heavy freight rapidly the success of the "rail road" was assured. The idea of conveying passengers was an afterthought; it was the freight traffic that Baltimore had lost—it was the freight traffic which the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal would draw from even the best roads Baltimore could build or have built. By means of rails, cars with freight could be moved, it was estimated, at least twelve miles an hour, and railroads could be built anywhere macadamized roads could go. The supply of water at the summit level was not a critical factor.
The result of this meeting at the home of Mr. Thomas was the appointment of a committee which was ordered to review the whole proposition, and report a plan of action. On February 19, the committee report was ready, and the second meeting was held. The report affirmed that rail roads promised to "supercede Canals as effectually as Canals have superceded Turnpike Roads," and recommended that "a double Rail Road" be constructed "between the City of Baltimore and some suitable point upon the Ohio River, by the
