate city, at time when the entire valuation
of her real and personal properly was ohiS
twenfy-seven millions of dollars sum iess
than the railroad itself has cost by FOUR mil
lons-thirf one millions of dollars having been
expended in its construction ard equipment.
This is something indeed TO boast OF. ms IS
more than any other of our cities can boast or
Baltimore deserves lis reward LOT such q
daring undertaking, and for the consistency and
fidelity to her true interests with which she
has pushed on the enterprise through all difh-
culties, and against universities ana discourage
ments which were appalling. 10 lis triumphant
accomplishment. She has, Tor some years, been
deriving the benefits due TO such unflagg1ng
labor-such whole-souled appropriation OF
energies and means 10 the common good OF the
community. Her rapid growth within the last
ten wears Tells what this grand public work
this great artery of commerce which pours the
treasures of the West into her lap-has done,
and is doing for her. The passenger along this
great route is astonished at the number of the
freight trains he meets in q day, and at the
length of each train, and the enormous engines
which draw them. A train seldom numbers
less than TWENTY-FIVE double cars, and if they
be coal cars. they average in weight at least ten
tons; making the engine draw 220 tons, besides
its own weight and that of the tender, which
must be near forty tons. do not undertake
indications of the vastness of the operations
of this great railroad, as presented to the
traveller. Its annual revenues, which are
about five millions of dollars, show ut once
the magnitude Of its transactions. L have just
seen engine No i65. with its long train, take its
way across the bridge. But the numbers run
higher than this.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad is man
aged with admirable system, and accidents are
exceedingly rare upon II. The employment of
the telegraph, which has been found to be the
greatest auxiliary to the safe management OF
a long line of railway, has facilitated its oper-
ations in wonderful manner. The master
of transportation is ut once clairyoyant.-
He sits i'll his office and knows what is going
on along the entire line of three hundred and
seyenty-nIne miles OF railway, exclusive OF
the Washington branch road. He easily di-
reefs what shall BE- done in an eXigency, and
takes proper measures on all occasions with Il
prcmptness that receives its impulse from the
electric current, and does not admit of hesita
ton. There are two wires on the road under
the exclusive use of the company, and they
are never long unemployed Thus does the
telegraph show itself invaluable 10 railroads,
and the pusic benetactor, by protecting life
from collisions. j has become pretty general
and should be universal
The first great work of its kind in this coun-
try, it struck ont a new and bold system OF
railroad engineering, which has impaired its
influence throughout the country. Other
great works that might have been deemed i'm
practicable have been, under the force of lis
example, undertaken and accomplished. The
bridging and tunncling alone along the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad, amount,in the aggre-
gate, to five and a quarter miles. The laborers
and employees are said to equal five regiments;
and, as has been justly said, ''when we consid-
er the depots, tanks, most of them beautiful
octagonal stone ediiices.l engines, rails, sta
lion houses, and innumerab!c cars for freight
and travel as we'll as The two lines OF tcle-
graph wires belonging to The company, one no
longer wonders at the money expended on tho
structure; but is only surprised that the .peo-
pie of Il small single State could accomplish
so colossal an enterprise. =
This is IN example for Eirgiria--this is al
example for Richmond. maryland is weak.
compared to Virginia Baltimore was not as
well off when she undertook her great rail
road as Richmond is now. Her real and per-
sonal property was valued then at ttcentp-seuen
millions & doliars-Richmond' real and per-
sonal wealth now srceed thirty millions Of dot |
lars Yet Virginia is only half way to the |
Ohio, with her great works, over Il far more |
eligible route than that which Baltimore 1ca> !
forced By Virginia and Pennsylvania TO foIiou |
while Baltimore enterprise reached the banks |
OF the Ohio some eight years ago, and that city |
has been since receiving noble share of the |
rich trade OF the great valley watered by thai |
river. Oh, Virginia! Oh, Richmond. are Vt |
not laggards ! Rise up, oh ancient Dominion
and shake of your lethargy-imit;te the go-
rious example of lesser Stale, whose noble |
you have the generosity to APP
plaud and win your way also to that goal OF |
wealth which SO many powerful competitors
in the East have for years struggled to reach |
Yours is the best of all the routes-yours the
the bright way from La Belle |
Riviere to the golden gates of the Chesapeake |
One effort-one harmonious, patriotic and de- |
ermined struggle, with united hands and |
means, and the work is done. And when it l. |
done, what a reward will be yours, Virginia +! |
The most enthusiastic mind, the most san
guine Intellect cannotover-es innate the results |
that will follow. Rise then, or be forever iall- |
en- Oh, let it not be said that, with the best |
of all the competitors for the trade
ha hog rntlta ,i
all-Nirginia folded her hands, composed her
self TO rest, and surrendered ali
l commenced this epistle not to say thus
much on this theme, 10 me so deeply interest,"
ing; but have been betrayed inv oluntarily |
INFO it, Would to God that every Virgnian |
felt as l do on this subject-would that all the
public men were actuated by the patriotic zeal !.
OF the present Executive of the State-nOne OF
us would have long to deplore the backward
ness of our good old mother God bless her y |
in the great race for the brilliant prize of the
commerce OF the West
Returning TO my traNels-there is little to
be said of the Washington branch of the Bal
timore and Ohio Road, since it is so well
known, and traVerses a country not remark
able except for the iron mines through which
the road makes some deep cuts in Anne Arun-
del county. II is well built, ana the regularity |
of the crowded and extended passenger trains
(of which there are four each way per day. is
In the perfect system observed |
minutes occupy the most consequential places,
rs any passenger Will know who is two Sec
onds behind time. II the incest division of
time is adhered TO in starting, there is hardly
less accuracy i'll the time OF arrival of the
trains. System could not be more perfect
The splendid stone bridge across the deep
ravine of the Patapsco, nine miles from Balti-
more, is n monument that will endure forages
II consists of eight granite arches with a span
Of fifty feet, and sixty or seventy feet high. 1t
IS solid and powerful structure The heavy
trains pass from the earth TO the bridge with
40 perceptible change III the soiidity and firm
less of the sustaining power which it ira
verses. 1t is no little consolation to the am
)ition of man, when rejecting upon the tran