The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-02
To the Editors of the Erchanoe.

VOL. UI---NO. BY.
To the Editors Of the Exchange:
GENTLEMEN: | enclose the first number in
series, which have prepared for publication. TIL
argument OF these numbers | think is of value t.
the commercial interests of Baltimore; and man,
OF the intelligent business men of your city t.
whom have read them think their publication
would be public benefit.
lhe compilation of the facts of these numbers
and the digestion of these views, have been yer,
heavy labor accompanied by sacrifices of socia
duties and of time, as well as large pecuniar,
cost.
propose to sell my labor to those who are I,
be benehtted,a and publish the first number to show
whatit is offer for sale. The following excern
from the sixth number OF the series will explain
that "materiat ad Kossuth expressed it. will h,
required before further numbers are published
Extract from the 9Th Number of svIAroR."
Il am sensible OF having interrupted the onward
tread OF this argument, in my last number b what
10 many will appear to be an unbecoming levity OF
tone zone ana OF Illustration. To those of my readers
VINO regret this departure from the gravity of ar
gument, / nave to say that sombre and unbroken
traln OF reasoning would fatigue the attention. and
fail of the end aim to accomplish.
Illustration and comparisons are rests in the walk
OF argument that enables the reader to gather his
breath, and to resume the journey with renewed
alacrity OF attention. These numbers must be
looked upon Il continued stream fowino in ono
direction, and aiming at high and valuable
purpose.
No object short of large public usefulness would
JUSTIFY the combination of individual influence and
the contribution of individual means which at once
gives potency to my reasoning and remuneration to
my iaoors. am conscious of aiming to do high
SERVICE and ask, and exact, high remunera-
The laborer is worthy of his hire: and wbaro tho
commerce of city is to be rescued from carbun
cies which impede its course and from vampires
that nurse upon its life streams it neither wise nor
scriptural to muz=le the ,ohich trampeM out the
gram"
lhese numbers will appear consecutively (when
moter'at oid' is provided, under the signature of
"NIAToR;" simply toavoid personal notoriety The
writer can be found, or letters addressed to that
signature will reach him, at the Fountain Hotel,
Baltimore.
TO THE MERCHANTS OF BALTIMORE.
INTRODUCTORY EXPLANATIONS.
propose to address you in series of numbers
on the question OF the restrictions and discrmina-
tons imposed on the commerce of this city passing
over the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The
argument upon 'diese policies has led me
to discuss the true and rightful interests of Bati-
more in regard to her Western trade; and finally
to full and clear exhibition of the fatal errors
committed by the directors of that company in ref
with the city of Cincinnati
These are questions of high moment, and of
large import to this city. They are now but dimy
seen, and imperfectly cOmprehended and in the oh
security which surrounds them injury and danger
to your commerce has arisen. 1t is my ambition in
these numbers to make these subjects nteligible to
the plalnest understanding.
In the relations of this CITY W itb the lower helt
OF the Mississippi, every energy of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad should be exerted to the enaroe
ment % of trade and the cheapening of intercourse
In the strong rivalry of Boston, New York and
Philadelphia, to handle the agricultural prodncn
that centres at st. Louis and Cincinnati Baltimore
needs to husband every strength her position pives
her She is nearer these great centres of trade by
100 miles than either of her rivals and this adyan
tage, if retained gives her the heavy tonnage of
dence. "
My purpose in these numbers is to explain to vou
Uhy IL Is, that TINS rich commerce has not reached
tins city; and hoc it is that rival cities have seized
upon 1t, despite your stronger claim. Your yipi- |
lance should be sensitive to every wrong done yonr
commerce. for the history of the worldbas nresent
cd no more aggressive rivalry than is now forced
upon you.
COMMERCIAL BATTLE TO RE FOUGHT
IN llis S'gahtlc struggle, the strongest city, with
the best appointments, must prevail Ii behooveS
the merch ants of Baltimore therefore To str;n for
the contests for it is close hand to hand fight with
parties IN many respects their superiors. 1t is |
contest where bone and muscle counts; and BALI |
more must hold every inch Of her elevation, and |
yield no little Of her advantage She must 6pbt |
the fight with limbs unshackled and disincumbered |
OF every obstruction.
In nv judgment this policy of discrmin ation hos
betrayed the strength of this CITY, and surrendered
it to her rivals. In this struggle for commerciaI
NE hts policy has ignored and cast off your birth
rlght OF perfect security. 1t has spiked your runs.
and 1T enables your enemies to mock your manacled
strength, as they convey fleets of rich commerce
under the very shadows ofyour fortresses
THIS POLICY HAS SUSPICIOUS MARKS ABOUT IT.
