Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-02-16
BIRTHDAY 0F Rail R0IA||[l
Baltimore & Ohio officials Cele-
orated both Anniversary.
AN INTERESTING HISTORY
Story OF How the Oldest Railroad in
America Rose Through Many
Trials to Great Prosperity.

Trials to Great Prosperity.
Baltimore. Md. Feb. II Simple but
interesting exercises we're held at the
general Offices in this city today in
celebration of the soth birthday of the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad. 1t was just
eighty years ago today that a group
OF Baltimore's foremost citizens met at
the residence of Philip L. Thomas for
the purpose of devising means which
would enable commercial intercourse
between Baltimore and the Ohio river.
and thus overcome the commercial ad.
vantages her neighboring cities,
Philadelphia and New York, enjoyed
by reason of canals.
The Baltimore & Ohio is the Oldest
steam road In America. The first
stone of its roadbed was laid In this
city on the Fourth of July, 1928, with
elaborate ceremony. over its original
length of nine miles, mules dragged
its cars. Then Peter Cooper, manu-
facturer of New York, brought to Bal
timore a steam engine-a curious con-
Germ, something like boiler with a
stove pipe in 1t. And Ccoper's engine
broke down and the horse express
beat 1t. Then came the grasshopper
engines--the embryonic germs of the
tremendous locomotives OF today. SO,
historically, the Baltimore & Ohio is
extremely interesting.
The road grew. 1t was the first to
cross the Allegheny mountains and tap
the great west. 1t gr Nv, and thanks
to the energy, the executive capacity,
the untiring labor of John w. Garrett.
it thrived in time.
But the story of its early vissitudes
from the most interesting chapters of
the roads career. The original pro-
ject was to construct an all-rail line
from Baltimore to Wheeling. The
original company was capitalized at
S., 100000 and was chartered by the
Maryland legislature. The corner
stone was laid by the illustrious
Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, the last
surviving signer of the Declaration of
Independence. The line was construct
ed to Ellicott's Mills in 1880, and the
company announced in the Baltimore
newspapers that brigade of cars"
would run three times a day each way
between Baltimore and Ellicotts Mills,
the fare being twenty-five cents.
Before the line had been long in
operation the motive power was chang
ed from horses to sail car, built by
President Thomas brother Evan
/ Thomas This proved more feasible
means of locomotion, and so keen was
the interest manifested in this novel
sail car that prominent dignitaries
and foreign representatives made the
trip from Washington by stage in or
der to ride in this car.
Then came the trial of Peter Coop.
ers locomotive, known as the "Tom
Thumb" which did not prove as sue.
NCSolul dS It's UuIluGl itetu dheANlpiANd'
The first trial trip of the engine was
made August %, 1881, from Baltimore
to Ellicotts Mills. A year or two
later engines of a more improved type
were successfully tried and from that
time dates the expansion of the great
Baltimore e Ohio system.
Under the management of John w.
Garrett the road arose to prosperity
that even he had not dreamed of. The
company's stock paid 10 per cent. div
idends. If dying man had money in
the Baltimore & Ohio, he died con-
tent for he knew his widow was pro
vided for.
John w. Garrett died In 1884, and
his son. Robert Garrett, succeeded
him as president of the Baltimore &
Ohio. One of the most interesting
chapters in the history of that road
occurred when Robert Garrett opened
the bottle of champagne that cost
millions"
.---