Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-09
sharpsburgh ana the bastle,feld Of annie

| ShsrpsbUrgh and tie battlefield of Ante
| tam.
| The bridge at Harper's Ferry was rebuilt
thirteen times Five times it was destroyed
as p military necessity (tnree times by the
Confederates and twice by the UniOnists)i
and eight times it was carried away by
! freshets.
A very lively interest attaches to Harp
er's Ferry, and when train arrives, ali
heads are thrust cut of the car windows TO
see the place rendered forever memorable
by the instruction Of John Brown, which
occurred Oct. 20, 1859. The old engine
| house, where Brown fortified himself. and
where he was wounded and captured, is
close by the depot; also the ruins Of the
United States Arsenal that was destroyed
| by the Confederates at the outset Of the
war.
Companion asked an old man, who was
peddling pies on the platform, if they de-
stroyed the magazine, too.
"What magazue?"
"Why HArper's Magazine, of course"
He has confused idea that the famous
periodical originated at Harper's Ferry.
The place looks desoIate enough now,
battered as it was by both armies. shall
never forget how The Union forces were
perpetually advancing on Hsrper's Ferry
and never appearing to get there, according
to the telegraph. The place endured more
bombarding, burning, pillsging and ravish-
ing than any place of its size on the face of
the globe. Before the war its population
was 1000. Now, it is less than 1000.
The scenery about Harper's Ferry, where
the Potomac and Shenandoah, after elbow
ing the mountains of the Blue Ridge aside,
unite their waters, is unparalleled for gran
deur.
The entire route from Harper's Ferry to
Baltimore, 81 miles, is rich in scenery. The
Potomac, whose acquaintance I'VE made
away up in the mountains, as small though
exceedingly energetic stream widens to
more than 1000 feet before we leave it.
The Ohio and Chesapeake Canal keeps us
company for some distance. The Catoctiu
Mountain towers to the left, while to the
right are the Mountains of the Potomac.
The famous "Point of Rocks" where
the road is cut through sharp spur of the
Catoctin Mountain, is picturesque feature.
The short cut to Washington, now being
built, leaves the main road at Point of
Rocks. 1t will be open for traffic in the
fall. By this route the distance from Gin
cinnati to Washington will be one hundred
and twenty-five miles less than By any
other line.
AT Mount Clair, adjoining Baltimore, the
immense shops of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad are located, covering over one hun
dred acres. To give soma idea of the force
required TO run so gigantic 8 railroad, l
may state that their payroll amounts TO
one million of dollars a month, and that the
number ofemployees is fifteen thousand
five hundred. Two thousand Ave hundred
men are employed at Mount Clair. The
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
manufacture all their own locomotives
A few words concerning the history of
the Baltimore and Ohio. It was the first
railroad operated in the United States IN
der charter for the transportion of passen-
gers-hen,e it is called the Pioneer Rail-
way. The company was organized April
"a, 1927. The construction Of the road was
CONNECTED July "a, 1928, accompanied by
one of the most magnificent professions of
military and civic associations, trades and
DECISIONS, ever Witnessed 10 this country.
The "drst stone" was laid by the venerable
Charles Corroll, OF Csrrollton, then over
ninety years Of age, near the south western
line Of the cityof Baltimore. After par
forming the work, he remarked that be con-
sidered it ore'of the most important acts Of
his life, "scc0nd only to my signing he
Declaration Of Independence, If it is second
to that"
The entire length of the main line and
all The branches were cOmplsted and open
for business May Is, 1851, 1T a cost Of over
thirty one millions of dollars.
TIE following figures Will be of interest:
Total Length Of track owned and
worked by the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad company. ..... $50 miles.
Number of miies of railroad
controlled by Baltimore and
ONO. 361 miles,
Heaviest permanent grade per
mile. 116 feet.
Heaviest temporary grade per
mile. ..................... 500 feet.
Longest continuous grade
(PIedmont to Altamon) 49,. II miles.
Greatest altitude Of road bed
Above tide Water.... .... 1920 feet
Space warns me | must bring my Ex-
cursion to an end, have only room to
adj that after delightful soiourn in Balti-
more and Washington Il was afraid COM
pEuiOn would get Bright's disease in Wash
A5'N'l; AO 10 oO fOLy Ol@z'lHJI VIC AOtu4Aou W
Cincinnati by way of the main line to Bel
lair, crossing the splendid iron bridge which
spans the Ohio at that point. This bridge
was completed in June, 1871. Its total
length together with its approaches, is near
ly one aud three quarter miles.
drew up q series of resolutions, COM
pimenting everybody, which carried unan-
imously (ln my pocket), companion being
asleep. L endeavored to awaken him to
realizing sense of the obligation we were
under to those iAdOmitable men who con-
sLruc5ed such highway. Told him
could not sufficiently express the deep debt
of gratitude owed to the B. & o.
"Oh, hang it!'' said he, just let me B d
0l1e as much as you please"
That man hasn't the least particle of poe
try in him.