The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-05-13

TO THE MERCHANTS OF BALTIMORE.

V.
TO THE MERCHANTS OF BALTIMORE
SUMMARY OF POINTS IN THE DISCUSSION
have said that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
commercial abortion under the operation its discrmi
mating policy in favor of the Central Ohio Railroad.
have said that the trade of this city over
to her merchants decmated quantity and proess
IN ITS agency by of burdens imposed upon it. to
swel the revenues of this Central Ohio Railroad
company have said that these which of right
ana In common honesty belong to the payment OF the in
terest ON their bonds by strange policy the part of
that Company being diverted TO the purchase of their
third mortgage bonds under preteXt of establishing
sinking fund.- lhave thought that perhaps in some
to unknown the holders of these favored third morts
gage bonds WELD sinister influence on the councils
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, which thus
adapts action of that road to the enarg the in
OF the Central Ohio Road and not to the enlargement
the trade of its city. have directed the public
gaze this quarter possibly furnishing key poll
cy injurious every interest this city and beneficial
alone to the holders of these third mortgage bonds.
In the present number propose to show the merchants
Of this city what abortion for purposes of Western
trade, their great road has proved to be- have before
shown that even the pary onnageit brings them from
d the Ohio Railroad that it comes to their
hands in prottless agency.
OPERATIONS OF THE RoADIN 1855
1t appears that in 1858 road brought wheat and -four
from its three termin on the Ohio, Wheeling, Benwood
and Parkersburg, as follows:
Bbs Flour. Bus. Wheat
NheeIng.' g.'.''.''.......... 65t37 42456
BenwOod ..................3340 Oh 65 S4l
Parkersburg 3005l3 2l9,744
Total. tal.........................6 .699,544 82S, ,O4l
here calculate the wheat 60 pounds to the bushel
ana three bushels to the bag and SO bushels equal
ton or ten barrels of -four
This makes the aggregate productions brought
rom the Ohio river about 10000 tons. The total trade
from that river Baltimore the year 1883 wa 10
tons. Most lame and impotent conclusion!
RIDICULOUS DIsPRoPoRTIoS
he baltlmore ana ONO Railroad was built at cost OF
over 1t is the fruit of twenty years toll and
OF lasting and grinding taxation Its preparation for
the Ohio river are on a scale of almost fb "c @
1t sends forth 22S locomotives
all its eghage from the Ohio river in 1858 amounts to
I'u,OoO tons When we look to the means employed,
ana contrast them with the results achieved for this city
can not retract my denunciaon. This road up to this
ume mas proved to be commercial abortion.
WHY THESE THINGS ARE THUS PALrRY
Why these results thus pary2 am here to point
out the causes BE not impatient of details Do not
believe for moment that people the rich lands of the
West have ceased to cultivate and produce Do not
compete with you for the fruits of Western labor Tie
fGwt hes at home 1t is to be found in these prohiitory
charges, and this discrimination policy
have before toll of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company for the year 1855 find flour charged
81 barrel coming from either depot the Ohio river
anu wheat charged Is cts buShe These charges pro-
hdo'y and hence the road and city the Western
grain and -four trade 1t is these reduced
somewhat in the months the rates of other
roads also reduced and the result commerce is the
same.
The eye will gather the facts wish to prese better if
place them in tabular form want every one to under
stand me, and to remember the facts here disclosed:
A table sholving charges Flour and cram byogL to
n,
By way of Central Ohio Railroad and Benwood -four is
charged As 6l0 cts. per bbl
By way of the river, when sent to either
Sation by the agent of the company
nOur Is charged. 60 cts
If flour is offered at either depot not
marked by their own agent at Cincin-
natl as "tirOugh fOUr' it is charged 81
Wheat offered at either Of the Ohio de
pots, Is charged.
Study iceH these figures Read in them the loss of the
grain trade Of the this city See how craftilv
these charges framed to force Central Ohio
kailroad whatever Western -four reaches this city See
how the free navigation the Ohio River is closed to this
city ny tariff Of discrimination laid swell the income
OF the Central Ohio Railroad and mpoversh this city and
It's road that some mysterious holders their third mort
gage ponds may get them caShed The charge of 81 90
barrel and of % cents bushe all delivered from the
river except the through tonnage, is absolute prohi-
biton of the river trade.
TO illustrate the crime thusperpetrated on the com
mercial interests of Baltimore 1t is well known
mat tue vagrant tonnage of the Ohio River seeking
the cheapest Atlantic outlet, is vastly greater than
any tonnage hitherto brought to this city Rv this
charge of SlOO barrel all Rirer -four and by with
hodig return cargOes from the steamboat all this vast
aue pracucally driven from this city This have ex-
plalned IN No. . of this argument.
suppose boat freighted with 900 barrels of -four ten
ders II TO be brought from Benwood Baltimore The
P~acy men demand LOO barrel freight. But if 600
barrels come to Benwood the Central Ohio Road
hese men are content to pass it to this city for Is cents
hey not only charge the cargo of River -four $3.50 more
tan uey charge the Central Ohio -four but they give
the Central Road all their back freghts The seamboat
IS thus forced to proceed with its cargo to Pittsburg
lIs ciIy ana her railroad and her merchants loose
maghhcent commerce, and the holders of the third mort
gage bonds Of theCenra Ohio Railroad are the sole bene
hcaries of the ruinous policy
ADVANTAGES OF BALTIMORE IN POINT OF nIsr,vcp
Merchants of Baltimore, study these figures You have
long wondered why the produce Kentucky Tennessee
missouri and all the lower belt of the Mississippi not
SEEK your markets. You have the advantage over other
markets in distance the following tables show TAX
ing CINCINNATI as the point they all have pass reach
any Atlantic market and your city much their nearest
point of delivery.
