The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-09-15
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
MONTHLY aEETINe

| anu sO2AO 4bGh414OOh.
IMPORTANT MONTHLY MEETING
Tho Lato Damage TO The Road..-Ths
EarninRs..--The laurel LIne.-.
Parkersburg Braneh.-.OhIo
bridge, &c.
AT the regular monthly meeting o.
the Board of Directors of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, held in Baltimore
a few days since, President Garrett
delivered an address from which we
take the following interesting state.
ments:
In consequence of a quorum not be-
ing present at the meeting in August,
the chair had not the opportunity OF
making a statement to the board in
reference to tho serious damage which
occurred upon the line during the pre-.
ceding month. AS very exaggerated
and absurd statements were published,
chiefly, however, at other points than
| Baltimore, II is proper that the facts
connected with the freshet should be
submitted. During the thirty-six years
since the line between Baltimore and
| the Monocacy river has been construct
ed, no freshets or difficulties upon the
Patapsco or the waters in the vicinity
| occurred to affect the working of the
road to any serious extent, except in a
single instance. In that case, in 1866, a
| freshet occurred of unusual severity, by
which the bridge at Leicester was swept
of, and some detention Oftrains ensued.
The entire loss, however, TO the COM
pany on that occasion, in connection
with the structures upon the road, did
not exceed $50, 600. In the recent case
the region affected by the flood embrace
ed distance of thirty-seven miles of
the Main Stem, viz: from 1llchester to
| Monrova. You will observe, therefor,
that no damage resulted to the COM
pany from the condition of the Mon
| ocacy river, and that the Potomac was
not affected. The whole loss and inter
ference with the line arose from
the condition of the Patapsco
and its s11luents. Whilst the
damage was undoubtedly great, yet
by the thorough and accurate report
from the road department it is found
upon the line, including the restoration
OF the commandments. bridges, culVerts
and all other structures, tony to the
condition in which the road was prior
To the flood, but to IL condition mHteri-
ally improved, will amount to Sl42. $50,
instead of the two or three millions of
dollars, as alleged by parties who have
apparently other than public interests
TO subserve. The damage did not prove
to be without compensation or 10 in
Volve much absolute loss. On the con-
trary, as the road was interrupted so as
to prevent the passage of trains for
twelve days, the company took advan
tage OF the opportunity to make large
and important improvements upon the
line. In five cases of magnitude and
special Importance, the most difficult
curves upon the Patnpsco have been
relieved and the line so Strengthened as
to add materially to economy and facil
ilU in IpnFl{inU- AHvRntann tp lsln
OF the opportunity to effect desirable
changes afforded by the cessation of
running of trains, and wherever eXpe-
rience showed that curvatures, etc.,
could be improved, the necessary cost
was incurred to secure such permanent
benefits. Three iron bridges were lost,
viz: one at chichester and two at Elys-
vile. The Chichester bridge was new,
having been erected within the past
twelve months, and was IA superior
structure. The chief cost in restoring
it is in replacing that part ofthe CIason-
bridge was but slightly damaged. The
cost of this structure. with the masonry
enlarged and Strengthened, will not ex-
coed $l3, 600.
The board will remember that the
line was Strengthened at ElysVille by
crossing the stream twice ut that punt,
instead of pursuing the original route.
The bridges erected for that purpose
were those swept off, and were the last
of those first erected by the company
when the locomotives and trains were
of much less weight than at present.
1t was contemplated to substitute at an
early period for those the modern and
heavy bridges now used, with all the
improvements. These bridges, there
fore, will not be restored, but in their
stead new and still stronger bridges OF
the very best class will be erected. The
cost of the new structures, after the de-
duction of the value of the material re-
covered, will be $4,000. Atthat point
absolute safety exists in running the
| trains, as, to meet Immediate require
ments, tho former line has been restOr-
ed.
The chair feels assured that 1t will
crafty the board and the community
| TO learn the untruthfulness ofthe state
ments published regarding a vast de.
crease in revenue.
Tho company urged the use of the
road at branches during the period chat
| the through trains ceased 10 run 10
meet and TO anticipate all local require
ments for fuel, timber, &c. The course
desired was generally adopted. The
results are such that the difference in
revenue will be much less than was
expected.
For July, 1867, the aggregate revenue
of the road and branches was $751;
81 OF. For the same month in 1865,
S77O, 69S 90. In August, 1867. the aggre-
gate revenue was $3l0,6l6 92, and in
August, 1865, S7S2, 092 81, making the
aggregate difference for the two months
| of but $40, 1877 10. Thus the entire diff
ference in the revenue, combined with
the cost of the restoration and marked
Improvement of the line and bridges,
WILDE less than $4,000, n result that
makes quite ridiculous the assertion
uttered DV rival md .ndVeFae interests
that the Baltimore and Ohio Company
would be compelled to abandon its line
on the Patapsco.
The history of American railways
shows that no important line can pre-
sent better comparative result than
losses arising from high water should
be so limited. "a -. .s1l
1t is, therefore, in the Judgement OF
| the chair, clear that those partieg upon
the line of the road who have invested
largely, who have built mills and fac,
tories and other costly improvements
need have no apprehension that the
present road will ever be abandoned
on the contrary, increased facilities will
be afforded and additional arrange
ments made to attract capital to contin.
ne and 10 increase the use of the mag.
niicent wRtefpower OF the Patapsco
Certainly the embarrassments caused
by two the freshets in upwards of forty
years, are not sufficient to justify the
abandonment OF the vast advantages o.
SO valuable a stream.
1t has been stated that the Baltimore
and Ohio Company would not only be
compelled tDabRndonth this line, but tha
1t would adopt a materially different
line for its general business. The fac
is, by comparison for the series OF year,
the Baltimore and Ohio Company pre-
| SCENTS a route subject to as little inter