Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-01-03
FOUR TRACKS FOR B. & 0.
Millions to be Spent to Make First
Class System.
FROM CHICAGO TO The SEA
Some Old History Is Recalled Venture Of
Wabash Brings to Mind Former Fight
in PENNSYLVANIA.
in Pennsylvania.


Chicago, Dec. 90. -It a be stated
with almost official certainty that the
management Of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad has determined to have u
four track system reaching from Chi
eago to the seaboard.
A partial confirmation OF this nro-
lect came last week when official All.
nouncement was made Of the purpose
Of that management to build the cut
off, which will bring Chicago SO miles
nearer Pittsbura and also reduce the
distance between Cpicaro. Baltimore,
Washington and New York BY an equal
or greater amount.
In many WAYS the plans In view for
the Baltimore and Ohio system are
the most important evolved in ear
as bearing upon the relations com.
mercially between the East and the
Middle West. In tho work of recon
etruction Of the system. which was
bankrupt and disoredited in 1896. a to-
tal Of over $50. 600, 600 has been ex-
pended, and the grand total will,
within two years, foot un TO about
Slf5. 600. 900.
a sTUPENDOUs UNDERTAKING
Barring possibly the Pennsylvania.
no railroad company III the world ever
contemplated and carried out snch .
~stunendous undertaking as that which
is to make the Baltimore and Ohio the
shortest line between Chicago aud
Washington. one Of the shortest routes
between the Middle West and phila-
delphia and New York. aud d four
track road from Chicago to the sea-
board. The construction of the new
cutoff con t~emihated win give the
company practically a four track sys-
tenn between Pittsburg and the sen.
board, and as Don as that WORK IL
completed the work OF adding to the
trackage west of PittsburR viii be be-
gun.
The fact that the old South Penn
route is to be used IN the cut is es-
peciallv interesting as proving that the
Wabash is not to 90 this suryev from
Pittsburs iowa the seaboard. It
also recalls the sorry Of the former ex-
penditure Of maAg millions in a bitter
feud between the Pennsylvania and
Vanderbilt interests.
THE VANDERBILT FIGHT.
In the early DAVIS the yanderbilts
built and encouraged several lines ia
coal regions which were tributary to
the Pennsylvania road and the same in
terests also invaded the PIttsburg. ter
ritory, which was looked upon as a
further invasion of Pennsylvania ter
ritory.
The latter. in order to retaliate on
the Vanderbilts, were the principle
hackers in the building Of the West
Shore railroad. which practically par
allels the New York Central from New
York to Buffalo. " was also intimated
at the time that the same interests
were building the Nickle Plate. which
parallels the Lake Shore from Buffalo
10 Chicago. In carrying on this ag-
gressive warfare, the Vanderbilts
started to build what is known as the
South Penn railroad between Pitts
barg and the seaboard. All this in
those DAYS meant bankruptcy of two
of. 1.-THE largest railroads in the country
an as a result, Wall street called a
halt and insisted on a declaration OF
truce, which resulted in the New York
Central buying the West Shore and the
Lake Shore buying the Nickle Plate.
On the other hand the Vanderbilt in
terests abandoned work on the South
Penn. where about so miles of grade
and several tunnels have been lying
idle ever since.