Miles,
Distance from Cincinnati to New York S5S
q
u to Baltimore, $50
These relative distances disclose the natural sunerio
" OF Baltimore over her rival cities. In this table of
distances have given to each city its distance by its own
line of connection.
an the States whose waters flow into the Ohio river below
heeling or into the Missouri river. Geography has Civ
en- her the whole lower belt of the Mississippi but the
powers OF her great thoroughare have fallen under the
dominance OF speculation and used for stock job
nlng and not for mercantile purposesl
TRUE PRINCIPLES on WHICH To ESTABLISH TOLL SHEET
In establishing tariff Of tolls charges on wheat and
nour should be made low the Ohio river to Ba
more comports with the lowest profit to the road
ihese heavy commodities sold at low prices in mar
ket and can not reach your city, taxed with heavy car
rage They are of universal productions; nine-ten
the labor and capital of this region whose trade YOU
court IS employed in that cultivation production
oil tonnage equally heavy The city that gets wheat
anu ou OF these people, will surely get their other trade
Their hemp and tobacco and their pork would pay the
road more reasonable profit and the city of Baltimore
would send them their supplies of dry goods and groce
RES IN return These return articles would pay first
class rates to the road thus compensate in large
cheaper he
II this reasoning be just let it be practically applied in
fixing charge wheat and from the banks of the
ONO river to Baltimore If the best and cheapest route
be opened with equal advantages the would then
make moderate profit, even these low priced sta
pies "
Now, merchants of Baltimore suppose vonr road re
heved from its ncumbus specuaors and stock iobbars
and left to pursue the dictates and enlightened
common sense-Suppose it under guidance OF comnra'
hensiye Intelligence that unbiased bv 1rrqte interest
ana could embrace the whole subject all its vast amp
tude-an intelligence free to look after your interests
q rOl1f from 1a,ltn
side to side regardless sinister and stock iobing
motives-I say suppose such revolution in the govern
ment OF the Baltimore and Ohio road could effected
Al loontd De rather rerllSiOn than q rerOlution'
Let yeur road stand the banks OF the Ohio inviting
and welcoming trade from all quarters Let the mission
roau 'or the present end where the road ends and
from that point let it he willing and reasonable serv
tor of all tonnage without Discrimination come rJonc -
may and hoU IL lists.
LARGE COMMERCE FOLLOW THE CHANGE OF potIoy
now, merchants of Baltimore, how enight-
the fruitful State of Kentucky let YOUR ewes dwell nnon
the lands ofits Frankfort and Paris and Lexington the
most fertile on the earths surface Their labor will all
come to the Atlantic board by the cheapest
Their rich commerce will follow their labor They want
your Silks your brandes groceries, they want your
uphostereS and all the productions your arzans in ex
change Tor their wheat and their flour If the councils of
the Baltimore road were freed from sinister influences
and consulted no interests but those of this city, all that
region aood trade here Whereas the present manage
ment REJECTS nearly all of it, with all its enriching ad.
vantages. ~
The cost of getting wheat or -four from the interior of
farmer at Frankfort and other places could afford to raise
wheat Tor this market He could get the river Ohio
oy railroad to Covngton Lousve-or he could boat
u down on some of their many slackwatere streams
once on the Ohio, steamboats, would compete for it. and
Drng 1t to Parkersburg Thus the farmer at Lexington
would trade with Baltimore He could get his products to
your market at less cost than any city on the At
iantc and IN return you would furnish his supplies
- PROSPERITY BALTIMORE
Merchants OF Baltimore-what would be the effect of
s action OF common upon your own interests and
e interests OF your great thoroughrep You would no
longer be Knocked with 170 tons as the measure of its
tunes that tonnage would measure its re-
turn trips to this city You would require new ware
houses ana new shipping to distribute the marts of the
world the immense wealth of Western labor that wonld
crowd upon you. Your road would double track itself
with Its own gains and your city not he again call
ed on under preence of double track to give it money
for its accumuating Indebtedness.
have not yet exhausted the subject Laws of Virginia
and Maryland. enacted to prevent unequal exactons on
the citizens have been grossly and habually violated TO
carry out their 'pocy of discrimination. design to
point their attention to the fact that there is punitive as
well as preventive legislation for these abominabIe i'm
positions.
A. NJ.
3flUnetarp an1 Commercial 2tbifbu.