Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-14
RAILROAD COMMUNICATION WITH THE

In the address of John W. Garrett, ESQ,
President of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad,
yesterday. to the Directors of that company,
Ii is stated that the Baltimore and Ohio
Company, and those associated with it are
prepared to complete a short line to Pistsburg,
and thus reduce the distance to Washington
from that central point in the West seventy-two
miles, and by this WORK and by the completion
of the Point OF Rocks road to Washington, af-
tording communication by an airline from
ST. LOUIS and Chicago to Washington, thus re-
moving the cause for Congressional legislation
authorizing competing roads through the ter
ritory Of Maryland without the consent Of the
Maryland Legislature.
In this connection Mr.. Garrett says that Sir
Morton Peto, on behalf of the Atlantic and
Great Western Railway Company, stated
when here that, in connection with the con-
struction of the roads from Point of Rocks to
Washington, and from ConnellsviIle to Cum
berIand, capital would be promptly furnished,
and vigorous measures taken TO complete the
road connecting Cleveland via youngstown
with Pittsburg, and thus furnish to men,
bers OF Congress ard all other parties visiting
the capital of the United States, a line from
Cleveland, and the whole region of the lakes
and northwest, eighty four miles shorter than
any existing line.
In regard to the Point of Rocks road. Mr.
Garrett states that sufficient progress has
been made in the surveys to demonstrate that
the line from that point, which is now, via the
main stem an Relay House. to Washington,
ninety -one, will be reduced to forty five miles,
thus presenting to the travel of the South west
and the great West a reduction in distance of
fOrty-six miles.
Interesting rs these announcements are to
the people of the District, they would have af-
fOrded more qualification if coupled with the
assurance that the Baltimore and Ohio Rail.
road company have abandoned the idea-of
avoiding a direct communication from the
Point OF Rocks 10 Washington, by making a
correction with the Washington Branch east
of W Washington. We should incline to hope the
best, despite the silence of Mr.. Garrett on this
point, of such Ital interest to the District but
for the positive averments made by responsible
parties, that the leading officers of the Balti-
more and Ohio Road have admitted to them
that IT was their purpose to throw the southern
terminus Of the Point of Rocks road as far east
as Laurel, certainly not nearer Washington
than Bladensburg.
As We have said before, these statements in
regard TO the purposes of the Baltimore and
Ohio Road cause uneasiness in the District
cities from the apprehension that Baltimore,
With her paramount influence in the councils
of the railroad board, will, as heretofore in
cline the scale in favor Of the interests of that
city, and magnetically draw the Southern ter
minus of the road (and with it the trade of the
road far towards Baltimore. With the kind
est feeling towards them and their road, we
would hint TO the directors that anything that
can be construed into an evasion of their char
ter for a road making direct communication
between Point of Rocks and Washington will
afford material to be used against
them by opposing interests working for COM
Peting "air lines" before Congress. We trust
that the further progress Of the surveys will
speedily put it in the power of Mr.. Garrett to
make the gratifying announcement that the
road Is 10 come direct TO Washin gton