Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-11-22
Return Of Thomas Winaus.


Mr. Thomas winans. whose princely abodes
in Baltimore city and county have been famous
Tor twenty years past. has just returned to us
after an absence Of neatly nine years in Europe.
whittier he went early ia 1862 after:the death
of his wife, Almost everybody knows some-
thing of this fortunate aud fayorite Balti-
morean, though he IS yet only in the prime,
we trnst,5of his useful life,
Mr. Winans is the oldest ofthe four sons of
Ross Winans of Baltimore, the distinguished
machinist and locomotive builder. the inge>
nious inventor IN 1881 Of the eight>wheeled
car, the Coal Hopper9 Car. and other valu-
able improvements in railroad practice. The
father is still living on Hollns street-retired
from active BUSINESS and though quite ad-
vanced .ins5 5eaFs fetdns his mental vfsor un-
impaired.
The sons of Mr.. Ross Winaus have all in
herited, in greater or less degree, his marked
ability. as Mathematicians and Mechanical
Engineers. with capacity for conceiving and
developing the largest ideas in their important
field.
1t was, we believe. as early as 1913. twenty
seven years ago. and when only recently ar
rived at his majority. that Mr. Thomas Wi
mans first became directly interested in con-
tracts with the Russian Government. In
these he was a partner with Messrs Harrison
& Eastwick of Philadelphia the work lasted
about six years and amounted to from five to
ten millions of dollars 1t inclnded a mag
nifcent cast iron bridge over the Neva. at St.
Petersburg-then. if not now, the largest in
the world. In 1S49 Mr.. Eastwick retired,
and a new and enlarged contract was made in
1850 by the Russian Government with Mr..
Thomas Wnans. Mr. Joseph Harrison. Jr.,
and Mr.. William l. Winans, the second son
of Ross Winans. who. like Thomas. his brother,
had been schOOlcd in the machinery establish
ment in Baltimore from his seventeenth year.
This contract, which has doubtless been the
largest ard most responsible of It's nature yet
undertaken anywhere, embraced the building
of the entire equipment and its maintenance,
including all the engines and rolling stock of
the Imperial Railways, and especially of the
ST Petersburg and Moscow line, nearly five
hundred miles in straight length-of two, and
in rart it is said. of four tracks.
Fully organizing this great contract, Mr..
Thomas Winans returned to Baltimore in
1851, after some eight years abode, bringing
beautiful and inteligen. wife. whom he had
married in st. Petersburg. He left his acute
and indefnrigable brother. William. in charge
of his heavy interests in Russia. and settled
in Baltimore to enjoy the well-earned fruits
of his own energy-keeping up. however. q
close supervisory relation by means Of weekly
reports of the various operations. Mr.. Wi
naus bought the large square of ground on
West Baltimore street. extending to HOllins
street, where his friends, Niernsie !; Nelson,
the architects, rapidly erected his present city
residence, which has been with its attractive
ly cultivated grounds, so much admired by
citizens and sojourners in Baltimore. In this
place. known Alexandroffsky after the then
Grand Duke. now Emperor, Alexander.-and
at his elegant country place. near Franklin,
four miles from town. and called the Crimea
MIR. Winans lived from 1851 till after the
death of his wife in 1861, when he left his
beautiful home palaces and his friends. and
taking his three children, went of again to
busy pursuits in St. Petersburg and London.
In 1862 the great contract in Russia termina
ted. and it was then awarded for five years to
a French and Russian company. under the
belief that Mr.. Winans and his two partners
were getting too rapidly enriched. In less
than three years however, in 1865. the new
contractors had to be superseded, being mad
equate to manage the growing service. and
Mr.. WinanS and his brother became sole con.
tractors for eight years, under largely in
creased prospects and improved conditions.
In 1867 negotiations were opened by the
Gear for the sale of the public works to pri>
vate parties when the Winaus Brothers bid
over Sl00, 100000 for the Imperial Railway
-one-third or one-haIf cash. and the remain-
der on short credits. This will give some idea
of the means then at their control But jcal-
ousy of the American contractors. and al other
foreigners. led TO the sale of the work to
grand Russian Society, who now own and work
it. the Government having paid the Messrs.
Winans for their unexpired five years of the
last contract This is understood as closing
their official engagements in Russia. though
they are yet very heavy owners, it is believed,
of valuable properties there.
The health of Mr.. Thos. Winans having
become impaired Temporarily it is hoped by
his labors in the heavy operations engaging
his attention in 1S61-6S-'69. he has come to
Baltimore again. after his secoad long absence;
and here it is. we know, the general wish Of
our citizens that he may remain with US in re-
stored health, to enjoy his enlarged wealth
among his relatives and older friends.
In concluding this extended notice of our
esteemed townsman, it is but just to ourselves
to say, that it is not because Thomas Winans
is the richest and most fortunate man in our
midst that we pay him this tribute, or that
those friends who know him better than we
do paid him the marked and beautiful compli-
ment on Tuesday evening. But because he
has earned his great fortune by his own merit,
and by no royal road. He is yet, and ever
was. practical. earnest, working man. His
wealth does not enervate or spoil him lie,
moreover. has big, warm human heart. and
quietly dispenses more real happiness BY his
generosity than whole score of benevolent
Institutions. Long may he live to enjoy his
well-earned fame and fortune
B0himaOre Saturday Night.
= The Parkersburg bridge over the Ohio
at Parkersburg, w. Va, connecting the Mari