Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-03-02
[cosSuHcATED.1
THE BALTIC. & OHIO RAILROAD.

THE BALTIC. q OHIO RAILROAD.
When an individual or corporation, by
Edint Of superior prudence, energy. foresight,
or other causes. begins to loom up prominently
in the worSl, it usua ly happens that numer-
ons assailants arise-some greater, some less
some actulted by one motive, some by another
Envy or seiishDess in some form may usually
be found the underground motives. Thus it
is and has been with our we'll abuseA Baltic
K Ohio Railroad roal that is d,fng and
has done more for the city Of Baltimore and
the entire region through whwh it passes
than any other agency in latter years; and it
appears strange that such IN sptagonism could
have arisen against it as is evidenced from
time to time by certain publications in the
american Allow me to say few words
with reference first to its location. with which
so much fault is now found, and second to the
coal trade Of Allegany, all of which it is said
the road has not the capacity to accommodate.
While it may in one sense be considered
unfortunate for Maryland and for II. all, as
well as for the Company itself, especially in
these war times, that this road was not origi-
naly located within the limits of Maryland,
yet it is believe well known that at the time
when the road divergcd south from Frederick
city instead of continuing directly westward
from that point, there were imaginary difficult
ties in the way which later experience in
railroad engineering has proven to be of little
consequence Hence, with some inducements
from the State of Virginia (and the branch
road to Winchester being already in existence)
the road was located on what was conceived
to be more favorable ground. Again, it is
also known that from Cumberland the original
expectation was to continue the roll towards
pittsburg, and, but for the grasping opposi-
ton of parties in Pennsylvania, it would have
been so built. Thus the company was COM
PEELED either to stop short in the coal region
or essay to reach the Ohio river by new
routc--a route that until then was believed
to present insuperable barriers Baltimore
then wisely clamored for railroad connec-
ton with the west. She now has it, and
with it also connection with the coal region
Is it possible that the greater good must now
be sunk out of sight in consideration of the
less
But there is another, higher. view of this
matter. Conceding, as all sensible people
must, that there is a divinity that shapes
our ends, rough-hew them as we may" may
we not well consider whether the location of
the road, alternating from the Northern to
the Southern side of the Potomac and then
boldly diverging through that until terra in
cognita the mountain Businesses of Western
Virginia, was not wisely so ordered by an
overruling Providence to subserve purpose in
binding Virginia to the Union in these days
Of trial? Nay more, it may well be ques-
toned whether the road as located with all
its influences and connections is not exertine
u vast amount of good In binding the entire
Union together-an influence which never
could have existed had the road been built
north of the Potomac and thence from Cum
berland to Pittsburg. Let us therefore Le
and not murmer at things irrevoca-
Bile.
Now rs to the coal trade of Allevany.
Grant its Importance to the fullest extent, and
still it MAJ be asked whether it was not wise
for its own sake as well as for the interests of
Baltimore-(the city whose officials have so
much to say against the road THAT this com
pany should press on to the Ohio river and
secure its interests there where most in dan
ger-wise for the present and for the future
The coal trade will regulate ITSELF 1t mus,
follow as natural consequence that in due
time We shall have u double track from the
coal region to Baltimore and an unlimited ca
pacty for transportation of coal. Let the
coal companies and their friends and all who
have axes to grind in that direction not be
too eager to amass sudden wealth And let
them not forget as they 60 along to vent
little of their Impotence on the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal, u work which has no western
through trade to foster. and a work wholly
devoted to the coal trade Why is it that
that does not afford greater facilities to the
coal trade J? Why in all these years have
not more boats been placed ON E4dl 1t will
be found on unprejudicial examination tina,
there are and have been great difficulties to
surlnount, and that the railroad has done
about all that could have been wisely done
under all the circumstances to secure .'th
greatest good of the greatest number" To
argue otherwise would be to destroy one Of
the chief arguments which its opponents urge
against the road and its management.
..I u.