Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-02-19
"RAILROADS..

| We published short editorial last week I'M
der this caption, making some comparison al, to
the expense of conducting one portion ofsthe
business oflthe roadsas between the Pennsyl-
yania and Baltimore ana Ohio Railroads. A
friend requests the publication of the following
from the Baltimore American Of the 18th, on
the same subject as showing more fully the diff
ference in that expense:
| The following communication will not be
without interest to Unr mercantile community.
| showing as it does not only the economy with
/ which portion of TIE business of the Baltimore
rand Ohio Railroad is conducted, but alsosthe
fact that very efficient agents have been select
| ed. The house Of MeSsTs. Eorsyths & Balm is
| one of the most prominent in the West, in the
| forwarding Inc, and the Company have done
| well in securing the agency Of gentlemen so
well and so tav0rably known, and whose intlu-
ence in controlling solargea portion of the w eS-
! tern transportation business is universally ac-
knowletlged. In contrasting the compensation
| allowed by the Pennsylvania Road with that paid
| by our own great work, we are struck with the
| great disproportion of the amounts; andwe are
also informed that Of the sum paid by the Bati-
more aud Ohio Railroad Company, no portion
| Of it goes to MeSsrs. Forsyths & Balm, but the
!; whole sum is paid TO their agents throughout
! the West Under such circumstances e>do
not see how the interests of our Company can
/ be better promoted than by continuing its con-
ncction with this influential house, and making it
the interest of the firm to control business for
! the road:
/ PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD
I AND BALTIMORE AND OHIO
| e RAILROAD.
Editors or Tie Baltimore .1msrieea:;
RY a rpnOrt Of the annual meeting of the Di-
rectors of the Pennsylvania Railroad, published
! in the Philadelphia North American of the 9Th
inst, find an alusiou made to the contract OK
!! listing between MeSsrs, I.eech Is Co. aud that
/ road, showing an expcpditHre,by the Pennsyl-
Tania Railroad to their agents for the object Of
! securing an eastern bound business of ten per
/ cent on the total revenue controlled by them;
whilst by arrangement between MesSrS. EorsythS
| & Balm and 4fr. Done, on the part of the Balti-
penditure for securing the same business isttoe-
ty cents per ton. Whit this leverage III tho hands
of MeSsrs. Leech & Co., 1t has been shown that
they controlled s,9+8 tons of produce east
ward an four aud a half months, making gross
revenue of 1925, l97, st cost of 1872 $40. Against
! this, and with no incentive from the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, MeSsrs Forsyth 4 Balm con-
trolled in Jourmonths23 ,317 tons, making gross
revenue to the Baltimore and; Ohio Railroad (ac-
cording to the estimate made by the Pennsyl-
Ysnia Railroad Company of 1896, e83, and at a
cost of only 1868.
Ny object in making comparison between
the amount Of tonnage contoIled by Nessrs. Leech
& Co. over the Pennsylvania Railroad, and that
controlled by Messrs. Forsyths & Balm over the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, is for the purpose
of showing the advantageous results growing
out of the policy pursed by Mr.. Done, whilst act
ing As master Of transportation of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, and which is evidence of the
economical system pursued by him.
- An OBSERVER