Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-06-10
Work On b. & o. system.

YIN 0n a. ~ W. 2ySkGtEs
The inspection Of TIE Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad. begun Saturday by the re-
ceiyers Of the company. Messrs. John X.
Cowen and Oscar g. Murray. and ether
officials, viii be the last one previous 10
the discharge Of the receivers BY the
coaFts and transferring Of the property 10
the stockholders.
During the past TWO years the improve
ments to The road have been remarkable
for their extent; those Improvements were
sadly needed, for the Baltimore ard Ohio
was a full decade and a-half behind the
times. The work Of the receivers has
been p~rodigious in this respect. While
the Improvements have been we'll dislrib-
ated all over the road. those on the West
egn divisions. which needed the better
ments most, are very marked.
For years and years no effort had been
made o cut down heavy grades or relieve
excessive curvature, but in these days OF
sharp competition. 100. ooo-poEnd cars,
COTTON locomotives and 5o-car trains, the
roadway must give the engine the least re-
sistence II traffic is TO be handled al low
cost. Freight rates keep going down, and
A4iL AN@L VI tt6bSRDl EAtAADAt HlktHk DiENEAC
them IN the declining scale.
Modern and np-to- date railroad mana
gers realize this CONDITION, and the Balti-
more and Ohio officials are nov engaged
il meeting tie emergency. One Of the
first moves was made in January, when
orders for hlty-three bridges were placed.
Three concerns divided the contract, and
the structures are nov beng erected.
They are necessary in order that much
heavier motive power may be used be-
tween Benwood and Chicago.
Especial attention is being paid to the
physical condition Of the track. AS fast
as a heavy and constantly increasing
traffic viii permit, new rails Of s. pounds
weight TO the yard are being substituted. In
the course of a year OF TWO the Baltimore
and ONO Railroad will have a track equal
70 the best and better than that used by
most Of its competitors.
But this IS mere detail beside other I'M
provemenis. There is to be, IN all prob
ability. a double track between Bellaire
and Cambridge. Ohio, and it will cost
considerably owe a million dollars. 1t
may be thar some other project viii de-
lay or prevent this work but 1t is net at all
likely. as some further facilities must soon
be provided for the heavy business on the
Central Ohio division.
Many OF these Improvements are very
necessary. on account Of the increase in
the Baltimore and Ohio's lake business
through the port of ~Sandusky. There
has beer a marvellous growth of tonnage
at this point since the receivers began
nursing the traffic and encouraging ship
pers 10 %patronize the Baltimore and Ohio
because Of new equipment and improved
service.
Last year the Baltimore and Ohio
handled 1880 cars at Sandusky, as
against 27.S24 in 1897. The iron ore
weighed I6I,o6S tons, an increase of Io4,-
I23, ons over 1897, and there were 49,
600 tons Of coal loaded in vessels by the
new and improved dumping machinery
installed last spring. Then. TOO, there
was quite a grain business. the elevator
handling 100000 bushels. Package
freight, inbound, amounted TO 5,oII ,o5I
pounds and outbound II came TO 1882
754 pounds.
When all these Improvements are COM
pleted, and it will take a year Or a year and
a half 10 do ii, there will be no railroad
with better facilities for doing business,
and the new policy Of fostering local in
dustries will undoubtedly work to the
financial advantage of every town and
city on the line from Philadelphia 10
Chicago and St. Louis.