Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-08-04
baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
A DIscRIM1NATloN QUEsTToN.-We published
few days since a letter addressed TO James H.
Luckett, Esq, and signed by sixteen ofthe largest
business firms of Baltimore, protesting against the
through ticket and freight arrangements at pres
ent existing, which are deemed by them as dis
elimination III favor of Philadelphia and against
the interests of baltimore. The annexed commu
nication, in reply TO the letter TO Mr. Luckett, is
from gentleman perfectly familiar with the
whole subject, and we lay. it before our readers
that both sides may have hearing, and right con-
illusions be drawn from comparison of conflict
ing opinion.
Baltimore, July %, 1858.
To tke Editors Of ths Batimore American:
GENrLEMEa:-"Sixteen firms, embracing some
of the largest houses in Baltimore hayepublished
in your paper communication addressed 10 MI
Jas q. Luckett, dated the 18th instant, complain
ing thatthe Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany had, by an arrangement with Forsyth, Cal
houn & Co., forI thro ugh freights betweeI PhIla-
delphia and Wheeling, Disseminated against the
interests of Baltimore, and in favor of Philadel-
phia. The City Councils of Baltimore have also
by resolutions TO their Directors in the Board IN
structed theirvo in favor, not only otthe dis.
continuanceof through freight arrangement but
of the through ticketsystem also
Western Merchants conyerSant with the 1aclll-
Ties of other Railroad routes between Philadelphia
and Pittsburgh, and New York and Cincinnati,
view the policy suggested by the parties referred
to in an entirely different light and say that such
a nolicy will drive them entirely out of Baltimore
and into the Philadelphia and New York markets.
They look upon ii as an attempt upon the part OF
those tIaree houses in BaltimoIe" to force them
to buy in heirmarket. Will Baltimore merchants
by such policy proclaim TO the Western buyer,
and to the stockholders of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, that goods bought in Philadelphia and
New Market shall not go over the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad to Wheeling as cheaply as they can
from those markets to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati
by other Railroad connections Westt They may
say not but the practice of such good policy will
send all fine dry goods sales in Philadelphia and
New York by the Pennsylvania Railroad TO Pitts
burgh, and by the New York and Erie Railroad to
Cincinnati. Western merchants can get to Phila-
delplia and New York on through tickets without
visiting Baltimore atall; they can buy their goods
as cheap as they can in Baltimore; they can get
them home by other routes to the West as quick
ly and as cheaply as theYcan from Baltimore
What necessityis there or inducement for going to
Baltimore for goods. .94.
If. on the other hand, the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company sell tickets from New York.,
Philadelphia and Baltimore to CINCINNATI Louis
Vile and ST. Louis, as cheaply as they do by other
routes between the same points, and present as
cheap facilities for freights between the same
places, will not Baltimore have more Western
merchants to visit her markets than she would
without such through ticket and freight connec-
tons 2 Would Baltimore sell more goods If she
were to have five hundred western merchants ar
with through tickets 10 Philadelphia and New
York or would she do a better business by having
only 25 or 80 per day without through ticketS3-
For example: western buyer leaves Cincinnati,
via Baltimore, with through ticketto New York.
His ticket gives him the privilege of stopping in
Baltimore or Philadelphia. Arriving first at Balt
more, he buys part of his goods and ships them by
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad TO his agents IN
Wheeling, with instructions to their ultimate des-
tination. He goes over TO Philadelphia, buys there
.A.aS1f to kTy NrHNF Iguf md
learning that he ship his freight as cheapy TO
Wheeling, via Baltimore, as he can to Pittsburgh,
and as quickly, he sends his goods by tue same
route as his Baltimore purchases. Proceeding on
his through ticket to New York, he hnds prefer
| ences there over Philadelphia and Baltimore, as
certains in New York that there is an agency for
the Baltimore route, and sends his freight by the
same route also. His next step is 10 buy return
through ticket home, and as all his goods have
by way of Wheeling, he prefers that route. Re-
turning through Baltimore, he closes his purchases
and leaves for Wheeling, where he calls on his
consignee to learn how his goods have gone for
ward-gGes on board one OF the splendid packets
belonging 10 the Union Line, has choice oil berth'
and returns with his irelght, or parton III pethaPS'
| on the same boat.
This is all natural and true as truth itself. tits
every day practice when the Ohio is in good boat
ing condition.
Abolish the through ticket and through freight
arrangements, and will not the business centre
more in Philadelphia and New York than itwould
otherwise?
The Union Line Of steamers alarmed at the IA
tai policy suggested by Baltimore merchants ana
her City Councils, and fearing their adoption by
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, have
lent and are now lending awllling ear 10 pTopc-
sails to join the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati Line,
in forming a thorough connection from lttsburgh
to Cincinnati. A letter from one OF the stock
holders of the Union Line, dated at Wheeling
18th instant, says, considerable feeling is now
manifested by the Union Line Company! now
think that the connection will be formed with
the Pittsburgh Packets, making through Line
from Pittsburgh to st. Lonis. Mr.. s. has come
into il, and others who thought would not" If
the proposed policy of the Baltimore City Coun-
ellis and her merchants forces from her Western
terminus so strong and efficient connection as the
Union Line, will such result benefit the sales OF
Baltimore? If the proScIiptive demands of bust
ness over the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad by the
possibility of such propos tons being carried out,
has driven from us our strong nVer connection,
what other Steamboat Company will undertake 1t!
The Union Line goes into an unnatural connec-
ton with a rival city, and connects the Western
terminus of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Pitts
burgh with st. Louis. Herstarting point is Pitts
buTgh. The Pennsylvania roads, passengers, and
rights TO be first accommodated, leaving what
is not taken of berths ortonnage at Pittsburgh for
the benefit of the Baltimore passengers and
frieghts, thus making the Western terminus of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad way station or stop
ping place for Pittsburgh line of packets.
Will the calmer, uneXcited, and well-meanlng
portion of our Baltimore citizens and stockholders
of the Railroad not take hold ofthis materin time
to save the hasty adoption of disastrous and mis-
informed policy?
Mr.. Harrison, President of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, we know, has the interests of Bal
timore and of the Road at heart; and so has
Mr.. Parker, the General Superintendent. So have
the Committee of Transportation.
Why not, then leave the whole matter untram-
eled in the hands of such efficient Executive
oficers2 They know it is their duty TO protect
the stockholders and the interests of the city of
Baltimore, and there is no doubt but all will be
faithfully and honestly managed for the benefit of
all interested, whether resident in Baltimore or
stakeholder in the extension of the Union Line
from Wheeling 10 SAINT LOUIS.
Rich Men IN ST.. LouIs.-The St. Louis Re-
publican contains list Of some of the wealthy