The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-04-03
Baltimore, Washington and
Annapolis Connected by an
Electric Railway.


Electric Railway.
The opening of the Washington, Balti-
more and Annapolis Electric Railway
between Baltimore and Washington
Wednesday was the event of frst-class
Importance to the business and social
interests Of Baltimore. The road has
branch leading from the main line to
Annapolis, and cars have been running
between Washington and Annapolis for
more than a mouth. That part of the
main road from Odenton, where the track
to Annapolis branches off, to Baltimore
in now complete and ready for bust
ness
The track between the two cities ap-
proaches a straight line and is several
miles shorter than the shortest of the
steam roads. The construction is of
the most substantial character. The
rails used weigh 80 pounds to the yard
within 16 pounds as heavy as the heavi-
est used on the best of the standard
steam roads over which ponderous loco
motives run at the rate of mile min
ute The bridges are of steel or con-
crete, the Culverts concret, the ballast
Of stone. and ties of the standard size
and quality, with through stone bal
last. There are few curves, and grade
crossings have been avoided. No ex-
pediture which was calculated to pro-
mote speed and safety has been spared.
and the equipment is DIES cribed as first
class. The road starts from the center
If the shopping district in Baltimore
and ends in the out skirts of Washing
tou, where the pass engers are trans
fered to the street cars and can reac h in
a short time any part of he city.
The result of the improved and more
frequent service between Annapolis
aud Washington has result ed in greatly
increased travel. Annapolis will un-
loubtedly receive great benefit from
this road. 1t is the first time that there
has been auy direct communication be
tween that city and Washington. Be
ing the seat of the Naval Academy,
here will be growing desire on the
part Of Washing ton people aud and of
visitors to Washington to visit the
great national school, with its noble
group of buildings. Annapolis is 1api
lily becoming a favorite place of resi-
lence for naval officers, and especially
hose who have retired from the ser
vice; AMI easy communication with
Washington promote the popularity Of
The place as a city of homes.
Baltimore is already connected with |
Washington by two admirably equip
ped steam roads, giving rapid and fire
quent service. What effect will the |
Electric line, with its cheaper rate and |
more frequent service, have upon the |
business of the steam roads ? The best
opinion, based upon the experience of |
pther interurban lines, is that the |
steam roads will not be injured 1t is |
believed that the electric road will Gre
ate vast amount of travel. The ma
:erial out of which business can be |
created is prodigious. A large and in
creasing number of Washington people |
come TO Baltimore to do their shopping |
in the admirable and attractive retail |
stores of Baltimore city and this cleo |
ric road will land them in the heart Of |
he shopping district. And it is not at |
Ill improbable that, instead of losing |
my part of their present travel between
Baltimore and Washington, the steam |
roads will SHIRE in the increased traffic |
which will be created by the new elec-
trio road. The benefit of this road to |
he business of Baltimore will be almost |
!ncalculabe and will increase as time |
passes. That part of the Washington,
Baltimore and Annapolis road which |
les between the city limits of Balti-
more and the district of Columbia
passes through an undeVeloped and un-
improved section Of Anne Arundel and
Prince Georges counties. Stations
have been established at intervals of
three-quarters of mile. The country
while unimproved, is we'll wooded and
healthy, and with soil well adapted to
the production of vegetables and fruit.
The road viii probably have the effect
Of bringing population to the territory
and promoting the growth of villages
and the building of country homes.
Altogether, the opening of the Wash
ington, Baltimore Annapolis road is an
suspicious and highly important event
With the exception of the road between
Hagerstown and Frederick, this is the
only interurban electric road in Mary
land