The New York herald., 1846-03-09

that the city of Baltimore will soon become q most
important place of commerce, great depot for the
western trade, and point OF concentration for the
travelling and emigration between the Atlantic and
the rich valley of the Mississippi, and increase in
her value as one of the suburbs OF New York city
The effect of this great internal improvement will
be felt throughout the Union. It will benefit this
city. twill be the means Of bringing Immediately
into contact the inhabitants resldng east and west
of the Allegheny mountains. The line Of location
of this road runs through the centre OF the country,
presenting the shortest and most direct route to the
Ohio; and passing through the rich lands of western
Virginia will ensure to it much valuable freight
while it will lend new vigor to the agricuturists OF
that important section Of the State.
1t is evident that as soon as this road shall be ex-
tended about thirty miles beyond its present termi
nus at Cumberland, the immense mines of coal and
iron lying on the banks Of the Potomac, will be full
ly developed, and must necessarily render this re-
gion the object Of great attention to capitalists OF
enterprise and intelligence. The coal Of the very
best quality, semi-bituminous, extremely powerful,
enduring, and almost entirely free from sulphur
The iron found here is OF unusual purity, and OF
almost every variety and description. Limestone,
sandstone, and fire brick clay, are here in abun-
dance.
In order to form an estimate of the freight value
OF the coal and iron business, we have only to look
at the large receipts of the Reading Railroad, from
the transportation of coal alone, which will amount,
this year, to 81 500 600, and, this source OF reve-
nue. to the Baltimore and Ohio company will be
reached by the construction OF less than thirty miles,
effort should be left untrled to complete the road
thus far, by the coming winter, to secure which OBJ
ject only requires vigorous application Of labor
The proceeds of this trade will be more than ade-
quate to pay fair dividend on the whole capital
stock, which will be much increased by the estab-
lshment of important iron works, whenever the road
shall be in operation.
II proper iron works be erected by the company,
they will be enabled to make their own rails, at
very moderate cost, much below the present market
price. and which, judiciously located, would en-
sure adequate supplies for all fuure wants and pur
poses.
1t is not improbable that the federal government
will now see the wisdom of securing proper loca-
non, in tn mineral region for the establishment OF
a great national foundry, and for the purpose of
providing constant supply OF pure btumnous coal
for the use OF public steamers. The value OF such
po irion, in national view, cannot be questioned;
the situation s not only central but the facilities tor
the transportation Of the heaviest freight, to every
section Of the country, will be complete, through
consecutive chain OF railroads and canals.
Tne reports of the Secretaries OF War and Navy
afford conclusive evidence that the government are
sadly deficient in ability to provide tor the natona
defence, and ,notwithstandinethis acknowledgment,
the heads of these executive arms OF the nation
have not presented any enlightened plan, by which
this great public improvdence is to be amended
II Congress will appoint competent committee,
for this purpose, with power 10 select location for
the establishment of a national foundry on the
shores of the Potomac, bounded by Virginia and
Maryland, we venture to predict that no measure
would prove more popular, both in regard to its un
doubted propriety and evident importance
NECESSARY RETRENcHMENT The shameful
waste of time and the peoples money, caused by
the long sessions of our Legislature, is notorious.
The law-glvers are in no haste to conclude their
deliberations, when they know that the longer they
sit the more money they will get. 1t is not in hui
man nature to voluntarily stop making money, and
the bump of acquistiveness is quite as large in
legislators az in other men. When the new consti-
tuition is formed, it should contain some clause re-
strcting this power, which the Legislature has, Of
plundering the public treasury by spinning out edl-
GUS sessions Of Incidence on questions passed and
gone. Thrice as much business might be done in
half the time that is occupied at present
The retrenchment and reform that we recommend
has been tried in New Jersey with success. The
regular pay of the Assemby-men in that State is,
we believe, So 90 per diem, for limited time
when that expires, they receive only 81 SO. The
20 ehuts sha I'll
those long sessions, fruitful Of idle discussion
and SO barren Of useful results, with which they
were cursed under their former pay-system. This
sensible plan has recently been adopted in Virginia
also. Hereafter, the members Of their Houss of
Delegates will receive, as usual, $4 90 day 10
the first ninety days, and but 81 90 for every day
additional.
We hope that in every public meeting or other
transaction which is had in reference to the amend
ment Of our Constitution, this important subject
will be kept steadily in view. 1t Is important not
only as means OF saving great sums of the public
money, but a sure preventive Of the legislative
wickedness which springs from Legislative idleness
II the Legislature il compelled to hold short ses-
sions, by considerations of the pocket, members
will have no time to indulge in personal crimina-
tons and recriminations, such we have recently
witnessed, but will be busiy engaged in transactng
what they were elected for--the public business.
CRY ELRcTIoN. = The approaching municipal
election, which comes off on the second Tuesday
OF next month, will be very interesting and a
very funny one. The democrats have already OPEN
ed the campaign with their two great volcanic
eruptions in Tammany Hall, and are evidently pre-
pairing for arduous struggle They expect to main
tain their hold Of the reins Of power on the hobby
horse OF reform which they have boldly mounted
and recklessly manage.
The reform movement should have been carried
on by new party, who, untrammelled by selfish
ciiqses and partisan regulations, might have devo-
ed their strength and abilities to true and radica
reform; but the prompt movement of the democra
tic leaders has almost superseded the possibility Of
such new party being formed. But there is YET