The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-06-13
VOL. III---NO. 4O5.
No. NI.
TO THE MERCHANTS OE BALTIMORE.

mastery of the Cincinnati trade and have yielded its pos
session to your commercial rival who now fortfes that
possession with mastery capacity.
1t must be obvious ALL that under the present gov
ernment of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad the struggle
between Baltimore and Philadelphia for the commerce OF
the lower Mississippi grows daily more and more unequal
the diligence the and the Incidence of the other
city is continued In this in all physical collisions,
courage and capacity has told its tale and the strong
city has stronger whilst the weak has become less
RETROSPECTIVE SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT.
In concluding this abored argument is entirely pro-
per that should take brief retrospect of its principal
positions and present summary of its principal points
THE BASIS PRINCIPLES OF THE ARGUMENT.
The general theory of these numbers has been based
upon two prominent and striking facts Ftrt, have
sumed that the great of this city for quarter of
century past has been possess herself of the
for this that her great road was built Baltimore did not
claim any ercre possession of these rich fields of
mere but the luminous minds that concev ed and planned
this connection did claim mastery there all
peting cities, as due to their geographical position
FIRST CLAIM RIGHT
The first and interchangeable demand Of this city. there
fore should that the managers%fhe Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad shall adminsterits government that
the Baltimore merchant shall stand the marts of Gin
cinnat, hdUing advantage his Philadelphia rival
This is my first position. assume that thus service,
and nothing short ofs service should be required OF
your road.
Merchants of Baltimore, have a right to this
high ground in your defence? Is there among you a
solitary willing to bate jot or title from this
tensionl And why should you? The field of contest is
almost 100 miles to city, and the early plan of
your road was matured by patriotic whose compre
hensve minds fully embraced the present conflict of rival
cities for this imperial commerce They entered on the
contest ON scale to command success Your money
has been poured out like water to effect their views.
a ain ask the question: Am right to demand of those
who administer the Baltimore road that they place
commerce with Cincinnati OF Tdntdge ground over your
rivals?
Then is this the basis principle of my argument
assailable.
CLAIM OF RIGHT IGNORED AND REPUDIATED.
The second position have taken is that your road
der its present government fallen short greatly short
your just demands has failed to give you this sp
rioriy your rival merchants of Philadelphia Nay
session Of the contested points and facilities greater
than yours,
current notorious history Who has the hardhood to
deny it? Can not the merchant Of Cincinnati cho acheS
to East reach Philadelphia in less time than he
reach Baltimore? Can he not freight has goods to Phtta
delphiu equal less cost Where then is the
erorty of this city to which her shorter distance gives
BASIS FACTS OF THE ARGUMENT
upon these facts and they great factstey
porteRoo facts for this citythat have built the
superstructure my argument.
Fl stThis city has a right demand of her railroad
superiority the nGrs Of her own latitude Her com
mission for this is direct from high Providence nor has
she forfeited it by sleeping upon her natural gifts She
has improved those gifts with wise forecast, and with
the energy of her vigorous manhood
SecOnd-Her hopes are dsappointed-her gust demands
are denied to her-her merchants now langush on the
drippngs a the full ruition Of which their
energy and their natural position should give them right
This, Iaare shogn isd"e TO incOmpetency and reach
cry!
Around these foundation facts, and radiating from
them its centre my whole argument has been made to
play
LOOKING UP THE LOST RIGHTS OF THE CITY
In these numbers have diligently sought to find
for this grevous disappointment of your Just
pecations have looked narrowly into the details Of
the management of this great artery of Baltimore
wanted to see if the symmetry of plan and the
unity of design impressed on the original scheme of the
road had been observed by those who administer its
government. l wanted to know if the whole energies of
these had been directed to the end Of shortening your
distance and chedpening yonr transit.
PATRIOTIC VIEWS A DISCOUNT.
The early numbers OF this argument will disclose TO
you the result OF my Investigations on this point. i
found that the whole theory of the wise and patriotic
who planned this road for the greatness your cty
was thrown aside and trodden under foot.
SMALL MEN FOIsr THEMSELVES INTO HIGH PLAcEs!l
found that sharp men, with souls cramped and mar
rowed down bv small pursuits that speculaors and stock
jobbers having standard of moral tight but pecunary
success-men prone to artifce and cunning from their
habits of life, had thrust their puny into the giant
boots of the patriots who founded great thorough
fare.
found such men at the head of the Baltimore road
with absolute power the commercial destinies of
your city. found that by union of their conspred
wealth-no by free Of a public confdence-and by
shameless breach of every conventional decency, that
such men had taken possession of your road and had
moulded its operations to minister their spccula
tions and not to subserve your commercial necessities
found that they had abandoned the comprehensive
purpose Of shortening and cLeapenng yow transit to Gin
cinna which alone is the anchor of hope and safety
this city, and in lieu thereof they had substituted fy
dodgy JENNY WREN system of restriction discrimination
and exacton The object of this system found was to
your from its easy and cheap
est channel and force in costly circuit the Cen
trail Ohio Railroad that their SpecuationS in the bonds of
that road might be made ralaable.
