'HE graceful iron arches and columns

of the new train shed at Camden Station of the Baltimore & Ohio R. R. at Baltimore are completed, and the roof has been placed over the wide platforms, and soon the old train shed through which passengers have hurried for nearly a half century will only be used to shelter prosaic but useful freight cars. Passengers will soon learn and become accustomed to the new thoroughfare to waiting trains, and the sound of footsteps passing in and out of the former passenger gate will soon be but a memory.

As long, however, as old Camden. Station stands it will ever hold recollections, not only for the elder employes of the great company, but also for the citizens of the former and last generations. It is an old landmark, and around its dull colored walls a greater part of Baltimore's history has been made.

The present station was built in 1852. Prior to that time the station was situated on Pratt street, on the site now occupied by Mason's cracker factory. In those days Pratt street station was known all over the country. From its contracted yard the first steam passenger train put to practical use for the transportation of travelers puffed away to Ellicott City, fifteen miles out, then the terminus of the road. To the people of those days the steam cars were a fearful and wonderful thing, and every one was anxious to ride on them.

In one of the newspapers of that day is found an item stating that during hot weather the citizens of Baltimore enjoyed the cool ride "on top of the cars" to Ellicott City, or rather Ellicott's Mills.

The cars go so fast," the item reads, "that a constant breeze is created for those sitting on the roof."

When the B. & O. was opened to the then distant Cumberland, Camden station was thrown open to the pub

lic. Mayor and city officers delivered. addresses. The iron horse had, to their minds, done a wonderful feat in climbing to the summit of the mountains.

Before steam was employed on the road, freight and passenger cars were hauled by mule power from Baltimore to Ellicott's Mills. The cars left in trains. Each train consisted of three to five cars, according to the tonnage of their cargo, and their departure and arrival were advertised in the daily and weekly papers.

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The road grew larger; it threw out its black rails across the mountains and underneath them. It leaped wide rivers and brawling mountain streams, and its force of employes grew in number the B. & O. grew in length. The years passed on. Then came the civil war, and old Camden station resounded with the throbs of drums, the singing of bugles and the march of the Union blue coats as the long trains drew out of the station, carrying them south to battle for the Union. "Rebellious Baltimore," our city was called then because of the strong secessionist feeling of its people, which culminated in the attack on the Sixth Massachusetts regiment as it passed through the city on the way south. Through it all old Camden station stood with its single tower looking down calmly on the excited city as though to say, "I represent progress and am unharmed. -Baltimore World.

JEFFERSON'S ROCK, NEAR HARPER'S FERRY, ON THE LINE OF THE BALTIMORE & OHIO R. R.

mountain scenery.

The view from the car is equal to the Yellowstone.

Catoctin, the little German village, next in order, brings to mind again the story of the war, as does every village or town along the line of the B. & O., for the next one hundred miles.

Weverton, then Harper's Ferry. The passenger on the rear platform of the observation car will be treated to a view so sublimely beautiful as to be everlastingly impressed on his mind. The train passes Weverton clinging to the side of the mountain like a creeping thing avoiding the water beneath. The mountain seems ready to topple over on the traveler looking up to ascertain its height. An impassable wall of stone appears abruptly ahead; when suddenly the train disappears into total

taken to the World's Fair, is but a few feet away from the train.

The old fort after its removal from the World's Fair was taken back to a point about four miles from Harper's Ferry on the Shenandoah River and located in a small park donated for the purpose.

Jefferson's memorable rock is near Harper's Ferry, and from it may be seen a picture which as Jefferson termed it, is "worthy a trip across the Atlantic."

Beyond Harper's Ferry following the Potomac River the route is wildly picturesque through a region of famous springs to Cumberland, thence through. the great Pennsylvania mining district to Pittsburg and Akron, and thence making a straight line across Ohio and Indiana to Chicago.