Evening star., 1921-04-24
By III. O.. BISHOP.

ToR a generation after the
~ building of the United States
Capitol and the White House
there were only four ways for
Presidents. Vice Presidents and cabi-
net members. senators. representa-
tives and the public generally to
travel to the city of Washington
They could either go by horseback
stage coach, rowboat or walk. 1t is
needless to say that all four methods
were used, depending largely upon
the state Of finances of those desiring
to reach the National Capitol.
In this era of palatial and swift
moving railway trains it is rather
difficult for a present-day Washing
tonian to realize that in the early
days Of his beautiful city steam rail-
roads were merely hazy dreams of
the far distant future.
1t is altogether likely that in a few
generations from now some one will
write an article telling its readers all
about the slow, pokey, primitive
methods that people had to put up
with away back in the old ia shIoned
days when the only means of getting
mobile. The day is bound to come
when automobiles and passenger
trains will be .junked" in favor of
something swifter and more comfort
able.
THE first railroad built in the
United States was three miles in
length. extending from the granite
~ 70 he
. ponset river. This road was COM
menced in 1926 and completed in 1927.
1t was built with granite sleepers
feet apart. The rails. five feet apart.
we're of pine. a foot deep. covered
with an oak plate. and these with fiat
bars of iron. The cars were pulled by
horses
The second railroad was commenced
in January, 1927. and completed in
May of the same year, extending from
the coal mines near Mauch Chunk.
Pa. to the Lehigh river. n distance
OF nine miles From the summit of
the mines. the descent by plane was
S82 feet inclined 336 feet to the river.
and thence twenty-five feet in chute
to the spot where the cars were dis
scended by gravity with the loaded
wagons and were drawn up again by
mules. The rails OF the road were of
timber. laid on wooden sleepers and
strapped with fat iron bars.
In 1898 the Delaware a-f Hudsn,
Canal Company constructed a rail-
road from their coal mines to Homes
dale. Pa. the termination of their
canal. The Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road and the South Carolina railroad
year.
The Baltimore and OHIO railroad was
the hrst road in America to attract
national attention The first meeting
company in the United States. TO
connect the waters of the east with the
waters Of tie west. was held in the
city OF Baltimore. February IL. 1927.
The practicability Of the project was
left to committee. which soon after
reported at the second meeting. on
the 18th. and q resolution was passed
to obtain charter from the legisia-
t1re. The charter was obtained. and
on April -. 1927. the company was
rectors elected.
The construction of the road was
commenced by laying a cornerstone
July 4. 1925 attended by one of the
most magnificent professions of the
military and civil associations. trades
and professions ever witnessed on any
oeccsion in the United States up to
that time.
The venerable Charles Carroll OF
carrollton. then over ninety years Of
age. the only survivor of the s.gners
Of the Declaration Of Independence.
vas present on the occasion and laid
the cornerstone of this enterprise
with appropriate ceremonies. 1t is
related that on this occasion. after
ne imposing ceremonies were over.
the venerable patriot made use of the
expression to one of his friends pres
ent: II consider this among the mos.
important acts Of my life. second only
to my signing the Declaration of In
dependence. il even it be second to
that" And 10 the end OF his life he
continued firm frindd of the work
THE construction Of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad was commenced
In 1928 and completed in 1852. On
January l2. 1853 in honor Of the COM
pietion OF the road. magnificent. ban
auet took place in Wheeling, the
western terminus. At thai time it was
the longest railroad in the world
At this banquet Mr.. Swami. presi-
dent Of the company. IN his address
made this beautiful a1lusion 10 the
venerable and patriotic Carroll:
messed the enthusiasm which attended
the laying of the FIRST stone by the
'iiustrious Charles Carroll OF Carroll
ton" He then produced the trowe)
which had been used by M. Carroll.
and was still preserved by the COM
pany. with this memorandum on IL:
This trowel was used by Charles
carroll Of Carrollton to lay the first
stone of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road. July 4. 1928"
When these pioneer railroads were
drst commenced their builders had
10 idea of operating trains on them
with locomotives. Their plan was to
use horses or mules The steam en-
cine was an after-thought Even ship
sails were tried on several roads prio
to'the advent of the use OF the iron
norses. Two ways of utilizing the
horse an motive power were evolved
BY the early railway magnates. One
vas to hitch the horse to the front
end OF the car and the other was to
out the horse inside the car where II
produced power on a treadmill. This
norse treadmill locomotive was tried
on the Baltimore and Ohio with in
fereit success. on one occasion,
when drawing a car filled with edi-
eors and other representatives of the