Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-01-16

Of the scale. for herself and deny to the Cosuties
west Of her--aud. yet, such is the principle as
sumed. II. then, they reap its benefits oemps-
red with their neighbors 10 those Counties in Ma
ryIand, aeaver TO Baltimore than they are, ought
they not TO be satisfied to let their neighbos fur
'her from Baltimore enjoy its advantages too on
the principle that "a good rule ought always to
work both ~sys''i
Moreover. If the rates be Uniform. the trade
upon the road from the more distant regions, would
be 20 greatly diminished In amount that, in order
enable the road TO sustain itsef, higher Ia
rid of rates would necessarily be established, upon
the whole line. II is said BY .orse that the Balt
more and Ohio Rail Rosd osght no, TO be allowed
90 to the Ohio because n will bring ia the pro-
duce Of the West to compete With that of Eastern
and Northern Virgins, glut the Baltimore markets
and bring prices down. If Baltimore were to stand
era there were net to increase as the sellers In
creased, this might be true. But 1t 10 evident this
could not be 90. The trade Of the West and Of
Western Virginia is to build up Baltimore and to
make her better instead Of ~orse market thar
she 10 now. What 10 IL that makes great Cityi
A gres, back country, and how can great back
country be commanded but by extending these
improvements far into the interior. The Erie
Canal and her o.her Canals have made New York.
The Western Rail Road and her other Rail Roads
are now making Boston. Who does not believe
that Il New York could be picked up and set down
where Baltimore 10. that prices of all kinds of pro-
duce in Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan and Hsnp-
shire would 60 10 at oncef And who does not be-
lieve that if Richmond were TO be put down in the
place where Baltimore 10, that prices would go
DOWN.
1t 10 therefore the interest of those Counties to
make Baltimore great City, as she is their nau-
raj market. She canno, be made great City but
by the extension Of her Rail Road to the Ohio
and 1t 10 q clear consequence that is the interest
Of those C0sntiesi, should 60 there-unhampered
by any such restrictions upon ts tolls as will Grip
pie its trade and make i, useless to the City at
which ii ends and the country through which it
passes. Il would be so hsmpered. and its utility
so destroyed, il it be compelled to observe uuior.
nifty 10 iis rates Of tolls, not barrel Of -four. .
bushel of wheat, a hogshead Of tobacco, key of
lard, q steer. hog, or horse would be carried On
it probably ives, of Harper'sFerrv certainly wet
Of Cumberland.
In addition to oil this, experience has ascertain
ed, ia this and other countries, that the sliding
SCALE which, believe, is, universally, adopted
upon oil long lines Of improvements, has not de-
IL H.. 4.
when extensive and fertile regions are too rapidly
furnished with numerous facilities to market, the
supply will, Temporarily, be increased to an un.
heathful extent. Such, indeed, has, to some ex-
tent, perhaps, been the case in this Country. The
continuance of ouch condition of trade 10 brief
and finds i,s own correction. The evil, to what
ever extent it may exist is already created by the
Canals and Roads of other States. 1t can not be
materially increased. by the construction of the
Baltimore Road to the West The Argument, as
ii applies to the system Of internal improvements,
(which cannot exist If the scale be not sllowed is
too late. Virginia will scarcely, at this hour,
make the vain and suicidal effort to its pro-
grsss.-The produce of the great West, | may add,
has, already its avenues to market, by the Penn.
sylssnis and N. York Improvements, and, mani
testify, the price Of our agricultural products
not be affected by a mere change Of the market
for Western produce. II the markets Of half
dozen cities be eoncenxed in one, the price will
not BIZ altered.
do not understand, that any complaint exists
or has existed Of high rates the Baltimore Road
II there has been any. presume. it has been
moved by the recent reduction. in favor Of the
Virginia Counties. The rates Of the Company are
as low as on other roads--lower than some
Our region of Country ia thus enjoying the benefit
of reduction of the cost of transportation, as
compared with forrRer times before the construc-
ton of the road to little more than one half
This reduction must. inevitably. continue in con-
sequence of the competition Of the Canal. Indeed,
it was becsuse Of that very competition, that the
Baltimore Company. in it's negotiation with the
Winchester Company FOR the purchase of its road.
was compelled to reject the condition, which was
proposed not TO charge less, from any point. dis
tant on its road ia miles to Baltimore, than
from Winchester to Baltimore. There is, in the
part Of this rivalry Of the Canal guarantee, that
the County Of Jefferson. Berkeley &c, will enjoy
a permanent advantage. notwithstanding the slid
ing SCALE over the North Western Counties.
There remains other view of the subject
The value Of the road to the North West will de.
pend upon tho adoption of this sliding dimin-
,shing scale. The phoie State is interested in
adding to the wealth Of that interesting region
|, will bring fresh and abundant supplies to its
Golfers and materially relieve the rest Of the State
from taxation.
Can it be thst any man will, upon reflection,
under ell these circumstances, refuse lor insist
upon what 10 equivalent to a refusaD TO permit the
most en,erPrising and ably conducted improvement
of the age, to expend within the bounds of vngin-
ia air millions Of dollars, adding immensely to the
wealth Of large region and beneh,ting every citi.
ZEN Of the Commonwealth Jsfferson, Berkeley.
Morgan, &c, having received those benefIs, will
their citizens not permit the Counties of Harrison,
Psssion, Wood, &c &c, to participate with them'
do not believe that such selfish considerations
win have place. when the subjec, is brought, fairly
and fully. to the public mind.
Summary Of Legislative Intelligence.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
SATURDAY, Jan'y. 4, ls45.
Mr.. Whitcher made a report from
Co1mitfee on Elecuons on the confes,ed