The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-26

receive Of the Western -four is but fraction of what
proper policy might Our trade in all other ar
t!cles of Yves produce increased in an eouaI
ratio with that of flour i
One and half cents per per mile may be the lowest
remuneraye price for the transportation of general
chahase Dy aiiroad as Is stated by the President but
TINS estimate does not apply to coal The experience of
the Reading Railroad Co. shows that while they can car
ry coal for 5S cents it them los cents or nearly
DOUBLE to transport general merchandise same
lance TINS difference in favor of coal arises from the
punctuaty and magnitude of the coal trade whereby
the cars are always filled their capacity from
the greater ghtness of the cars and the less dead
weight TO DC carried The cars used for general merchan
oise are rarely hled and when loaded to their greatest
capacity they burdened with about twice as much
dead weight as the coal cars
The injurious effects of the advance on the rate of
freight on coal which made late in 1856 were not i'm
mediately apparent owing to the circumstance that the
mining companies were taken by SURPRISE they
contracts with which they bound to comply even at
heavy loss for the delivery of large quantities dur
ing the year 1891 predcated on the expectation of
changed rates in freight No immediate diversion of trade
from the road to the canal occurred because the mai was
closed by ice during the winter of 1857 and
ured by the feshets in the spring be
rest of the But in 1858 when canal had been
repaired and was again naygabe the bad effects of the
Railroad policy perceived and the trade in coal to
Baltimore declined from 400 43 tons in 1857 to 29 in
1858; decrease of $50 Ala tons
This dminuton of the coal business the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad the President asserts in conse-
quence of the panic and revulson of the past year. but
this is not the case the general coal trade the country
increased in 1858 From the Cumberland region there
were 7O0lO tons sent to market in 1858 than 1857
aud in the Schuylk region and the adjacent country
there was an increase of $4,000 These
are to be found in the Cumberland Cirilia of Jan
uary, 1859 and the Miners Journal Pottsville Penn
of 18th January
On the LIST March, 1885, reduction of so cents per ton
was made the freight of coal from Cumberland to Bat
but the injury had been done and was too late to
repair it, the advanced so cents ton in the Railroad
rate of freight made in December 1856 had compelled the
coal companies to regard the canal the only mode of
transportation which it safe them to rey and
they were induced to furnish the Company with the
to repair the canal which probably could not have been
obtained elsewhere They have also invested large
capital in boats which they WILL under circumstances
use at least as long they will last.
To-day received the following letter from the agent of
one Of the principal mining companies the Cumberland
Region:
joins s. WILLIAMS, ESQ:
Dear Sir In reply to yours of 10th inst. the Mining
Company for whom we are agents, sent down in
Railroad. Canal Total.
1856 ........35,7 4019 40,636.1O 76,377.09
1S57...........42,SS3.1S 23725l6 GO 600 Ia
lS5s......... 26,S97 03 5l,51404 7s,4ll.07
They were under heavy contracts last of 1856 when
the Railroad Company advanced their rate of freight
owing the break in the Canal were forced to send by
the Railroad which is the of large amount sent
IN 1851, but it was done at loss to the Company
and over their shipments have increased in 1855
which the with the aggregate of the Cumberland
owing to the wider use it is being Tie charged
by the Railroad has compelled the Coal Companies
vest in boats and other fixtures for the Canal and
taken the trade from Baltimore where properly belongs
and we have paid dear enough for it.
In conclusion, will say that if the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company for any reason which it is deemed
advisable to make known to the public, continue to
carry merchandise at the present Eastern cities
let them yield the to cents advantage which they now
give to Philadelphia and the to 10 New York
per barrel on -FOUR and corresponding on other
articles by making abatement of similar amounts in
the rates of freight to Baltimore The difference would
not be material to the Railroad Company, but it all i'm
porant to Baltimore-it is these homeopathic
doses of discrimination that kill; small they may ap
pear they sufficient to divert the other cities
me slightest discrimination in would
tany the trade of all the produce brought
the road. JOHN s WILLIAMS