Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-04-28
B. & O. Is Is Years Old.

b. g y. Is rs Years Old.
Has Expanded Into A System OF 4, 500 Mile.
| The diamond jubilee or seventy-fiftl
Anniversary of the application for a char
ter and the beginning of the organization
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany fell on last Thursday. Beginnin,
with the operation of about 10 miles o
track. the road has grown to be a grea
system of nearly 4, 500 miles. with abou
1850 locomotives, LOO passenger car
and 5000 freight and service cars.
According to the report for the yea
ended June 80. 1902. the company had /
capital stock of $I3s,3s7.467. and since
then there has been new issue of $42
900, 600 of common stock. The funded
debt is about $23o. 600, 900. During the
year ended June go, 1909, the traffic
movement aggregated 1889, 33I passen
gers and 54.4oo, s38 tons of freight, The
gross earnings amounted to $5r,I75, 600
| The report of the earnings on the main
line tor the tenth year of the company's
operation of the road showed only $751;
3I2 So. of which $I2S, I26. 80 was from
passenger traffic and $I53. 1903 from
freight. The operating expenses amount
ed to $2I2. 936.7o leaving net earnings
of sos. 1854. The net earnings of the
Washington Branch were $7s.sos.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
bears the proud title of the pioneer of
American railways and It is still operated
under its original charter.
Application was made April "a. 1877,
to the Maryland Legislature for the in.
corporation OF the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company, with capital stock
OF $5,ooo.ooo subject to increase. and the
company was duly organized and books
Of subscription to the capital stock were
opened. Mr., Philip E. Thomas was
chosen president. The charter was passed
at the regular session of the Legislature
in 1928. The formal commencement of
the road took place July 4, 1928, and
the first stone to mark the event was laid
by Charles Carroll, of Carrollton. then
90 years old. and the last survivor of the
signers of the Declaration of fndepen-
dence. The first division of about 10
miles, from the station ON Pratt street to
Ellicott's mills, was open for passenger
business May 22 1899. BY April, 1884
10 miles were completed. and on Decem-
BERT. 1884, the line to Harpers Ferry
was opened.
The first locomotive used was built by
Phineas Davis, in 1881. and four-wheel
passenger cars were put in service. The
charter to extend the road to Washington
was obtained in 1891. The branch ran
from Relay to Washington and was COM
pleted August IS. 1895. Mr.. Joseph w.
Patterson temporarily succeeded Mr.,
Thomas as president in 1885. and at the
next annual meeting in 1886. Louis Nc
Lane was elected. The road was built
to Hancock. the extension being opened
for travel June I, I842. and to Cumber-
land November S following.
Chauncey Brooks became president in
1886, and he was followed by John w.
Garrett in November. 1858. Under his
administration the road steadily prosper
ed until April, 1861, when the War be-
tween the States caused halt, Loca-
ted on the very border of Mason and
Dixon's line. the road was naturally des-
tined to be the chief route of the armies
throughout the war. 1t was the principal
bone of contention. as both armies fought
for its possession, miles of track were
torn up, valuable engines and rolling
stock destroyed. and for awhile nearly
all through communication was broken.
Notwithstanding these discouraging set
backs President Garrett, with wonderful
energy, maintained such discipline that
the practical utility of the line was never
lost, and under the guardianship of the
Government the road performed invalua-
Bile service in handling the enormous
military business. Al the close of the
war the road req uired much reconstruc-
ton.
1t is now dom mated and controlled by
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
The principal officials are Mr.. l.. F. Lo-
rec. president; Mr.. Oscar q. Murray
VICE president; Mr.. c. 5. Wight. mana
ger Of freight traffic; MIR d B. Martin,
manager of passenger traffic; Mr.. John
K Cowen. general counsel. and Mr.
Hugh L. Bond. Jr-, general attorney.
During the past year the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad has fully equipped the
Philadelphia division with the Hall auto
matte e'ectric signals. After the work
was completed the signal company per
fected gas appliance for automatic sig
nails. and the railroad company has or
dered the new device for each of the
Philadelphia division signals.
To be prepared to handle the grea. vol
ume of traffic 100 new locomotives are to
be ordered for delivery during 1904, at a
cost Of nearly g. 1000. 900. The contract
has not yet been awarded In the last
few years the company has spent nearly
S, 600, 900 for additional motive power.
Stops the Cough and Works off the Cold