The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-06-25
NUMBER is.
DIRECT ROUTE TO WHEELING.

Such Was the Plan of the Baltimore 4, Ohio
Railroad Company HaIfa Century AGO.
Contemplated improvements and
changes that have been agreed upon
by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company in recent months has occu-
pied extended space in the local and
foreign press, and has proven a source
of widespread interest. Another
phase of the subject is presented bv
Attorney Jacob Brown, of Cumberland
one of the best writer's of historical
events in the state of Maryland, and
who contrasts the present and the
past in a reminiscent communication
OF the policy pursued by the the Bal
timore and Ohio quite early in its
history: 81 notice a few DAYS ago that
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company have made or are making
surveys for the alteration and i'm
provement of its route from Cumber-
land to Wheeling, for the purpose of
greatly shortening the line, and less
ening the grade. These changes are
to cost many millions of dollars and
will no doubt add greatly to the facil
tiles of the road in carrying passen-
gers and freight. The distance from
Cumberland to Wheeling by the pres
ent route or line is POP miles, while
the distance from the former to the
latter city is only 131 miles by the old
National or Cumberland road, a diff
erence of II miles; though the two
lines are or were in some sense paral-
lei lines. The charter of the Balti-
more and Ohio Company of 1926 con-
templated road from Baltimore to
the Ohio river, as the name indicates.
Wheeling being the objective point.
The road was completed to Cumber-
land in 1912. A rest from further
railroad construction was taken for
several years which was mostly en-
ployed in finding or determining
upon route westward for the extern
sion. For time it was thought the
extension would pass through Mary
land and part of Pennsylvania to its
then intended terminus. Really the
Pennsylvania route was the favorite
for good reasons; one that it was the
shortest. But finally the company
decided that the extension should
pass through Allegheny county, then
through the mountains in what in
after years became West Virginia.
thereby lengthening it's line and en-
countering great mountain grades
and curves, much of which would
have been avoided if the northern
route had been taken as in latter
years was shown by the line or route
of the Pittsburg and Connellsville
road, which reaches Pittsburg at the
end of ia miles from Cumberland.
But it is still recalled by few that
there was a strong opposition in
Pennsylvania 10 the Baltimore and
Ohio locating its road in that state.
No doubt this opposition came in the
main from the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, which was then building
its road to Pittsburg and was gain
ing power and influence. Besides, in
those days the relations of the people
of Maryland and Pennsylvania were
not as friendly as in later years. There
was then q "MasOn and Diyon limo ;,
with abolition on one side and slavery
on the other. The younger gener-
GRAFTON cannot fully appreciate that
feeling, but there are still few who
can and do. The liue through West
Virginia although longer, of higher
grade and more curves, was of great
benefit to the people of that state in
and developing its vast
and timber resources. Addi-
tional to this line came the West Vir-
ginit Central and Pittsburg road,
which has and will continue to do
much for the same people along these
lines. Let it be remembered that the
old Cumberland or National road had
its beginning in Cumberland with
Wheeling at first as it's objective
point. The old iron mile post at the
corner of Baltimore and North Me-
chanic street, which disappeared
years ago, read in part: "131 miles to
Wheeling"