The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-04-17
4 RAILROAD .JtBlLEE.

The PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Company
Monday celebrated the rounding out of its
first half century of being. Fifty years
ago exactly the company was incurpora-
ted, the act having been passed by the
Legislature April -. Lei. 1t was I'M
ique idea and a unique celebration, par
ticipated in by prominent men in all walks
of life and from all parts of the country
Everywhere about the great Broad Street
Station fragrant flowers bloomed and
uotted plants nodded their graceful
branches The room devoted to the board
of directors was transformed into Il floral
power. Among the floral designs was Il
| reproduction in miniature of the old John
Bull, the first engigne run over the road
and rs its vis-a-vis, reproduced in flowers
the modern locomotive of the present day
with every detail possible of its construc-
ton represented. Another handsome and
attractive design was made in yellow car
nations and commemorative of the present
| anniversary. 1t was several feet high
with the figure 90 in the center and about
the border the inscription ''Pcnnsylvania
Railroad"
Although the public demon ~tration did
not begin until late Monday afternoon in
the Academy of Music, the celebration
proper commenced early Monday morning
in the directors room in the main Office at
Broad Street Station, when President
Roberts and the directors gave a reception
to the operating officers of the company
At o'clock this was followed by a recep-
ton given to the general officers, heads of
departments and men distinguished in
public and in private life.
At 3 o'clock there was public meeting
in the Academy of Music Addresses
were made by President George B. Rob
erts, Governor Hastings. MAYOR War
wick, City Solicitor Burleigh, of PittSbufy
Frederick Fraley, l. Irving Brooks. Of
PittSburg, and Joseph H. Choate, of New
York
The celebration closed Monday evening
when banquet was rendered to President
George r. Roberts
Over $50 invitations had been issued to
the morning reception in the directors
room and over 500 were extended to the
later reception. These were both felici-
tous occasions. One of the conspcuous
guests was Benjamin G. Godfrey, of Phil
adelphia. He is one of the men named
in the original charter with was granted
in 1916, and still has in his possession the
stock certificate representing his interest
ut that time.
From the date of its Incorporation to
the day it was organized the history of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company is Il rec
ord of struggles and more or less strife
The first difficulty that confronted it was
the scarcity of money. A sort malaria
took hold of it in the beginning peonle
who join the hue and cry for Il railroad To
the West were careful about investing in
it. They We're skeptical toward all new
enterprises from financial point of
view, and the unprotitabie experiences
with the canals had not operated To make
them otherwise.
The act of incorporation of the Penn
Svlvania Railroad provided for an issue of
SlJ0,0O0 shares of capitol stock at $50 par
and appointed 300 or more of the leading
citizens of the State distributed anon"
the counties, cities and boroughs. rs Il
commission to raise subscriptions to the
stock. After considerable procrastination
the city of Philadel phia subscribed to the
stock, and the great work which has been
untiaggihg ever since was put under way
All theS facts We're told in detail Monday
in the admirable address that were made.
In 1864 the population of Philadelphia
was 1000, less thean one third its pre-
sent number. At that time the Pcnnsvl-
vania Railroad Cbmpany began is construc
ton, and today the total length of its lines
owned, leased and operated is 1919 miles
ownes about $4,000 ears and , 900 locomo-
tlveS. There are over 900 men on its
pay rolls.