THE ROGUIsH CONNECTION WITH THE CENTRAL RAIL
ROAD.
have not space even to glance at points of largest in
terest brought within the range of this discussions
the evidence of meretrcous connection with this Cen
ta Ohio Railroad here forces itself upon my memory
That road fifty miles out of the direct line to Gin
cnnati Why, desired to know, force the of
this city this unnecessary circu2 For months
in the year the Ohio steamhosts cheaper by nineteen
cents per barrel than tie Central Ohio road Why deny
the city of Baltimore the advantage Of this economy?
found, just said. arce and contrvance of discrmina
ting charges thrown around your force it
this pet road.
Flour lchich that road, charged only 46
cents barrel whilst ii it offered for transport from
the steamboat it was charged dollar per barrel-more
than double.
These other singular the same connection
attracted attention There must be motive for such
strange system and could no advantage this city
to the Baltimore road in such policy. athirst
to know why this close alliance with this Ohio railroad
had thus become cherished policy with the Directors of
the Baltimore road.
BEATING THE BUSIEST GAME soAREpUp
1t occurred to my mind that examination of the
official reports of the Central Ohio road might throw
light this mysterious connection. That road the
beneficiary of these distractions the commerce of Bal
tmore, and wanted to know for whyp So inst took
peep into these official documents, and pretty kettle of
fish tUaS uncOrered to my iHSpectioni!
find, first that the floating debt of that road is rapid
ly increasing; it neglects its daily obligations
Second The interest on its mortgage bonds (lUith
curious erceptionl remains unpaid.
Tird-Whilst thus Indifferent to its credit of the pre-
sent day. this interesting road is greatly exercised about
its future credit and sovency find it gravely engaged
under these dScoogtRg Circumstances ~ in laying up
substantial foundation ON for future credit by the
establishment of a sinking fundM
Forth-With this laudable purpose in view, they d-
vert their current from payment of interest
as far as they from expenses and use
said revenues TO b u %eir o,on third norqaoe bonds
which they carefully store away substantial sinking
tund to which they point attention as sure guarantee
of eventual solvency I
With the light thus thrown upon this mysterious ALI
ance between the two roadby these gleanngs from the
official reports of the Ohio road gathered important
fact
THEM WITH A SHARP STICK.
found that all the large of that road result
with the Baltimore road deuOed to the purchase of
ats oWn third mortgage bonds This class of bonds
cashed for somebody W and the holders of these bonds
therefore, the benefited and most deeply inter
ested in giving TO that road its largest To make
the circle complete, one more fact was wanted.
Was there any man, or there any men, in the di
rectiou of the Baltimore Road holding of these
third mortgage bonds 1ohO ,UO1d hare preference as il
~ have them cashed ~ and could this man. or
these-men WELD controlling voice the policies
the Baltimore Road and mould its action to suit this pri
vate nterestP Rumor gave an affirmative answer to ts
inquiry But Madame Rumor is so notorious liar that
will not her authority, darken the any
with charge of such unapproachable infamy If the
fact be true it is fact here home among yourselves
and most properly be left your investigation
have thought that such condition of things should
be generally understood, and that to know would be to
correct this glang outrage With all my feeble strength
have tried to rvet the gaze of this city these
moth wrongs done to its most vital commerce.
THE TRUE WESTERN CONNECTIONS
The concluding four numbers of this argument have
been devoted to discussion of the proper Western
transOh connections of the Baltimore Road In argu-
ing this part of the subject have made closet argu-
ment drew my facts not alone from books and maps;
studied the question NTH hiring men, with engaged
in the active scenes of busy life in that Western region
with men who had intimate personal knowledge Of ali
these Western localities.
had been put forward to advise city as to the best
route to conduct its commerce. and by its better anpon
ments to conquer back from powerful rival, its birth
right possessions strove to qualify myself for my task
weighed the reasoning of all in the scales of unbiased
judgment. My conclusions that the Hooking Val
ley route alone and possession of the tunnel entrance in
to Cincinnati, would enable Baltimore to retrieve her
losses and overwhem Philadelphia in the marts of that
city.
SOURCE INFORMATION.
On the proper decision of this question hangs the pro-
gress of your city. Every merchant every mechanic
every property holder and every tax payer within lin
it's should look to this question.
Merchants of Baltimore in regard to your best Western
connection, you must make false step wish YOU
pause here and answer me my questions. wouI ask
you, who of all men of his generation best qualified
counsel you this vital question: Who is he that
passed the Or of his manhood in the service of these
Western connectioas2 Who has in person, and through
long years Of toll walked every foot of Its dstance2 Who
has passed lifetime in the study of this subject in all its
complications? Who he that the rpeness of advan-
ton before the direction of the Baltimore road
esty, and with surprising ability impressed upon them
to guard the safety of your city?
That man is BENJAMIN ii. LATRoBE for more than
twenty years the Chief Engineer of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad. In him you have integrity without a
blemish and professional skill of acceptance
He of unchalenged uprighness of purpose and
of unclouded judgment which has been exercised
the best opportunities of knowledge 1t is especially
gratifying to pay this proper tribute to the worth of
Mr. LATRoBEt In past and with insufficient knowl
edge of crcums ances assailed the professional skill
this gentleman because Of the high grades of the Balt
more and Ohio Railroad. My criticism then just in
itself: but most unjust casting blame the Engineer