Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-11-28
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

One of the most important matters for
the consideration of the extra session Of tho
Legislature of Maryland, says the Baltimore
Clipper, is the reconstruction and mainte-
nance of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The injuries inflicted upon this community
Immediately and upon all the State indi-
recty by the vandalism of the rebels. in de-
stroying this great artery of commercial and
industrial life, cannot be estimated These
can never be repaired. But their contin-
uance may DO and should be promptly re-
moved. Without this road Baltimore is
thrown back in the march Of material pro-
gress fully half century, and is compelled
to fold her arms in impotont idleness, while
the busy hum Of active industry is rssound-
ing all about her. The value of this road
to the city and to the State was not realixed
until it was taken away. 1t was then dis
covered to be the life-spring Of the growth
and prosperity of the city, and the develop
msnt of the mineral and agricultural re-
sources Of Western Maryland.
It is impossible to enumerate the various
ways in which the obstruction Of this great
highway bears heavily upon the people of this
State. Under ordinary circumstances it af-
fords employment to over four thousand per-
sons. At present its force of employees is less
than five hundred Thus at one blow of the
wanton wickedness of the rebels more than
4 hnnIr.S e y,
been deprived of the means of support that
was hitherto their sole dependence. Hundreds
Of these men, active, industrious and intell-
gent citizens, have been driven from the State
by the stoppage of this road and the inevi-
table necessity to seek employment elsewhere.
This is but single item Of the countless and
continuing loss entailed upon Maryland by
the obstruction Of this greatest monument Of
the enterprise of her citizens. There is no
branch Of trade or industry that Is not d-
rectly or indirectly injured by it, and these
losses will be increased, these injuries will
continue to multiply and bscoms daily and
hourly more onerous and intolerabls, until
the Legislature shall provide remedy.
It is true that, while there can DO obtained
no remuneration for the prospective damages
that have accrued tho actual damage sustain.
cd, the loss Of machinery and cost Of recon-
structon of the road constitutes just and VAL
ID claim against the Federal Government,
and will doubtless be ultimately paid by 1t.
But, in the meantime, Baltimore and Mary
land cannot afford to wait. Immediate relief
is needed, and there is nowhere to look for it
except to the State Legislature. Means for
the immediate reconstruction of this road can
be found. They must be found. We have
already intimated that an ample fund for
this purpose may be realized from the con-
fscation of the property Of those who have
contributed to impose these great evils upon
US. They got up the dance. 1t is just that
they should be required to pay the fiddler.
Let us at any rate have the road re-opened.
The existing stagnation in our trade and in-
dustry removed, and the State once more put
on the high road to prosperity. The people
will then be infinitely more able to stand all
burthens than they ever will be if
tho performance Of this duty should be de-
layed