The history of the first locomotives in America. From original ...

BALTIMORE AND OHIO EAILEOAD COMPANY. 95
valuaWe information contained in these pages, and also
for the pen-and-ink drawing of the Peter Cooper engine,
of which, we will speak in its proper place, and the
sketch and experiments of Mr. Thomas's sailing-car and
several other machines that succeeded it.
As soon as the corner-stone of the road was laid,
preparations were made to push the work through with
as much energy and expedition as could be exercised in
the manner of construction for a railroad deemed ab-
solutely necessary at that early day. The amount of
expense involved in the prosecution of this work, when
compared with the construction of railroads at the
present day, only fills our .minds with the more wonder
and admiration at the boldness displayed by the pro-
jectors of such a stupendous undertaking as the Baltimore
and Ohio KaUroad. We will briefly describe the
mode of construction of this early road, as it will no
doubt prove interesting to our readers who '
are only
conversant with the present method of building rail-
roads. The method of construction was reported to the
author by a gentleman now living in Baltimore, who
was engaged in one of the branches of the enterprise
at the time, thus :
" After the ground was brought to a level for the tract, two
square holes were dug, four feet apart, twenty inches wide, two
feet long, and two feet deep. In these holes broken stones
were put, sufficient to fill to the surface. They were then securely
rammed down. Each particle of stone was tested and passed
through an iron ring, to insure its proper dimensions. On this
point great care was taken that every stone should be of the uni-
form size required. After the foundation ^is made, a trench six
inches deep, and filled with stone, broken and tested with the ring
as at first, is extended across the track from one of the filled-up
holes to another opposite, upon which a sleeper made of cedar,
seven feet long, is laid. By this process the foundation of the
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