The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-03-21
EXTENSIVE RAILROAD IMPROVEMENTS

There is probably no railroad in the
United States that has had more ups and
downs than the present Maryland and
Pennsylvania. 1t was originally started
with local capital, and many men of
small means lost their Accommodations be-
fore the line was finally completed. Then
it struck run of bad luck. If fell into
the hands of an aggregation of capitalists
whose assets werelargely represented on
paper until at last receiver was called in
to take charge of it. Then the interest
and the lien-holders sold the property at
public sale. 1t was purchased by the
present management and from that time
steady and marked Improvement has
been apparent. The most radical step in
the way of betterment was about two
years ago, when it was changed from a
narrow to "a standard gauge. During
the process of this transformation inter
nal difficulties doomed up and for time
the Grand Jury of Hartford county was
compelled to act as a sponsor to the need
ed repairs that were necessary iii order to
prevent possible loss of life In the win
ter of 1900 Mr.. ]. S. Norris, who had
occupied a prominent position with the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company,
was appointed General Manager He
took charge of the affairs of the road and
the beginning of his reign marked an new
era in the permanent Improvement of
the road bed. Last summer and fall
large number of steel trestles werep put in
and the wooden trestles were braced and
Strengthened.
Then radical step taken by the new
management, however. was on Monday
of last week, when they inaugurated
general system which is to straighten out
certain number of miles of the road each
year On that day contracts were let for
the graduation of two miles of line be-
tween Fallston and Baldwin. The work
will be commenced at once and will be of
permanent character. The proposed
changes will eliminate 42O degrees of
curvature and $50 lineal feet of trestle.
Work for the year 1902 will also include
the erection of a combination steel truss
| and viaduct crossing of the Little Gun
powder river or what is known as the
the Little Falls. A viaduct of 400 feet
long will also be erected at the Overshot
trestle. The contracts for the steel
bridges have not yet been awarded, but
as soon as the plans can be completed by
Mr. Thomas NJ. Ward. engineer in chief,
the bids will be put out. The general
idea of Strengthening the entire road bed
will of course take time, as the financial
condition of the company is arranged SO,
that only certain amount in permanent
improvements will he expended each year.
With the completion of the improve
ments now i'll sight however, it will not
be long before the passenger trains can
be run between Bel Air and Baltimore
with safety in considerably less than an
hours time. The passenger coaches and
| equipments Oh the ROAD WHICH were
bought secondhand when the broad
gauge was introduced will shortly be
superseded by new cars. The motive
power is now in first class condition
several new engines having recently been
purchased.
The public will commend the activity
of the present officials in making these
needed changes and the material pros
perity, which will follow as a natural
sequence, will attest the popularity of a
movement looking to increased railway
facilities for that part of Baltimore and
Hartford counties through which the line
traverseS.
The executive officers of the company
are president, Mr.. ]. Wilson Brown
general manager, J. S. Norris; genera
freight agent, j. S. Bull; general passenger
agent, c. A. Fifer; trainmaster, S. K
Shinn; chief clerk, H. w. Price.