Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1868-09-04

sure, will cordially unite with Mr.. LATRoBE,
in his expression of the rhope that its con-
structon may not be long delayed"
GREENWOOD, JULY 26, 1868
To Benidmia ". LotroJe, Esq, Consulting En-
ginccr, baltimore and Ohio Raiiroad Co.:
DEAR Sir: Several years ago, at the instance
Of VIM. Prescott Smith, Esq, then the cour-
teous and gentlemanly master of transportation
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and now
advanced to the control and chief dictatorship
of the consolidated line of railroads between
Washington and New York, did myself the
honor TO address you letter upon the advan-
tage and Importance to the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, and the public, of an early construc-
ton of branch road from the Point of Rocks
through this county Montgomery to tho Lau-
rel Factory, en- the Washington branch road.
In that letter venturcd the opinion that in
the location and construction of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad up the narrow and tortuous
valley of the Patapsco, and over the high point
of Paris Ridge at Mount Airy, IA name signifi-
cant of its elevated position, the company
"had made mistake" and that the route
bly, shorter, ofmuch lower grades, and of large,
safe and easy curvature-thus securing high
er rate of speed, with perfect safety TO passen-
gers and greater capacity for burthen trains
than it was possible to obtain in the narrow
and winding valley of the Patapsco. To this
may now be added much fewer culvcrts and
bridges, md perfect freedom from the danger
and damage of parallel water courses.
To this letter you kindly replied, admitting
the general correctness of my views, but the
in use, you gave me very little encouragement
then to hope that they would receive early or
favorable consideration.
Strongly as these views were then impressed
upon my mind from being an eyewitness to
the sudden rise in the Patapsco on Friday last,
and seeing the immediate effect in stoppagc of
trains and arresting travel and transportation,
with such disastrous results as followed, the
correctness Of these views received fresh aud
..osS up -~'..rs irritation.
AT the point az whiei rcns,;cr-,y.
Fmy way tc Baltimore, Hoods MilK) wid'
perhaps as any other POINT, the whole valley
from hill to hill, was in little more than thirt!
| (30) minutes completely filled with the resist
less and roaring torrent, submcrgng the roat
to the depth Of many feet, defyng all obstruc'
tons, ard mady and furiously carrying off all
before it, including bridges, culverts, plat
| forms, houses, mills, and even large iron
car, weighing over lG, 900 pounds, resting on
| the side switch, and apparently far out OF the
reach Of danger. 1t was not, however, until
the waters subsidized, that the extent of damage
to the road could be seen and ascertained.-
Where, yesterday the iron horse proudly
snorted, and almost bid defiance to time and
space to-day his track is gone, and the rough
dry bed o. mountain torrent occupies its
place. Old and experienced hands declare its
repair far more difficult and costly than its
original construction, for earth would have to
be carted to form bed before the supcrstruc-
ture could again be relaid. AS far as could be
heard, both up and down, the damage was as
great, if not greater, than where stood, and
the papers of to-day more than confirm for thir-
ty-fye miles this cad picture of ruin and de-
struction.
Could m account be stated of tho cost of the
company in alterations, improvements, and
repairs in this narrow and serpentine valley
for the last thrty-eight years, to say nothing
of the present most destructive and expensive
disaster, entertain not the shadow Of a doubt
it would show a sum more than sufficient to
have built the Laurel route through this coun-
ty, for which ample legislation has so gener-
ously been accorded to the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, but which thus far has only provo
ked spasmodc efforts, and caused tantalizing
hopes in our people, and offered a hcalthful
and invigorating field of practice and amuse-
ment for the junior members Of the engineer
corps Of the company.
Looking 10 the character Of its charter it
being perpetual, consequently the long life be-
fore the company--to its large and rapidly in
creasing business in the transportation Of
freight and passengers, to the great improve
ments in construction and machinery, and the
active competition both North and South in
unprofessional observation that it is not the
part of wisdom pcrsistently TO adhere to what
experience has proven TO be so bad, expensive,
and dangerous location as that adopted when
railroads were in their infancy, and when its
cnterprising and patriotic founders had not the
lights and experience Of the present day to warn
and guide them from the rocks and narrow
and serpentine gorges into which their want
Of experience unwisely led them. Particularly
is this unwise, when nature, legislation, safety,
economy, and the wants of the people all com
bine and offer apd afford shorter, safer, and
cheaper route. Ia the letter already referred to
compared the Baltimore and Ohio Rrilroad
with its main trunk to Wheeling and beyond,
with its eastern branch proposed TO Pittsburg,
(now in course Of construction, and its west,,
ern to Parkersburg and Cincinnati-to the
Mississippi, fed by the Ohio on the east, and
the Missouri on the west; but unlike that great
and mighty inland tributary, it has no delta
by which to sdiseharke lis ioveykdsthened
freight, which q now choked.and gsrgcd, and
driven off 70 other outlets for a market-giye
10 this road, as its main eastern trunk, the
short, safe, and easy grade from the Point of