Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-11
DAILY EVENING STAR.
Correspondence Of the Evening Star.
THE MARYLAND COAL TRADE.

ton of the source of wealth that there
in the bituminous coal trade of Mary
land, or of the extent of that trade, lot
immediate and prospective. There ar
those, however, among the timely Says
cious and enterprising, who not only ur
derstand the extent Of this great interes
but are determined not to be negligent j
turning it to account for the profitabl
employment of their large capitals. Gu
of this trade, and through their agency
we are destined to have either an exten
sion of the limits of Baltimore, or some
thing of rival in the way of a business
shipping, and manufacturing point, owe
in Anne Arundel county, nearly opposit
to, or short distance below the Easter
or Canton section Of Baltimore. Truly
another Richmond is in the field: for thu
point Is about the same distance from
Baltimore as is the great coal mart O
Philadelphia, known as Richmond, wher,
all the immense product of the anthracit,
mines of Pennsylvania arrives by tn,
Reading Railroad, Schuylkill Canal, sc.
and thence debouehes TO the wide world tc
supply the numerous wants and make j
comfortable. The name of the new Rich
mond, however, is to be "Patapsco City,
being situated on the western branch
while Baltimore occupies the northern
branch Of the river of that name. Pa.
tapsco City, however, has another water
front on Curtis Creek, where the great
desideratum OF deep water, some twenty
four to thirty feet, for the very largest
class of steamships and vessels is found
with a bold shore and height of en-
bankment, which will give the most ad
yantageous facilities for coal shutes from
the rail tracks above, and the holds OF
whatever sized steamers or ships that
may come there to coal or freight.
AS the company designated in their
charter the Patapsco Company whose
project this is, are to construct a railroad
from the Relay House, on the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad to Curtis Greek. in an
almost direct line, the same advantages
which are to be afforded the coal trade
thereby, will also, in measure, of course,
be open to the other heavy and through
freights from the East to the West. and
vice rersa, should the interested partjes
choose to avail themselves of them. The
new railroad from the Relay to Curtis
Greek, on account of its straighter line.
1T is estimated is not, by three or four
miles, so great in length as that from the
Relay through the western part of Balti-
more round the Locust Point-at present
the shipping point of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad for the Cumberland coal.
lumber, and iron. While, however.
that spot may continue to be occupied
for coal shipping, it is principally on ac-
count of its limited capacity that others
must be sought for, seeing that the trade
is already, when in active operation, far
beyond its means of accommodation.
What it is to be in the future, and at no
distant day, can only be judsed by refer.
ence to the rapid advance and expansion
of the anthracite trade at PHILADELPHIA.
TO which market is now brought per year
no less than about 3,5O0,0OO tons, of
which about one half comes over the
Reading Railroad alone-and, also, by
remembrance of the fact that the great
mass of commercial and war navigation
now tends to steam propulsion, for which
the Maryland bituminous coal is admitted
to be unrivalled in fitness.
How important is it, then, that there
should be every facility for its supply at
Baltimore, especially that steamers and
vessels, of whatever dimensions, when.
ever they may deem it desirable or con.
venient to call at our harbor for coal, may
find ample wharf room with any needed
depth of water to cradle them to take
it in most expeditiously, and be off again
without cost and troublesome delay. The
full point of this remark will be under
stood by our people by remembering that
when the United States steam frigate
Mississippi was brought round to Balti-
more, only year or eighteen months ago,
for the purpose of coaling, she had to
depart with al inconsiderable quantity
lightened to her in barges at some dis
tance below. In Curtis creek she would
have found an abundant depth of water.
These facts have also led to the conclu-
sion, that whenever Baltimore, like other
great Atlantic commercial cities, shall
have in its vicinity United States navy
yard, its location must be on the Pataps
co company's Curtis creek lands.
In reference to the peculiar fitness Of
that location for an extensive naval estab-
lishment, intelligent men are said to be
entirely agreed, and are supported in
their views by distinguished engineers,
who have practically examined the sub
iect. And should it be determined, in
connection with proper contrs ctor and
the superior workmanship of Baltimore
mechanics, to have built here one of the
six steam frigates recently authorized by
Congress, that point would probably t.
selected for the rearing of the structure.
Its proximity, too, to the mouth of the
Susquehanna-the great lumber feeder
for all sections-would be no inconsider-
able advantage. But whether this be
done or not, the more Immediately i'm
portant matter of building the Patapsco
railroad will not be neglected for mo.
ment. Parties are already in the field
negotiating the right of way with the
land owners along the lines which have
been surveyed. In the future, a mutual
cooperation with the Baltimore and Ohio
Company may be deemed desirable in
working the road, but for the present il
is understood the Patapsco Company de-
sire to furnish all the necessary capital
and will 60 forward on its own hook botf
in completing and equipping their road
The work is expected to be commenced
early in the summer. The coal compan'