Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-09
LOCAL ITEM 8 .

VIRGINIA. Nav I, in the Baltimore AmerI
can Of Saturday, and publish it, i'll order Il
keen our readers acquainted with all the
movements and suggestions with regard tC
trade to and from this place--an with what
i, said on these subjects, especially, In BaiIl,
more
I'm the sleepless and indefatigable com,
petitions which mark the tradeand business
Of the country ut the present time, success
i. unouestionahly best secured by the prompt
employment and appropriation of those facIl'-
TIE, Of TRANSPORTATION and general interconl-
uuui,ation which the industrial energies OF
the day in every direction are 5" rapidly de-
veloping. This proposition requires no ar
rument or illustration to establish It's sound
ness. Ii is the principle or line OF action,
combined of course with other agencies, that
,xpand. the hamlet into the town, the town
into the city. and the city into the proper
tions of the great commercial emporium
These thoughts are preliminary to some
considerations, which, through your journal,
| would offer the business men of Baltl-
more. in connection with the recent opening
or line of steam communication between
PHILADELPHIA and the District Of Columbia
and Alexandria, connecting directly with
New York. which has beyond all doubt ma
teriolIv affected the trade of Baltimore dur
ing the past season.
The damage sustained by us is not res
trictcd to those points with which this line
is i'm immediate connection, though that has
been very considerable. But Alexandria IL
now the terminal point of three railroads,
two of which ut present do-and the other
will-ramify an immense reg ion Of country
with which Baltimore has heretofore cult
waited very extensive business intercourse:
and when the small link in the Orange and
Alexandria road, between GordunSyllle and
Lynchhurg is rompleled--as it is expected
e. be in few mnnths--it Alexandra
mus, become a most important point for the
tr,mshirmcnt and forwarding Of that mi
mite variety of freight which will he seeking
the extended region of country opened up
hv the road first named. the Virginia and
Tennessee road. and the various lines IN
connection with those IN the South and
Southwest. New York. in antici patton Of
the valuable trade coming North through
this channel, will. it is fully ascertained, i'll
auyurate direct line Of propellers to this
place in a few months Philadelphia Is Ill
ready in the field, doing with her weekly
propeller line most prosperous business,
bringing not only heavy trcights to AleXan-
dra, Washington and Georgetown, but large
quantities uf merchandise for that interior
portion of Virginia, which until recently
were hru,,ht IN Baltimore.
How stands Baltimore in this existing and
prospective competition: Why, weekly
passenger and freight boat, assisted 10y II
propeller. These are all in the same hands
aud, Of COURSE, governed by those eXactlons
that distinguish all monopolirs. ! have 1t
from some If Arxandria's best and most re
liable merchants, that they are to-day pay
my smaller rates OF light from New York
to Alexandria than from Baltimore to that
point. The tariff upon the heavier articles
of merchandise is now So small that tins
question Of freight must be looked to by the
purchaser What is the consequence to US?
Scores of merchants, are absolutely driven
from our market-men who have eynced u
DISPOSITION to do business with u.s. but who
will not encounter the rates they have here
tofore been INJECTED to. In making tins
statement. with the deduction that belongs
to it, the writer protests against any impulse
of prejudice against the Baltimore and
Washington Steam Packet Company lie
r simply confronting fact, which, IL
earnestly believed. t" be operating most Sc
rously to the injury of Baltim"rc-lnd
which. looking To- the determination she has
always exhibited. not to be overwhelmed by
rivalrics-should not be permitted to con
tinue. If Baltimore proposes to retain the
trade from that quarter now indicating
purpose to go by her, because OF the dlsad-
vuntagc> against her upon the score of high
treights: if >he would enter, with fair show
If success. III competition with New York
and Philadelphia, upon that fine field OF
trade which must unquestionnhly he opened
bv the contamination of the railroad connec-
tons already referred to tits Of supreme i'm
portance that this question of transportation
should at once hc put upon basis. that, M
stead of driving the trade from. shall invite
it to our market. Baltimore is perfectly ca
pable IF meeting her Northern rivals on this
arena. hut supnrness, it is submitted, is not
the shape in which it should be exhibited.
MONUMENTAL.
TnE FISuEaIE>-Many of the Fishermen,
at the different Landings on the Potomac,
will probably close operations this week, I'M
less an extraordinary run of fish should take
place, which is not now expected Some
few have closed already. The season has
been "a failure. Ii it had not been for the
extremely high prices Of shad and herring
throughout. the loss must have been seri
GUS As it s, few, if any, have done even a
tolerablr business, and some have not made
EXPENSES.
SUNDAY School ENHIBITIoN.-The chl-
drrn of ST. Mary's Sunday School give their
Second Annual Exhibition and Concert at
Liberty Hall, this evening. The exercises
will consist Of singing, reritations, &c. aud
conclude with the Coronation of the Queen
of Nav. There will, no doubt. he large
audience in attendance
REGIMrXTAL MUSTER. Rrgimental
Muster of the 10th Regiment Virginia