had looked the ground over, and given it as their opinion
that Baltimore was hedged in by insurmountable difficulties. Prophecies
were made that soon ships would cease to come to Baltimore at all. And
under this lowering commercial sky, Peter Cooper saw his Baltimore
investments fading away into the ether.

At this time the Manchester and Liverpool Railroad was in operation. The
coaches and wagons were simply those in use on the roads, but with new
tires that carried a flange to keep the wheel on the rail. It was found
that a team of horses could draw double the load on a railroad that they
could if the wheels of the vehicle were on the ground.

The news was brought to America. Wooden rails were first tried, and then
these were strengthened by nailing strap iron along the top. It was a
great idea--build a railroad from Baltimore to the Ohio River, and thus
compete with the Pennsylvania canals to the Ohio!

In Eighteen Hundred Twenty-seven the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company was formed. It was the first railroad company in America. Peter
Cooper bought shares to the extent of his ability. It was a
life-and-death struggle. If the railroad was a success, Baltimore was
saved, and Peter Cooper was a rich man; otherwise he was a bankrupt.
Stephenson's "Rocket" in England was pulling three or four carriages at
a speed of ten miles an hour, while a team of horses on the same track
could pull only one carriage at the rate of six or seven miles an hour.

The City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland were empowered to buy
shares in the new transportation company. Thus we find government
ownership of the first American railroad. The Mayor of the City and the
Governor of the State had heard of Peter Cooper's engine, which he said
could be used for "land-carriages," and they now importuned him to come
to their rescue.

Robert Fulton had already proved that the steamship was practicable; but
Fulton wasn't interested in railroads. He maintained, as did almost
every one else, that the water-route was the only safe and sure and
economical way of transportation. When the railroad was built from
Albany to Schenectady the first idea was to have the engine tow
canal-boats. Peter Cooper heard the wail of the Baltimoreans, and said,
"I'll knock an engine together in six weeks that will pull carriages ten
miles an hour and beat any canal-boat that ever collected barnacles."

* * * * *

Peter Cooper wen