The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-25
From the American Railroad Journal
BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON RAIL-

II is much to be regretted that some Of our rail-
road companies are, by an illlberal and exacting
course of policy, doing much to foster preJudices
against description of Improvement, the beneht OF
which in general no one can reasonably deny
They in this way not only njure themselves, but all
similar works, which suffer in public estimation,
from the extortion or unaccommodatng spirit OF
few. We have in our eye at the moment the case
of the Baltimore and Washington railroad winch,
at time when all the other railroads OF the country
are, in consequence Of the increased valuation Of
money, and conviction of the policy of low rates,
reducing their charges, still obstinaely adheres to
it's extortion-the greatest which we know OF IN the
annals Of railroad charges-of two dollars and nfty
cents per passenger for the short distance (3o niles
at the luminosity between Baltimore and Washington.
How the intelligent head of the company controlling
this work fail to that he is rendering 1t od-
the public and that its prosperity under these
circumstances, must, in country where public opn-
ion has SO much influence be endangered by such
course, we cannot conceive. With the immense
travel on the route at moderate CHARGE the increas-
ing prosperity of the Baltimore and Washington
railroad would seem certain as any event can be-
But the excessive charge now made, exciting indg-
nation against it on the one hand, and tempting the
ingenuity ofour countrymen to devise some substi-
tute for the railroad on the other, WILL predict
if long continued, bring about results which the
company will regret not having avoided, by making
their charge more in accordance with public opinion
and the interests of other railroads, which are neces-
sariy seriously injured by il.
Take for example, the lines of railroad between
New York and Baltimore. A traveller may go by
the Camden and Amboy railroad to Philadelphia,
for three dollars; and thence to Baltimore by the
New Castle and Frenchtown railroad and steamboat
line, for two dollars--in ALL two hundred miles for
FIVE dollars; but when he reaches Baltimore, he is
obliged to pay half the sum for thiry-eight miles
more or distance which, at fair charge, in proper
ton to the railroads north Of it, should not exceed
do1l he adj har n
a half dollar, is to that extent an exaction on the
railroads north Of Baltimore, diminishing in pro-
portion their travel; whilst the benefit from the high
rate, there be any to any party, which we do not
believe,) accrues exclusively to the Baltimore and
Washington branch.
The public, it seems, has already adopted rem
edy, which may be, to some extent, efiicacous. We
aude to the line of stages lately started between
Baltimore and Washington, which are taking large
| amount oftravel from the Washington railroad. We
would be the last to wish success to such scheme,
did we not believe that the prosperity of the railroad
system in our country was best promoted by check
ing its abuses We trust most sincerely that the pa
tronage which the stage line is experiencing may
cause the directors of the Baltimore and Washington
railroad to look more closely 10 their true interests
which we have no doubt will be found to consist in
reducing their charge to dollar and fifty cents at
the utmost.
Ifthey do not the companies between Baltimore
and New York--we might say between Baltimore
and Boston-will probably find out, ere long, that
they as well those who travel on their roads, are
interested in reducing the extrayagant charge on
the Washington branch, and that it is in their power
do SO; that by giving hrough-tckets in connexio
with the stage lines on the Washington turnpike,
they will be enabled to divert much of the travel
from the railroad to compel the latter TO reduce
its charge; but with the disadvantage to IT, compared
with reduction present. of having raised up and
established stage lines, which it will be difficult here
after to put down.