Evening star., 1896-11-30
BALTIMORE AND OHIO
Plans Completed for the Addition to
Camden Station.
THE BRANCH LINES ABANDONED
Western Connections Which Nav
Be Given Up.
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS

Chief Engineer Manning of the Baltimore
ard Ohio Railroad Company has COMPLETED
plans for the building of the addition to
Camden station, Baltimore, brief mention
OF which has already been made in The
Star.
Il is proposed to erect at the east side of
the station brick addition, consisting of
ladies' and general waiting rooms, toilet
rooms, news stands, ticket Office smoking
room, dining room and a covered passage
way to the structure that is to be erected
over the tunnel. There will be a train shed
Gox146 feet and containing the baggage
room, etc, leading to covered stairway
which goes to the platform between the
two tracks that now enter the tunnel
There will be both baggage and passenger
elevators, and the arrangement in the tun-
mel Is such as to insure the rapid and safe
handling Of all the through trains and
passengers will not have to cross any
tracks either leaving or attempting to
reach the
Alongside the present train shed of the
camden station there will be built another
shed, from which all excursion and accom-
modation trains will leave. In the center
or the tunnel train shed there will be a
nume, so arranged as to carry off what
little smoke may come from the tunnel
While the buildings and structures will not
be OF an elaborate character, they will pe
or modern design. and the plans show a
very convenient arrangement
After the completion of the improve
ments above referred to the through trains
Will no longer have to back in and out of
camden station and much time will be
saved and through and local passengers
VIII be entirely separated. The old station
Will De given over to freight business.
Leasing Approved.
Receivers John K. Cowen and Oscar
G. Murray of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road Company have been authorized by
the proper judicial authority to continue
thelr policy in leasing for business pur-
poses land owned. but not required by it.
II Is stated that at many places along the
railroad buildings have been erected with
out cost to the company. and are used as
stores, depots and waiting rooms where
the business does not justify q station
building. AT other places warehouses;
mills, coal and lumber yards cattle pens
and many other buildings have been erect
ed affording facilities for handling freight
shipped over the railroad and increasing
Its business. Under the agreement by
which the buildings were erected the COM
pany assumed no liability. and in the opin-
ion of the general counsel of the company
the latter has the right to terminate the
tenancy and order their removal at any
time.
Connecting Links.
In consequence of the inability of the
officials of the Baltimore and Ohio and
Southern railway companies to agree upon
plan by which the Baltimore and Ohio
could continue to operate that part of
their heretofore Valley division between
Strasburg and Harrisonburg, which they
had used for twenty-three years past, the
trains OF the Baltimore and Ohio will run
no further south in the valley after to-
day than Strasburg, eighteen miles south
of Winchester At Strasburg passenger
and freight traffic will be transferred to
10 her On tha Vol
will come no further south than Harrison
burg.
In the meantime a plan to give the Val
ley road an outlet which has been proposed
may be adopted. This includes a traffic
arrangement with the Chesapeake and
Western railroad, which strikes the Val
ley road at Harrisonburg and runs across
the valley to Elkton where 1t connects
with the Shenandoah division of the Nor
folk and Western railroad. This division
connects with the Baltimore and Ohio at
Shenandoah Junction.
An arrangement Of this sort would make
a shorter route for western business, but
a longer one for eastern business to and
from points the Valley road. 1t would
besides take from the Baltimore and Ohio
considerable hauling on all traffic carried
and augment the business Of the Norfolk
and Western and Chesapeake and Western.
The Valley division of which the sec
ton about to be abandoned forms a part
extends from Harpers> Ferry to Lexing-
ton. 1t is made up of the Winchester and
Potomac railroad from Harper's Ferry to
Winchester, thirty-two miles; Winchester
and Strasburg railroad from Winchester
to Strasburg, eighteen miles; Strasburg and
Harrisonburg railroad, from Strasburg to
Harrisonburg, fifty-one miles, and Valley
railroad, Harrisonburg to Lexington, sixty
two miles. The Winchester and Potomac
and the Winchester and Strasburg are also
leased to the Baltimore and Ohio. Owner
ship of stock and guaranty of bonds gives
the Baltimore ard Ohio control of the Valley
oft nf Rp1f INN
of the stock of the Valley road, from which
it has never had any returns, and the hold
ing Is now reckoned among the unproduc-
tive assets of the corporation.
The receivers of the Baltimore and Ohio
were authorized few days ago by Judge
Golf of the United States court at Balti-
| more to surrender the Strasburg and Har-
risonbu1g road to it's owners, the Southern.
This action was taken because the road
was considered to be burden to the prop
erty owing to the heavy rental charged
and its small earning capacity. 1t is esti-
mated that the Baltimore and Ohio COM
pany will save 100000 a year by not oper-
ating the line
There is an impression that although the
officials Of the Baltimore and Ohio and
Southern, who at their conference held on
the subject few days ago were unable
to agree upon a plan by which the former
could continue to operate the road between
Strasburg and Harrisonburg, the matter
will again soon be taken up and some sort
of compromise effected, by which the
through service OF the Baltimore and Ohio
| between Lexington and Baltimore, via
| Washington, will be be restored to it's
| former status, so far at least as the public
| are concerned, and all unnecessary trans
| fers of freight and passengers be stopped.
The Chesapeake and Western, which, as
| above noted, may afford an outlet to the
| west bound and east bound traffic Of the
| Baltimore and Ohio from Harrisonburg, is
at present but twenty-seven miles long
| and lies between Elkton on the Norfolk and
Western and Bridgewater, tapping the
| Baltimore and Ohio at Harrisonburg. The
J company has, however. 1876 miles of road
| surveyed east and west Of the present line,
| and contracts have been given out for its
early extension. The road runs through
one of the richest sections of the valley of
| Virginia and. it is said, promises to be-
| come Of great value.
There has seemed to be possibility for
| some months past that the Pittsburg and
| Western railroad, one of the most impor-'
| tant of the larger branches Of the Balti-
| more and Ohio system. and the only route
| by which the Baltimore and Ohio trains
| can get to Chicago by its northern route.
| would pass into the hands of Andrew Car
negle. Within the past few days, however,
| the long pending question has been settled
| and the Pittsburg and Western will still re-
| main as a part Of the parent system unless
! the receivers should adopt the course they