American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-04-04
For the American Repnb lican.

MESsRs. EDIToRs:-By reference to the pro-
ceedings of the First Branch of the City Coun-
Gil, perceive that they are disposed to aid the
Railroad by using such means as will reduce
the charges on the coal and iron coming to the
city by that route. This is a commendablc
spirit, truly; but the means proposed are not
equally so.
BY the report of the joint committee per-
ceve that, in addition to the 10 cents per ton
charged by the Bait. & Ohio Railroad Co. on
coal, &C., there is a further charge of the same
amount by the Philadelphia road for transport
taton from the City Block depot to Canton,
which gives an additional motive for shipping
the coal from the neighborhood of the City
Block. But will refer to the report.
1t appears that there is therein estimated
as tollows-two cents per ton for dockage,
and five cents per ton each twenty-four
means | cannot well ascertain, unless it be the
wharfage on the vessel; and if | am right in this
point, it is easily obviated, provided the coal
company own their point of shipping; and even
ii they are not the proprietors, the above sum
would pay the wharfage of a vessel in that
neighborhood for twelve DAYS, whereas she can
take in her cargo of two hundred tons in one
or two days at most-say to cost in dockage
one dolar-and any wharf on FelI's Point will
contract for the wharfage the year round for
two cents per ton; but the Councils should per-
init this coal to be shipped from the City Block
free of wharfage, and obvate this charge en-
tirely.
Now, as | have no doubt Of the correctness
of my former argument in favor of using steam,
and the good results therefrom, except the saw
ing then estimated from the difference in dis
lance between Canton and the Point, of one
per cent. per ton. | will work on an estimate
OF live cents per ton as the cost of bringing the
coal to the end of the Bait. s. Ohio Railroad
Co.'S track at the City Block, until satisfied by
some proof that this is an error.
This track (the property Of the B. s. o. R. r.
Co.. now reaches to the bridge across Hartford
run in Alice Anna street, and its continuation
one hundred CARDS southwardly brings it TO the
wharf on the city's property at depth Of ten
feel cater, sufficient for lading an ordinary full
built vessel, capable of trans porting two hum
dred tons weight. Thus by laying track
one hundred yards, and the city waving her
claim to one hundred and fifty feet front,
which does not now bring ten dollars per an
mum, the coal is saved from the dockage and
wharfage amounting to seven cents per ton
and the ten cents paid to the Philadelphia road
is avoid, thus saving with the five cents first
estimated, twenty-five cents per ton, and the
making the City Block the shipping depot will
cause her large wharf property there to become
profitable, whereas now it is only drain on the
city treasury.
Now what will be gained by depot for the
coal on the West Branch of the Patapsco' Let
Us see. First the track has to be laid at
heavy expense to the Railroad Co., step
which should certainly be avoided if practical
bic, and possibly then two cents per ton may
be saved in bringing the coal to the water. But
while we are saving at the spicket, we must see
that we are not wasting at the bung.
All the vessels which carry the coal hence,
must necessarily come into our present harbor
to discharge for the next ten years at least
for it will require that time, certainly, before
all our merchants move off to the Ferry Branch.
Now vessel of 200 tons is discharged and
ready for the coal; but she is in our Basin and
must be got round to the depot. She has no
ballast, of course, in carrying coal, and cannot
sail round, so she must be towed by steam
Here is Is or 90 dollars at once, say l-2 to 10
cents per ton, in order to save two cents per ton
pad!extra for bringing the coal through the city.
All! but not SO fast; the vessel pays that and
not either of the companies. Admitted, but
the vessel charges that much more freight, and
it becomes a charge on the coal. Farther, a
vessel without ballast can only venture that
distance in calm weather, and might have to
wait two or three days for an opportunity
Besides this the channel is intricate, and shift
ing constantly in the Ferry Branch,