The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-07

we published on Monday an extract from
an article in the Hanover pa Spectator in rela
'on TO the extension of the Gettysburg Railroad
TO Hagerstown, in which it was confidently as
serted that if the proposed line were completed
1T would secure 10 Baltimore the trade of tina,
region as effectually as will the extension of the
WESTERN MARYLAND road" to the same point
AS this is matter of some Importance in view o.
the application which is now pending before oul
City Council, for an endorsement of the bonds Of
the WESTERN MARYLAND road to the amount of q
quarter of million of dollars, it is worth while,
not only to examine into the correctness of the
statement itself, but to consider what effect the
extension of the Gettysburg road would have
upon the future course of trade.
The distance from Hagerstown to Baltimore by
the route which the WESTERN MARYLAND road will
take may be stated as follows:
From Baltimore to Union Bridge in Carroll
county the present terminus of the road. AZ miles
rloih Union Bridge to Hagerstown. ......... 40
Total distance to Hagerstown.. 81 miles
from Baltimore to Gettysburg rs miles
from gettysburg to Hagerstown ria Waynes-
WIN $3.50. ''..''......- 40
Total distance to Hagerstown. ZIG miles.
From this comparative statement it is evident
that by accepting the Gettysburg extension as the
preferable route to Hagerstown, the whole trade of
Washington county would have to make circuit
OF tWenty-nine miles further, in order to reach
this city, than would be required by the route laid
down for the WESTERN MARYLAND road, and that it
would be subjected to corresponding increase of
transportation charges. Yet our business men are
invited to aid in the construction of road the
ultimate design of whose projectors 3 to tap the
BALTIMORE and ONO Railroad at Hancock and
thus, with the addition of short link now re-
naming open between Oxford and York, complete
an air line between Philadelphia and the Ohio
Valley. By reference to the acts of Assembly for
1885, chapter 80, section 7, it will be found that
Maryland granted to the State of Pennsylvania
the right to build a road through Washington
county to connect with the Baltimore and Ohio
road at any point west of Hagerstown. The fran
chses of this road have been assigned by the State
of Pennsylvania to the Gettysburg Railroad Com
pany. If Baltimore assists in constructing that
portion of the line which yet remains unfinished
she will inhict serious injury upon her own in
terests for 50 soon the road is made to Hagers-
town. Philadelphia capitalists will step in and
complete its extension 10 Hancock, and the mer-
chants of that city will thus be able TO enter into
serious competition with those of Baltimore for the
products of the West. The compact between the
two States is clear and positive The BALTIMORE
and Ono Railroad cannot in this event discrimi-
nate against the grant. If, on the other hand,
sufficient means shall be obtained to extend the
WESTERN MARYLAND Railroad to Hagerstown, the
Pennsylvania project would necessarily have to
be abandoned, if finally carried out, would
have to contend against the advantages presented
by much nearer route to the seaboar1 and an
equally good market