Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-14
BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD
Meeting of the Board of Directors
Reelection of ]. W. Garrett Esq. as President

Ihe gentlemen who were unanimously re-eecte,
| by the stockholders at their annual meeting las
| month appeared and qualified and took their seats
After the organization of the Board the Presden
| withdrew, calling the Hon. VIM. H. PurneH to th
chair
On motion, the Board then proceeded to the election
| of the President, when Mr.. Keyser nominated Mr.
John W. Garrett. and Mr.. Armtage nominated Mr.
| John Lee Chapman
The Chair appointed Messrs. ODonnell and Shrive
as teers whO after receiving and counting the bal
lots, reported that John W. Garrett received twenty
votes, and John Lee Chapman received one vote
and that John w. Garrett was therefore elected
President of the Company for the ensuing year.
The Chair appointed Messrs. Harwood Chester
and findlay as a committee to inform Mr.. Garrett o
his election.
The Committee waited upon Mr. Garrett and after
short absence returned accompanied by the Presi
dent elect, who. upon taking the chair. addressed
the Board as follows:
Gen temen-When l had the honor of addressing
you upon similar occasion twelve months since
the country was still involved in the gigantic and
mOmentous conflict which had then continued for
nearly tour years; AT that period more than mi l.
lion and half of men We're engaged in the exercise
of their highest ability and energy in the paths ot
destruction, desOlatiOn and carnage.
The peculiar geographical position of the roads
under your charge caused this terrible conflict most
especially to affect those interests. Month after
month, and year after year, your tracks, your
bridges, your tunnels, your engines and eGuiD-
ment, and all the various requisites in operating
a great railway, were again and again DESTROYED
Each destruction led, with continuous vigor to raDd
restoration and to the performance of div upon he
part OF the officers and men in your service in such
form. and so effectively, to challenge the admira-
ton and high consideration, alike of the government
and people of this country and those who watched
the marvellous military events upon this continent
throughout the world.
The great event, of this war, and the remarkable
relations of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad with
of the most striking and extraordinary features
ofits progress and elimination, will ever be azsoci-
ated with the history of this memorable epoCh Tn
der the blessings OF Heaven, we are now enabled ia
exchange congra uatiOns that that disastrous war
those scenes OF blood and desolatiOn among the
things of the past that the of peace has dawned
and risen upon our beloved country and that under
the wise and patriotic action of our Government
the dread conflict of the past is changed into fraterna
efforts of the best Ofthe North and of the South
and of the East and The West, not only to preserve
Union and Constitution, but to unite in making
our career greater more prosperous, with brighter
hopes for humanity and grander scope for the de-
veopment ofour brilliant future as It nation As in
the magnitude and achievements Of our armies
have been unparalleled in history, in peace may
we not hope that progress and prosperity. hereto
fore unknown IN the history of the world, will illus
trate our great future?
These views seem peculiarly appropriate in c0nnec-
ton with the interests which represent The great
revolution that has swept the land has specially
opened new in the history Of Baltimore and
Maryland and Virginia Such changes have occurred
in the policy, the bOs.G. and tie prospects of the
territory connected with the Baltimore and Ohio
and of this management prompt and effective action
TO aid alike r accomplishing the grandeSt results for
those whom we Immediately represent, and assuring
the progress o. the great interests and principles con-
nected with our national advancement
The Capital Of the United States, little mere than
an hours distance from commercial metropolis
founded by Washington, endeared by the memories
and associations gilmore than three lourths of CEN
tury OF peace and progress and now hallowed the
object of interest and affection to millions during the
late war, has become, beyond question: the perIna-
nent seat Of government of this great country for
ages. 1t hss, therefore, become duty. as it is a
privilege, to act vigorously under the sanction and
with the unanimous approval OF the Legislature of
Maryland to construct the shortest and most direct
lines Of trayGi and TRANSFORMATION TO that Capital
Already, and under the difficulties, and during en-
barrasSmentS Of the war You have practically con-
strqcted an additional railroad betwiXt Baltimore
and Washington. You have completed a first class
double track road, than which there is superior
in the country between these cities thus, by the
shortest !le furnishing to the people of the North
and East the most desirable practicable cCmmunica
tion with the Capital
Under the charter granted by the Legislature of
Maryland al its last session, your Engineers have
been diligently engaged in locating a route from
the Point OF Rocks to Washington. l am gratifed
to inform yOu that they have 50 far progressed as 10
be able to state that the line from that point which
is now, via the main stem and Relay House to Wash
ington 81. will be reduced to Is miles, thus present
ing to the travel of the southwest and the great west
a reduction in distance Of Al miles.
