The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-27
RATE OF SUBSCRIPTIONS.
RATES OF ADVERTISING.
BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD
COMPANY.
The AnnunI Election OF Omcers...
Address of President GRrreIG..-The
Future Policy and Prospects.
MONTHLY MEETING,

Address of President GRrreII..-TIe
Future Policy ana Prospects.
MONTHLY MEETING.
The regular monthly meeting of the
Board of Directors OF the Baltimore and
ONO Kailroad Company took place on
the l2lb instant, ut Camden Station.
J, w. Garrett, Esq, President, in the
ChAlr. The gentlemen who were uuun-
lmously reelected by the Stockholders
at t'rir annual meeting last mOnih'
appeared and qualified and took their
seSts. After the organization of the
HEHf !, the President withdrew, calling
John Spear Nichols, Esq, to the chair,
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.
IN motion, the Board then proceeded
To IT, election of President, when it
was iouud that John w. Garrett, Esq,
was unanimously elected President of
tue company for tho ensuing year,
The Chair appointed Messrs. Bradford,
SheSton aud Ramsay Il COMMITTEES to
inform Mr.. Garrett of his election.
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT.
lhe committee waited upon Mr.. Gar
rett, and after IL short nbsence returned.
accompanied by che President elect,
who, upon taking the chair, addressed
the Board as follows:
Genf}cDlcu-At their annual maetip,,
on tie 10Th OF November last, your
thlrty-eiGhth annual report was pre-
Sented to the stockholders. AS, in con-
sequence of causes heretofore stated .
the later reports have not been submit
ted, 1t appears proper that again, on
this occasion, the President should
state for general information the lead
ing acts, the progress of the works, and
The developments of the policy OF the
Company, and OF its prospects.
During the past year highly Satisfac-
Tory ana extensive progress has been
made in mostimportant improvements
and with the works requisite for the
advancement of the interests and Tor
increasing the capacity of the company.
In addition to the regular EMPLOYEES
engaged in the department of the road
more than two thousand men have been
employed in constructing second track
tunnels, bridges, water stations and
buildings. These large forces have nc
compliShed rapid and marked results
The president has the salts faction of an
nouncing that since September 30, 1865.
eighty miles of tirst.ClnSS double track
have been constructed, and are now in
use. In accomplishing the construc-
ton, many difficulties and obstacles
were encountered, embracing much
heavy work in rock, grading and en-
bankmentS.
1t was found that portion of the
tunnels constructed for double track
were not OF sufficient capacity for the
large cars now used, and the tunnel at
Marrlottsvllle was consequently en-
iarged to the requisite size. The tunnel
at Paw Paw Is also being enlarged
Besides the construction OF these
eighty miles of second track, large
amount of grading aud other work has
been done upon the remaining portion
of the line east of Piedmont, and we
have the satisfaction of being able to
state that the entire line from Baltimore
Piedmont "a nf
will be completed with n superior
double track during the next year.
1t was found that, in order to insure
safety and reliability, at the difficult
passage near the Point of Rocks, where
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal borders
upon the Potomac river, and the great
mountain of rock rises directly from
the bed of the present single track, that
ii would be essential to construct n
tunnel of eight hundred feet in length
through the hard rock formation of that
mountain. This costly and difficult
work was commenced on the 10th De-
cember, 1865, and, by the employment
of the largest forces which could be
used, working from each end and from
side drift-thus working from four diff
ferent pOints-working also day and
night, more than half of this work has
already been accomplished; and, in the
course of the month of February next
it is expected the heading will be
through, and that, by August next, the
double track can be laid through this
tunnel, and the exposed line upon the
banks of the canal at this point be
abandoned. The rock from this exca-
vation, which is exceedingly hard and
durable, is broken chiefly by an i'm
proved steam ballast crusher, and is
used in ballasting the new second track.
To avoid the sharp curve near the ca
nal at Williams Point, west of the tun-
mel described, it will be necessary to
construct an additional tunnel. Prepa-
rations are being made to commence
this work, and large forces will he
placed at all points along the line of the
canal as soon as the navigation thereon
ceases. Thus during the winter this
construction can be safely performed,
without interference with chat work.
1t has been the policy of the Compa-
ny at this and other points, recognizing
that the vast and increasing business OF
the route requires the best possible and
permanent improvements, to hesitate
at no cost in giving to the line those
perGections which skill and enterprise
can command. 1t has also been an OBJ
ject continuously of the road depart
ment, to improve the curvatures whilst
constructing the double track, and, at
all the points where practicable, to
undertake the necessary expense to
straighten the line. Excellent results
have attended this policy, and very de-
cided improvements of this character
have been, and nre being, accom-
plished.
Since the destruction of the wooden
and other bridges upon its line during
the war, twelve first class iron bridges,
aggregating 3,475 feet, with 27 spans,
varying from 7S to 205 feet in length
and of very costly character, have been
built at the Mount Glare workshops,
placed upon superior masonry, and are
now in successful use.
The increasing business having
demonstrated the advantages of much
larger buildings than those heretofore
used by the machinery department,
the Company has erected at Mount
Glare, fre-proof brick machine shop,
two stories, with slate roof, and 1899
feet in length by 60 feet in width. Schro-
der's Run has been securely arChed, the
stone tunnel being of II feet span for
its entire distance through the COmpa-
nv's property at Mount Glare, and, by
filling over this arch, large and valuH-
BILE additions have been made to the
available grounds at this important sta
ton. .
A very extensive blacksmith shop,
56s feet in length by 20 feet in width,
and a wheel house so by 100 feet, have
been built of brick, with slate roofs, in
the most substantial manner, and are
nenrlv completed. At Martinsburg an
engine house for 1O locomotives and II
mnchine shop, 1874 by 60 feet, of similar
character to ihnt nt Mount Glare, have
been completed. a shop for car pur-
poses at that point, 100 by 200 feet, con-
structed also of brick, with slate ROOT,
is now approaching completion. AT
Piedmont n new passenger station has
been erected, and the engine house,
blacksmith, car and other shops, have