Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-12-20
Thursday, December 20, 1896.
BALTIMORE g. OHIO RAILROAD.

The regular monthly meeting of the Board
of Directors of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company took place on the 18th instant at
Camden Station, J, W. GARRETT, Esq, Pre-
sident, in the Chair.
The gentlemen who were reelected by the
stockholders, at their anpualmeeting, appeared
and qualified and took their seats. After the
organization of the Board the President with
drew, calling John Spear Nicholas, Esq, to
the Chair.
On motion, the board then proceeded to the
election of the President, when it was found
that JOHN W. GARRETT, Esq, was unanimous
'ly clected President of the Company Cor the
ensuing year.
The Chair appointed Messrs. Bradford, Ches-
ton and Ramsay a committee to inform Mr..
Garrett Of his election The committee waited
upon Mr.. Garrett, and, after a short absence,
returned. accompanied by the President elect,
who, upon taking the chair, addressed the
Board. We regret that our space will not
permit. in the columns Of the FREE PRESS, the
entire very able and satisfactory address of the
President. We give, however, such portions
of his address, as will interest our readers
The President said -
During the past year highly satisfactory and
extensive progress has been made in most I'M
portant improvements and with the works re-
quisite for the advancement of the interests and
for increasing the capacity of the company
In addition to the regular employees engaged in
the working department Of the road, more than
1000 men have been employed in constructing
, second track, tunnels, bridges, water stations
and buildings. These large forces have accom-
II shed rapid and marked results The Presi-
| dent has the satisfaction of announcing that
since September Both, 1865, eighty miles of
frst-class double track have been constructed.
and are now in use.
In accomplishing this construction, many DIFF
fcultes and obstacles were encountered, en-
bracing much heavy work in rock, grading and
embankmeDts.
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 on the Potomac river and the
great mountain of rock rises directly from the
bed of the present single track, that it would
be essential to construct tunnel Of 500 feet In
| length through the hard rock formation of that
mountain. This costly and difficult work was
commenced on the 10th Of December, 1865, and
by the employment of the largest forces which
could be used, working from each end and from
a side drift. thus working from four different
! ponts-working also day and night-more
than half Of this work has already been accom-
plished, and in the course Of the month Of Fe-
bruary next, it is expected, the heading will
be through. and that by August next the dou-
bic track can be laid through this rock-tunnel,
and the exposed line upon the banks of the
canal at this point be abandoned. The rock
! from this excavation, which is exceedingly hard
and durable, is broken chiefly by an improved
steam balance-crusher, and is used III ballast
ing the new second track.
At the close of the war the Winchester and
Potomac Rail Road Company wasentirely with
out equipment. without means to complete its
road into Winchester, or ability to work its line
! Upon the solicitation Of that company, and in
order to aid it, and the people Of Winchester
and the Valley of Virginia this company under
took the reconstruction of its bridges, and the
construction of the road from Stevenson's sta
ton TO Winchester, and to supply buildings es-
sential for the convenience of its business. 1t
arranged also with that company to supply the
requisite machinery and work that road.
These arrangements have given great salts
faction to the citizens Of that region, and am
gratifed to state that the result ofthe efforts Of
| this company TO promote their interests and to
increase the business Of the Valley Of Virginia
with Baltimore, which have proved soefectiye,
are cordially appreciated by all parties inter-
ested.
| Much work has been done upon the WASH
ington County Railroad, leading from the main