Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1907-02-12
BALTIMORE 8 OHIO
EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY
SIMPLE CEREMONIES OBSERVED
AT oFFIcEs-HlsToRY OF THE
ROADS GROWTH.
Special to the Herald.

Special to the Herald.
Baltimore, Md, Feb. 12.-Simple but
interesting exercises we're held at the
general Offices in this city today in
celebration of the eightieth birthday
Of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. 1t
was just eighty years ago today that
a group of Baltimore's foremost citi-
zens met at the residence of Philip E.
Thomas for the purpose of devising
means which would enable CONNER
cial intercourse between Baltimore
and the Ohio river, and thus overcome
the commercial advantages her neigh
boring cities, Philadelphia and New
York, enjoyed by reason of canals.
The Baltimore G. Ohio is the Oldest
steam railroad in America. The first
stone of it's 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, a manu-
facturer of New York. brought to Bal
timOre a steam engine-a curious con-
Germ, something like a boiler with
stovepipe in it. And Cooper's engine
broke down and the horse express
beat it. 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 grew, and
thanks to the energy, the executive
capacity, the untiring labor of John
W. Garrett, 1t thrived in time.
But the story of it's early vicissi-
tudes form the most interesting chap
tiers of the roads career. The original
project was to construct an all-rail
line from Baltimore to Wheeling. The
original company was capitalized at
s5,OOOO0O and was chartered by the
Maryland legislature. The corner
stone was laid by the illustrious Char
les Carroll Of Carrollton, the last sur
viving signer of the Declaration of
Independence. The line was con-
structed to Ellicotts Mills in 1880.
and the company announced in the
Baltimore newspapers that a brigade
of cars" would run three times a day
each way between Baltimore. and FL
licott's Mills, the fare being rs cents
Before the line had been long In OPP
Grafton the motive power wasHharAedI
from horses to a SAN car. 56,le 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
er's locomotive, known as the TON
Thumb" which did not prove success
full as its builder had anticipated The
first trial trip Of the engine was made
August 25. 1881, from Baltimore to
Ellicott's 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 Bal
timore & Ohio system.
Under the management of John w
Garrett the road rose to prosperity
that even he had not dreamed of The
cOmpany's stock paid 10 per cent divi-
dends. If a dying man had money in
the Baltimore & Ohio he died content,
for he knew his widow was provided
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 the road
occurred when Robert Garrett opened
the bottle of champagne that cost
Millions
AT that time there was one railroad
between Philadelphia and Baltimore.
Robert Garrett wanted it for the Bal
timore & Ohio Thomas A. Scott
wanted It for the Pennsylvania rail-
road That railroad was the Philadel-
phia, Wilmington G. Baltimore. Just
at that time II was naturally the most
desirable thing in the world for the
Baltimore & Ohio. and likewise for
the Pennsylvania.
Robert Garrett set about to acquire
the property. He learned that sew
eral Of the largest owners of stock
lived in Boston With their stock in
his possession he could easily get
control of the majority. So he went
to Boston, where his negotiations
were eminently successful. Already
in his minds eye he saw the Balti-
more & Ohio trains rolling into Phila-
delphia.
But Robert Garrett was never n self
contained man. He drank deep. Ar.
n