Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-02-02
a BOND Ct Union.

The historian Blncroft calls BALI
more, Cincinnati, and st. Louis ''the
triad Of cities which are the fortresses
Of the Union--the brcakwaters against
which the waves Of s4dltion shall dash,
only to be driven back" It this be
50, how important is their position
among the cities OF the earth; how
cherished place should they hold i'll
the hearts Of those who love the Union
cur fathers formed and how useful
and necessary must be the great mod
ern highways that bind them together
in commerce, art, and friendship. OF
these highways, the chief, the pioneer,
and the great original, from the neces-
sites OF trade created by which others
have sprung, is the Baltimore and Ohio
Railway. One who intends passing
over it, from east to west, should read
Iryinv's account Of Washington's last
Journey to the West through the will
derness how he crossed the Allegha-
nies then seemingly almost impossible,
by fatigue marches how he blyouacked
in the wilderness and how, after a
painful and tedious Journey which none
Duy a sturdy voodsman could accom-
pli>hcd, he at last ieached the waters
of La Belle Rigierc
After reading chiS, the traveller can
better appreciate the greatness of the
line Of railroad that now connects The
waters Of the Chesapeake and the
Onio, and with unsurpassed regularity,
speed, and safety, transports paSaen-
gers and freight 10 the extent OF over
SO, ,000,O00 vi annual revenue, between
those distant points, over St8AcnlOuS
Obstacles uE Hluumtajn and river thai
have required for their conquest the
highest and most unusual scientific gc-
mas. Our estimate of this work will
be increased when we consider that it
was begun by the city OF Baltimore
when her entire real and personal prop
erly WAS worth but S29,O0O,00O, and, :,
with long deferred and inadequate aid
from the small State Of Maryland, was
! finished ut cost Of over S3l 900, 900.
| The traveller who observes the careful
attention of the conductors, cnglnemen
and roadmeu ON the line, the system OF
night and day watching, the regular
movement OF the trains, and the oper-
alton of the telegraph line, co-exten-
size with the road, and built anCs used
only bv the railroad company, can IN
derstantl how it is that since the open
inc Of the road to the Ohio in 1853, nc
accident to the trains has occurred BY
which passenger has been killed or
seriously injured. Passing over OF
near The old national road, begun by
Jefferson and finished chiefly BY the
efforts of Clay, ii connects at the Ohio
by ferry, with tie Ohio Central rail
, road, which also rlals- nearly Oh tht
line of the national road beyond the
Ohio. and thus unites Wheeling with
, the West. 1t forms another connec
ton with Cincinnati by means of tht
) Northwestern Virginia road, which
leaving the main stem at Grafton, con
meets at Parkersb1rg with the Mariet
:. and Cincinnati road.
~ Anart froG,, the great usefulness, an(
indeed the necessity of the Baltimore
t and Ohio road, as means OF commu
nication with the Ohio, I'D with tn
rich country beyond, it presents une
qualled attractions to the tourist in tht
; remarkable beauty and sublimity ofthe
) scenery along its route. Engaging
first as some ore facetiously said, in :
sort of scientific chase after the head
waters of the Potomac, it passes thro
the historically interesting country Dor