The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-05-18
mo. VII
TO THE MERCHANTS OF BALTIMORE,


am sensible of having interrupted the on ward tread
this argument, in my last number, by what many, will
appear to be an unbecomng leviy of and of illus
traton 10 those of readers who regret this depar
ture from the gravity of the subject have say that
somoer and unbroken argument would fatigue the aten
uon ana fail OF the end aim to accomplish Illustrations
and comparisons rests in the walk Of argument that
enable the reader to gather his breath and resume the
Journey with renewed aacry of attention These mum
oers must be looked upon continued stream moving
IN one direction and aiming at high and valuable pu
pose No object short of large public usefulness would
Justify the combination of individual influence and the
contribution of individual means which at once gives po
ency to reasoning and remuneration to my iaoors
conscious of aiming to do high service, and require
and ! exact high remuneration The laborer is worthy
of his hire and when the commerce OF city is to be res
cued from carbunces that impede its course and van-
pires that upon its life streams would De unwse
and unscrpural "o mEse the OF 'ohich rampeth out the
grain - .-.,
after fact upon public attention, all tending to
result Articles and devices and contrvances and traps
for punder OF your commerce, have been one by one
dragged into light and held up deserved opprobrium
All these exposures have had valuable purpose in
view have aimed to convict the public Judgment that
might combine the public strengthen the effort to free
this city from a noxious influence whose domination
bghs, as with mildew all your well grounded aspa-
tions of commercial greatness
A LARGER THEATRE OF MIsCHIEF-GREATER CRIMINALITY.
now come in the progress of the discussion to con-
slider the sinister action of this policy party larger
theatre of mischief The species proectorae the
third mortgage bonds OF the Central Ohio Road of which
have been speaking exercised by these under
lower grade Of crimnaty But when, in their fidelity
to this foreign interest," they follow the streams of
at their spring head the offence is highest the
calendar of crme-it is treason against their native
city.
THE SHORTEST ROUTE TO CINCINNATI TENDERED FOR Ac-
CEPrANCE.
In the fall of 1857 proposition submitted to the
Directors of the Baltimore and Ohio Road designed
meet this city and the city Of Cincinnati by the shortest
and most direct line of rail This is known as the Hook
ing Valley route, and judcious consolidation of
sundry railroad lines for the purpose of suppantng the
clrcultous rail now connecting the two cities.
rms combination of roads if effected would have pre-
distance
over the roads ofPhiladephia and New York, and
nave given Baltimore the great volume of travel coming
East Suffice it to that it rendered to this city route
to Cincinnati 81 miles shorter in lnea distance than that
by the Central Ohio Roadt gave this city the tunnel at
Cincinnati and joined her with the ST. Louis road thus
forming continued rail to St Louis and it gave ad
antages in time of at least four hours the Central
In regard Indiana connections moreover it offer
ed an advantage to this city of 50 miles, and it also
- miles nearer to Columbus than by of the Central
Ohio Road.
EMINENT BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSITION.
Here rendered to Baltimore the realization of her
long and ardent desires The keys fCncinnati Indian
apns and St Louis with all their multiplied tributaries
these combined roads here and aided by Benjamin
Latrobe the long trusted Engineer their Company
tne fullest explanations were made Maps and surveys
ot the whole trans Ohio region elucdated their argu-
ments They asked no money-they imposed no embar-
RAISING burdens-they rendered an unmixed and long
coveted advantage to this city.
EASY TERMS OF THIS VITAL ACQUISITION.
The proposition submitted to the Direction Of the Balti
more Road that they should, then and at signify
by resolution of their board that this short
and direct line of rail from Cincinnati to Parkersburg
could be finished, and placed working condition the
Baltimore Road would adopt it their best connection
with Cincinnati The board informed that sundry
links of this line Railroad remained vet incomplete
and that this simple pledge of future alliance with the
Baltimore Road would infuse credit that would enable
them to perfect the whole line.
ALL THESE BENEFITS LOST TO THE CITY-PRIyATE AND
PUBLIC INTERESTS NOT HARMONIOUS.
Now, Merchants of Baltimore. what interests of your
city or of your Baltimore and Ohio Railroad could require
rejection of this proposition? Some opposing interest,
however must have caused its rejection. Addressing
these interests at the board well might you paraphrase
the remarks of Paul to Agrippa when he stood in chains
before the King, pleading for his life:
,cere not only almost bit altogether the same and IRE
think they 'conld be- ercep only for those bonds! -
mean the third mortgage bonds!
ACTION OF THE COMMITTEE
The subject was referred to special committee which
made the following brief report
THAT the policy of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company heretofore has been to furnish to all connecting
nes equal facilities for the interchange
of business The Committee, whilst expressing convic
'tion that additional lines will always welcomed
the best terms afforded to existing lines recommend
"the adoption of the following resolution, viz:
"ReSOlred, That this Board declines to commit itself to
any exclusive arrangements either with any existing
"ROads, any that may hereafter be constructed'
To this resolution there but dissentent voice.
Mr. G. r. Nickers man of clear head and sound orig
will furnish the substraum of the views design to sub
init on these Western connections.
Here then, Merchants of Baltimore, the early and fun
damenta theory of your whole Road subverted and
abandoned For this foreign interest the vital interests
of abandoned with heartless ndifer
the shortest and cheapest transit for your commerce.
would have ended, once all their secret and profitable
connections with the Central Ohio Railroad.
RESOLUTION OF COMMITTEE DENOUNcED-BLIND BARTI
But ask attention to this almost unanimous resolution
OF the committee there one word of truth in its whole
purpose Is not its sentence COOL impudent and
well considered untruth? This is strong language, but
am here to promulge facts however harsh and in way
to palliate concocted and well digested deception.
In all large bodies, important questions referred to
committees for investigation Blind Bartmeus will al
ways be found these committees They purposely
selected because of their helpless dependence the
greater diligence and better opportunities of men in whom
they place their blind trust In this way it is that in the
Board of Directors designing enabled the
of well-ntenoned men, who would have spurned
their counses had they compehended the scope of the
question.
UNTRUTHs OF THE RESOLUTION.
What man of that committee, except those in the plot
would knowingly have put forth the untruth of that
solution? They made to say that their Company
then an alliance auth other railroad and that they
would never form any exclusive alliances in future
At that rerg time, and prior to that time and up the
present moment of time the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
leagued in bonds and of closest excu
sive connection with the Central Ohio Railroad 1t
bound TO favor that road and did favor that road and at
this day does favor that road by and by covert dis
elimination against all other roads, and to the large
injury of its own Parkersburg branch!
BALTIMORE SACRIFICED To ALIEN INTERESTS
The proposition thus rejected of boundless advan
tage this city 1t rendered the unquesoned control of
all her natural strength in her deadly competition with
rival cities The decision of this great question, unhap
PLY for this city devOlved too ndolent to master
the importance of the OCCASION and who yielded to the
connsel of other whose interests (olCng to those
bonds y neither almost altogether identical
with the interests of this city.
will further examine this resolution in my
ber. A. J. NJ.