Page "Louis McLane" Paragraph 17

Therefore, when an offer to assume the Presidency of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was made, it was quickly accepted.

This company operated a railroad between Baltimore and Washington, but its ambition was build a route to the Ohio River, and move commerce from the west through the City of Baltimore.

In 1837 the western tracks went only as far as Harpers Ferry, Virginia and McLane ’ s great accomplishment was seeing to the extension of the “ main line ” as far as Cumberland, Maryland.

This brought the route into proximity with enough coalfields to provide a regular profit.

The profits were not substantial, however, and McLane was consumed with financing rearrangements and negotiations with Pennsylvania and Virginia over possible routes west.

Ultimately Wheeling and an all Virginia route was decided upon, but it was left to McLane ’ s immediate successor to see the goal realized.

McLane never seemed to appreciate the value of this work and ultimately retired on September 13, 1848.