The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-15
President O. q. Murray OF b. &
o. Returns from Europe.
Baltimore Anticipates Erection
of Railroads New Home Soon.
IMPOSING STRUCTURE.
Side Lights on Construction and
Ownership.
Gossip and Matters of Interest in
Railroad Circles.

The return of Mr.. Oscar G. Murray,
president of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail-
road company, from his trip to Europe
has more than personal interest at
this time, says the Baltimore Sun. The
personal equation, however, is conspic-
uous, for Mr.. Murray, since he has
made his home in Baltimore, first as
co-receiver and then as president of the
largest Maryland corporation, has made
many sincere friends, who welcome him
home with great satisfaction. The peo-
pie of this city are expecting that the
new home or central office of the Bal
timore & Ohio company will be one of
the most imposing and costly buildings
in Baltimore and an ornament to the
city. The return of Mr.. Murray will
doubtless be followed by an announce
ment of the plans and location of that
building. There are other matters af-
fecting the business interests of the city
which may now receive attention Per
hapS the greatest business mistake that
was ever made in this city was in allow
ing the ownership of a majority of the
stock of the Baltimore & Ohio to go out
of Maryland. But that blunder has
been ameliorated by the selection of Mr..
Murray as president of the company.
Upon all occasions he has manifested
a deep interest in Maryland affairs and
we have no doubt he desires and will
accomplish, as far as he is able the up
building of the city of Baltimore and
of the state of Maryland. The Balti-
more & Ohio railroad was conceived
and built by the business men of Ba1ti-
more, by the city and by the state of
Maryland, not primarily as an invest
ment, but for the benefit of the trade
of the city, which was threatened by
rival cities which were stretching out
lines of communication with the west.
The completion of the Erie canal
ten years before had given New York
that advantage over all other Atlantic
seaports, which it has maintained down
to the present time. Baltimore, being
the most inland of the seaports and
nearest to the then west, had enjoyed
an enormous trade which came here
from the Ohio river over the National
pike. But that trade could not com
pete with a canal The Chesapeake &
Ohio was building with Washington as
it's terminus and Philadelphia was
reaching westward with both railroads
and canals. Then the men of Baltimore,
with characteristic enterprise, con-
ceived the idea of spanning the Allie
ghany mountains with a railroad at
time when the locomotive was unknown,
iron or steel rails had not been heard of
and wooden crosS-ties had not been
tried. 1t was the boldeSt enterprise in
the history of enterprises. But it was
justified by the event, and from the day
the cornerstone of the railway was laid
by Charles Carroll July 4, 1925 Baltf-
more city and this great pioneer rail-
road corporation have been in indus
trial alliance. 1t is cause for salts
faction that, although the majority of
the stock of the company is said to be
owned outside of Maryland, the Balti
more & Ohio has president thoroughly
in sympathy with the best interests of
Baltimore. This mutual good will and
cooperation in nowise suffer from the
warm expressions of welcome which
Mr. Murray has received from our peo-
pie upon his return to his home among
them.