Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1860-07-14


south or north in its entire length OF 37S
miles; and thence by it western connections
through to St. Louis for near 1000 miles,
rot varying five miles from direct line in all
HAT great distance. The almost impracti-
cability of extending any northern line
westward to the Pacific, the barenness Of
country of northern routes and the i'm
pediments of climate-all these together
render impossible any rival road. San
Francisco, which is the metropolis of the
Pacific country, is situated many hundred
miles south Of any northern terminus, tho
nearly in direct line west of st. Louis and
therefore is the direct heritage Of the Balti-
more and Ohio road and its connections.
The voice of our whole country is for d.
rect central Pacific railroad; the capital
and public mind and the commerce, even
the interests Of government, demand cen
trail road from Baltimore to San Francisco
by way Of ST. Louis.
That section of the Baltimore and Ohio
road, which extends from Baltimore to
Wheeling and includes the mountain re-
gion is $40 miles in length, Of which 212
miles are double track. Toprevent the an
novance Of dust the entire road, except the
rails is covered with ballasted rock. The
heaviest grade is l16 feet to the mile; the
greatest altitude above tide water is 200
feet; there are about three miles of tunnel
work or "blasted holes" through solid rock ;
one Of the tunnels is near mile in length,
required A years in the building and cost
one million dollars; there are about 90
tunnels in ALL The road has 235 locomo-
tives, most of which are of such weight
and power as to overcome the heavy grades
without any relaxation of speed; compar-
ed with the locomotives Of all other roa is
| ever saw, they are as great vehicles to
the toy wagons of little children. There
are PA passenger cars, II sleeping cars,
368S freight cars, over $500 coal cars-in
all over $500 cars, which placed in one
continuous chain would extend near 40
miles. The annual revenue of this road
reaches the enormous sum of six millions
of dollars. The official and police force
and peculiar telegraph system Of this road
render it the safest 10 the country; | see
il stated that, since SO, but o single acct
dent resulting in death has occurred on this
road
One of the noticeable features of this
road is, that there is not here as in other
localities where railroads have preceded
civilization, any great appreciation Of popu-
latior, wealth, villages and fine homesteads.
The road has been completed some ten
years, and yet, judging from any effects
upon surrounding things, it would seem as
if the great work had burst forth over
these solitudes as but yesterday. The tour
ist is greeted on every hand along 200
miles OF this route by the roar of torrents
foaming over rocks, and he is seldom out
of sight of dark laurels, oyer-arching frs
and hemlock7, black mountain faces and
Swallowed valleys. The solemn gloom and
primeyal stiffness are only broken by the
whistle Of locomotives and thunder of pas
sing trains. The mind constantly realizes
"A sense of utter wildness and the grandest
desolation. ! am now speaking of general
appearances through the mountain regions !;
there are habitations, villages, but the num-
Der BEARS no comparison with any locality
| ever saw having railroad through its
midst. Fol-, scores of miles not track OF
creature of civilization can BE seen but what
was made and nurtured into exi.tence by
the railroad. Much of this country is I'M
conquelable by the hand Of man. even the
engineer declines the proffared mastery Of
all but this road. But, such a county -
What matter Of national pride that sci
entiic men were found in our..country bold
enough to grade and mould railroad tracks
in the womb Of these savage mountains !
Nature seems to have meant defiance :;
where ground was wanted, the architect of
the universe seems to have scooped it all
away, and stacked it up into mountains
where not wanted. BENJAMIN I'll. LATRoBE
was the engineer who surveyed and drew
a profile for railroad over and through
these mountains; he merits the thanks of
mankind for bis boldness.
My article has grown beyond what /
intended; few general remarks are presen-
ted and then close. The "-Amertcon
Central Line" as Gov. Chase Of Ohio
has given this title to the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, is traversed more than any
other route by tourists to and from the
southwest, west and of late more than for
lnerly from the northwest. For safety, regu-