The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-09-01
GREAT IMPROVEMENT BEING MADE
B. Q o. Extending Tillions in Elimi-
Mating Curves and Grades.

More important and costly engineer
ing projects are engaging the attention
of the Baltimore and Ohio management
just now than ever before in the history
of that pioneer road" The objects
of these improvements, as a matter of
course, is primarily to secure rOadbed
conditions that will permit the use of
| heavier engines and cars, although much
of the work is being undertaken with
view to shortening distances. Despite
the contumely that has been heaped
upon the road in the past because of its
grades and curves, it is a fact not
generally known that it crosses the
mountains now at lower grade than
any of its competitors by many feet,
which gradient is being lowered still
more. while many of the most pro-
nounced curves are being reduced
materially or eliminated entirely.
The new work, which is either now in
progress or authorized for early con-
struction, extends from one end of the
system to the other, from New York
and Baltimore to Chicago and st. Louis,
and was outlined Saturday by an official
of the company.
Beginning in the east and working
westward, the first work encountered is
the reconstructed bridge across the
Schuylkill river. Then, in order. comes
the great stone-arch viaduct over the
Brandywine and the new Susquehanna
river bridge, while at Baltimore numer-
Gus dangerous grade crossings are be-
ing eliminated.
The Cumberland division carries the
largest tonnage of the system and it is
being improved with third track be-
tween Martinsburg and Orleans Road.
On the famous 17-mile grade between
Piedmont and Altamont, at which latter
point the road attains its highest eleYa-
ton in the mountains, passing tracks
are beng constructed to facilitate the
heavy traffic, while on the summit of
the Alleghanies between Deer Park and
| Mountain Lake Park continuous third
track is under construction. Between
Terra Alta aud Grafton will be built
| third track over the entire section, max
ing for the uninterrupted operation of
passenger traffic, at the same time Sc
curing increased efficiency in the hand
ling of freight traffic. 1t is on this sec
ton, too, that the great double-track
smokeless tunnel will be constructed.
| Also, at the end of the Cumberland di-
vision, at Grafton, new yard is being
constructed that will receive the coal
and other traffic from the Pennsylvania
and West Virginia territory and where
in it will be classified.
Westward over the line to Pittsburg
third track is being built between
| Philson and Manila and Sand Patch and
Yoder, at the west end of the Hyndman
grade. Sand Patch tunnel is to be elm
| mated and replaced by new double
track tunnel &c miles long on the re-
visedline projected westward to Meyers
dale, whereby passenger movement will
be greatly facilitated, and at the same
time low-grade freight line from the
Somerset coal field to the summit of the
mountains secured, from which point
further movement eastward is down
hill, still further westward on the line
third track is to be constructed between
Connellsville and McKeesport.
The Everett, Rodemar, Murray and
Hitchcock tunnels on the Cumberland
division are to be eliminated and made
open cuts, thereby adding to the safety
and comfort of all train movements.
The foregoing comprises only the
larger work being done by the Balti-
more and Ohio, but does not include
numerous smaller improvements over
the entire system.