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

18 HISTORY OF THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVES IN AMERICA.
Virginia Railroad from Grafton to Parkersburg (103
miles), from 1853-'57. He has been consulting engineer
on several or on special occasions to a number of railway
works ; the most important were : the Hoosac Tunnel,
Massachusetts ; the Philadelphia, Wilmington and
Baltimore Eailroad (which office he now holds) ; the
North Missouri Railroad ; the Blue Ridge Railroad, in
South Carolina ; the East River Bridge ; the Portland
and Ogdensburg Railroad ; the Hillsborough and Parkersburg
Railroad ; and the Columbus and Hocking
Valley Railroad.
Mr. Latrobe is the chief engineer of the Jones Falls
Improvement in the city of Baltimore ; and is now com-
pleting the Pittsburg and Connellsville Railroad, from
Pittsburg to Cumberland.
We will also quote freely from the. letters of Mr.
David Matthew to the author in 1859, and we wUl
give in our work several certificates in reference to Mr.
Matthew's character and ability as an engineer, and a
reliable man. Mr, Matthew superintended the men
fitting up the first English locomotive imported into
this country, and he also had charge of the workmen
fitting up the first, second, and third locomotives
built in America—the last of which,' after placing it
upon the road, he continued to run as the regular en-
gineer for a long time; and his testimony is entitled to
all credit.
To Julius D. Petsch, Esq., now and for many years
the chief of the mechanical department upon the rail-
road upon which the first American-built locomotive
for actual service was run, we are indebted for many
valuable particulars concerning that event.
To several other prominent and well-known gentlemen,
whose letters and testimony will be found in the
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