It is further gr@atigng @ to @ be able let to state that
ny and the Northern Central Railroad Company,
whilst oyerhowing with professions to members of
Congress ana OI0erS reSarul6 Inelr anxiety Tor
improved line to the Observation-Disclosures those
interests have antagOnized further improvement of
the highest utility and e ths seat Of gov
COnnellSville road to Cumberland, am gratiied TO
state that the United States Dis trict Court have
a decision heretofore rendered. distinctly maintained
the rights of that Company under its charter to con
struct the line. You all recollect that the Legisla-
ture of PENNSYLVANIA granted the charter for this road
that 5S miles of the road were constructed and
when the Baltimore and Ohio Company recovering
from its disasters and losses in the early part of the
war. feeling it duty, in the then situation of the
country, prepared for the construction of that work
that the Hon. Thomas A Scott Vice President of the
Pennsylvania road. visited Harrisburg and by his
personal efforts and the influence of the Pennsyva-
MIA Railroad Company, as reliably stated, insisted
upon that Legislature resembling the charter of the
Pittsburg and Connelsville road for the unfinished
portion of its line.
But, gentlemen the great interests OF the country
fully allied with the rights and equities of the
will oyerwhelm and control the unjust efforts of par
ties who in attempting to aggrandize other inter
ests, improperly oppose those of the public.
The Baltimore and Ohio Company. and those asso-
cated with it, are prepared to complete that short
line Pittsburg, and thus by its improved route
duce the distance to Washington from that central
point in the West, seventy two miles. Whilst the
national interests of the vast populations of
States of the Northwest identified with this
terpriSe well as their great agricultural interests
which would thus secure shorter and more eco.
nomcal route TO the seaboard the city of Pittbura
and Western Pennsylvania still more deeply and
thoroughly interested in the prosecution of this en-
terprise.
Almost as one man, the merchants and the manu-
facturerg the capitalists and the people Of that city
and of Western Pennsylvania, demand the eOnstruc.
ton of this work and well they may; with this line
completed and direct outlet to Washington and
Baltimore thus effected the city of Pittsburg has in
its future position scarcely secondary TO Philadel
phia itself With its vast mineral resources and with
its advantages of water power, is already the Man
chester of America, and with this double and pow
erfu outlet thus opened for its people, concentra
ton of trade and increase of manufacturing wealth
and progress in all that makes communities srea
and prosperous is before that city of an unparalleled
character
In this connection it is proper to state that the
distinguished gentlemen from England who recently
visited this country in relation to American railway
interests were struck with the absolute necessity
well as the great Importance of this line; and that
eminent, sagacious and able gentleman, Sir Morton
Peto, on behalf OF the Atlantic and Great w Westerr
Railway Company, stated that in connection with
the construction of the roads from Point of Rocks
Washington, and from Connellsville to Cumberland
capital would be promptly furnished, and vigorous
measures taken to complete the road connecting
Cleveland via Youngstown with Pittsburg. and thu!
visiting the capital of the United States, line from
Cleveland, and the whole region of the lakes anC
northwest, eighty -four miles shorter than any ex
duty call attention to the fact that whilst the Bal
tmore and Ohio Road, with energy. with patriot
ism, and with determination, is entering upoI
the prosecution of these great works, and looking
the accomplishment of these great results for thu
country. find this same malign influence of thu
Pennsylvania Central and the Northern Centra
Railroad Companies appearing IN the halls Of Con
greSs and demanding Congressional action contrar!
to precedent IN the history OF country CONTRARY
to the teachings of the fathers and of our own patr
otc and great President, in reference to the
of the Government under the Constitution, fine
them asking Congress to pass laws irrespective of thu
system of internal improvements of the State o
Maryland, and regardless of tho unanimous action
and protest of the Legislature of Maryland. We nt
them demanding power to build another line of rail
way to Washington. Why is this? Do selfshnes
and personal aggrandisement or patriotism for th
interests and convenience of the country, inspir
such efforts is it plan when the results fore
shadowed fperecting accommodations to the peopl
of the whole country by the additional lines proposed
by the Baltimore and Ohio road and the consequen
advantages to the city of Washington to the peopl
of the District of Columbia. and to all parties inter
ested in the prosperity of bothI
Is it designed to endeayor to procure apparentl.
hostile legislation from Congress- for the purpose
preventing the prosecution of this enterprise. il
many views of possibilities in the future vital 70
the interests of the country. feel assured that
we anticipate no such action from Congress
when there is military necessity postal neces
sity necessity of any description that be al
leged-for all demands of both public and privat
business now met, and with the prosecution
of the proposed, superior direct additional hne al
dated. sure, that acting IN accordance with tn
wishes of State, you will TO prosecute Wig
| orously the Metropolitan Branch of the Baltimor
| and Ohio Road.
| Upon the efforts of the Baltimore and Ohio Com
pany must this enterprise depend. You will remem
the 5th of May, 1858. free from all capiaon othe
tax, to the so-styled Metropolitan Railroad Compa
ny: and that the Congress of the United States one
in a charter authorizing its construction and that n
capital could be raised for the work. and that the
terprse after many years of struggle, ultmatel
abandoned, without constructing single mile of tn
| road.
| No imaginary air lines threatened by the North