Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-09-15
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad,


tors of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, was
held at Camden station, on Wednesday last.
President GARRETr In addressing the Board
referred to the recent damages sustained by
the road on.account of the disastrous flood in
the Patapsco. This portion of his address we
append, and from it, it will be seen that the
losses of the road have not been near SO great
as reported, and that at present, the entire
line is in complete running order. Mr.. Garrett
says =
AS very exaggerated and absurd statements
were published, chiefly however, at other
points than Baltimore, it is proper that the
f.cs connected with the freshet should be
submitted. During the thirtysix years since
the line between Baltimore and the Monocacy
river has been constructed, no fresEets or
| difficulties upon the Patapsco or the waters
in the vicinity have occurred to affect the
working of the road to any serious extent,
except in single instance. In that case, in
| 1866, freshet occurred of unusual severity,
by which the bridge at Leicester was swept off,
and some detention of trains ensucd The
entire loss however, to the company on that
occasion, in connection with the structures
upon the road, did not exceed $4,000. In
]
flood embraced distance of thirty seven
miles of the Main Stem, viz; from Leicester
+ to NIonrovia. You will observe, therefore,
that no damage resulted to the company from
| the condition of the honocacy river, aud that
the Potomac was not affected. The whole
| loss and interference with the line arose from
the condition of the Patapsco and its affiuents.
| Whilst the damage was undoubtedly great,
vet by the thorough and accurate report from
| the road department it is found that the full
estimate of the entire losses upon the line,
| including the restoration of the cmbankments,
bridges, culverts, and all other structures not
only to the condition in which the road was
prior to the food but to a condition materially
! improved, will amount to Sl42 .450, instead
of the two or three millions as alleged by
parties who apparently have other than public
interests to subserve. The damage did not
prove to be without compensation or to involve
much absolute loss On the contrary, as the
road was interrupted so as to prevent the
passage of trains for twelve days, the company
took advantage 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
| Patapsco have been relieved and the line SO
straightened as to add materially to economy
and facility in working. Advantage was taken
of the opportunity to effect desirable changes
afforded by the cessation of running of trains,
a"u ;,'.>I =. s''"s w. 80
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e ,I,[, ,sIo.ari.i .ooI,,a,aa iii I
! en- 400 A, +L.t ,,o;n+ ,L.,lr,oI,, e,f,t
$1,000 ,nr';n, nI ,La pt tr,os as ~ r'oot 10y
,,1nd;o+o ,ol,u;ro2,onts tho former Inc bas
hoor ro.toroS 'TEo Chair faols ossuro6 that
:. IN I.o.;r,, .ho hoorJ ord tLo oor,u,r,,;.,,
-, Io,rH tho I,rtrutLf fitness of rho st,tomonts
nuhlishod rooorlino vast decrease in revenue
rLo con,9,pv ,Sr,od tho uco of tbo rood
onj Lrorcbas dnr;no, rho nor;oJ tb,t tbo
,brou,b trains ceased 70 RIM to meet and to
,ntci9ntc all local requirements for fuel,
t;rnhor e. Tho conrse dos;rod ,vos ,,onnraI'
~ adontcd The results are such that the
Inference in revenue will he much less than