American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-04-16

South baltimore, April 10, l645
.SeSSrS Editors: From my extreme age,
standing alone with scarcely one left Of those
whom knew in former years; in short, the
last of those of my day, | avail of q leisure mo-
ment to contrast the past and the present
Time has thrown his mantle over me- the fire
Of youth has given way under the influence of
years; teebleness is my portion; and before
death shall have ended my career below, avail
myself of the privilege Of age to fight over the
past.
South Baltimore (the prefix is even now fast
falling out of usel cannot fail to excite the won
der and admiration of ali who view il. Its
greatness and vast extent now realized, has not
astonished me; for when first commenced to be
built up, it did not require much calculation on
the part of her then population TO predict its
present unprecedented prosperity. My mind
recurs to that period; aud though at the time,
It caused me painful forebodings, yet time has
snoothed down my feelings; and though the
sight of Old or North Baltimore starts those
feelings afIesh, still the events of the past do
net come upon me with the same force, as they
did at the commencement of the change, and
while they were the evcpaas Of the day.
Our city is included between what was for
rnerly called the Washington road on the N.
West; Pratt street on the North, and thence
running along Light street Wharf and on the
Southern side Of the old Basin to the site of
old Fort McBenry, and thence we are bounded
by the Ferry Branch, and leaving it, the south
ern line OF the city continues EDWARDS until it
reaches Gwnn's Falls. By having before you
The map of the city, you will observe that these
bounds cover an immense space of land, which
is all closely built up, and contains over ESQ.,
900 inhabitants, add to which the population Of
our suburbs, in the rear of the old Mount Glare
Depot, is estimated at so, 900 more. Such is
The size and population of South Baltimore in
the present day.
The above boundaries of our city shcw
water front ofabout four miles, finely improved
with wharVes and large four story warehouses
throughout, and the masts bounding our city is
truly delightfSl to look upon.
Our wharves, Notwithstanding their extent,
are crowded with packages and drays, and our
Railroad is carrying off every thing to the great
West.
We are looking for an increased business
next spring, when by the completion of the st.
Louis and Independence road and the bridge
across the Ohio at the Kenawha, our commu-
nication by Railroad with Independence will
be complete.
NV fancy must be INDUCED. From my win
dow cast my eye on the ruins opposite our
city, and cannot avoid depression of spirits
at the dilapidated scene before me. Baltimore
in lS45 now desolate! and with the exception
of the Fell's Point wharves, which are now
converted into ip-yards-Baltimore, my old
loved home, is one pile OF ruins.
The events which destroyed North Balti-
more and built up the present city, are known
20 all our elderly citizens; but to the bulk of
our inswarming population, they are not SO ia
miliar.
In lS45 a law was passed by the City Coun-
Gil granting the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company the privilege of laying a track on
the South side of the Basin to their present
depot at the water end of Hudson street, under
the idea, that the route granted them afforded
facilities superior to those then had by the route
of that day to what was called the City Block,
(the dock of which is still standing in ruins,
and further on to Canton-the site of our pre-
sent market gardens on the Eastern shore of
the river. Considerable opposition was mani
tested to the change in location, but only
portion of the city dreaded the evil TO its full
ertent, smooth words and frivolous reasons soon
lulled the peoples fears; they permitted the
new location, and in five years repented, but
found it then too late. Enquiry in the interim
sioved to the North Baltimorcans that nothing
had been saved in expense in transporting coal,
&C., by the present route, as in ten years time
the city South was built up equally with that
North, at the time OF the passage OF the law,
and the same objections existed then as for
merly, against the locomotives passing through
the streets
AT the time of the contemplated change, an
dea was held out that the Canal TO Cunber-
land was about being completed, aud that the
Railroad company must have the privilege then
granted in order to retain the trade to Balt-
more. Many of the people believed all that
was said on this point, although they then had
the example furnished by the comparison of
the Reading Railroad and the Schuylkill Canal.
How strange does the fact appear in this day,
when the Chesapeake Canal lies in ruins while
our Railroad has nearly traversed half the dis
lance to the Pacific?
About the period named, property in the old
city began to decrease in value rapidly, and in
>l755 that portion of Baltimore became almost
entirely depopulated, and the balance of her
few remaining inhabitants soon after deserted
ner streets The ruin cntailed upon the hold
ers of real estate was beyond precedent, and
many who thought themselves secure in wealth
we've reduced to beggary.
As am compelled to close this letter for
want of space, shall conclude this subject in
my next. Truly Yours,
JOHN SMITH, OF JNo.
EXPELLED. Mr.. Horace r. Martin. repor-