This ''Pohcy' has marked features upon it, and |
Is OF such inexpicable mischief to the interests of
BALTIMORE as well as to the road ITSELF that it has
awakened dstrust of the motive which has i'm
posed 1t on the company. 1t is thought that somef
interest, perhaps alien to the general interests
your commerce, has controlled the Councils of the
road and Influenced its adoption. 1t is the design
OF these numbers to explore this policy in all its
depth, and to exhibit for public Judgment all its
mischics. ''' ~"
proceed now to explain the manner in which
thls '.PohGy of discrimination affects the inter
course OF Baltimore with the Mississippi Valley
CINCINNATI Is a great centre where the mass of the
estern trade tends, and has to pass in its transit
10 the Atlantic markets The tonnage of Cincin-
nat VIII therefore fully illustrate the points of the
argument will now suppose dialogue between
the city OF Cincinnati, through her merchants and
the high authorities that rule the "poicies" of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The object of the merchants of Cincinnati is to
SEND their produce to the best market by the cheap
est conveyance. The object the Baltimore mer-
chants ann to achieve is to get this produce (cal
1t hour) into their warehouses taxed with the least
practicable cost of transit. Cincinnati and Balti-
more therefore, have one homogeneous interest
me cheape"mg Of intercourse. The Legitimate func-
ton oil the Baltimore and Ohio Rairoad is TO foster
the commercial interests of its own city, by the
simple policy of conducting that commerce over
c cne rGai, at the lowest charge consistent with
ialr ian proht to Its stockholders These are in brief
the respective relations of the three parties.
- COME, LET US REASON TOGETHER
CINCINNATI wishing to establish commercial con-
nections with Baltimore, looks first to the import
anu Item OF transit She asks of the Baltimore
q hIS 7laIic
cy IN tnat distant clty-its total charge for delivery
Of M her Hour She is told-"It YOUR flour is passed
through th our agency to Baltimore, send it over
the Central Ohio Railroad at total charge of 81
cents. But If you pass it through our agency, and
prefer to send it by steamboat to our road. we
charge 20 cents barrel: but in either case, we
your city, '9 "
Cincinnati, wishing to master the details of this
arrangement, then asks, what part of this So cents
comes to your road as its clear net charra for
transport from the banks of the Ohio to the CITY of
Baltimore, and what is the gross cost of its freight
from Cincinnati to its delivery on YOUR road mass
ing through your agency here? The reply is that
the Baltimore road receives 45 and G. 10 cents ner
Darrel, and that, consequently the cost of GETTING
1t from Cincinnati through this agency and over
the Central Ohio Railroad, is 80 and l.lOths of a
cent.
Cincinnati knows that her steamers will do,iror
Hour at Parkersburg for Is cts. a barrel and make
pront. She can thus employ her own boats and
save Z3 and 40 cts.-allowing the odd cents to
|
at Parkersburg her net saving would be 20 cts n
barrel. She then replies to the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad: "' 0"''
CINCINNATI SPEAKS
"We do not wish to be entangled with vour
agency IN this city, is it our interest 10 send
our tonnage over the Central Ohio Railroad
our road and your city are under no obligation to
ioster the interest of this Central Ohio road Your
legitimate business is to carry our trade over YOUR
road and earn the As cts. freight The interest of
your city Is to be made factor and to Distribute
or US upon the W aters of the Atlantic the nroduc
uons ot Western labor that aggregates here on our |
hands We will give to your road at Parkersburg.
or at Wheeling, the As Clio cts YOU ask for its
transport to Baltimore; and at this cost of transit
winch Is less than any other city offers your |
merchants shall be factors and in distribution
OF our produce, they will whien the waters of the
chesapeake with multiplied canvas"
Inc Cincinnati merchants then continue: eeRut |
we must be allowed to elect our own mode of reach
ing your road at Parkersburg or at Wheeling
with our produce. If we take it by the Central
Ohio railroad it will cost 80 cts but we can |
hoat 1T up the Ohio river to Parkersburg and place
1t on your cars for 20 cts. per barrel. We wish to
econ0mze this Is cts. per barrel, so we will send
our trade to your road in our own boats"
Now, merchants of Baltimore, hear the answer
which the agents of Baltimore having supreme
control of her road and thereby the full power to
take her trade, make to the city of Cincinnati
speaking this language of common sense Haarkan |