The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-09
THE PROPOSED LINE OF STEANEPS
FROM BALTIMORE TO EUROPE.
BALTIMORE Anr; etb 1CeI

FROA BALTIMORE TO EUROPE.
BALTIMORE, April Sth, 1861.
TO the Editors of the Baltimore Erchqnqe
The leading merchants OF this city are now he
coming convinced of the necessity Of limo of
steamers, to run direct from this port to Eurora -
The feasibility OF such an enterprise no one for a
moment doubts. BY a careful examination Of sta.
tistics OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for the
month OF September last, the business done bv the
exporting and importing houses of this CITY. and
minute observance of the immense ADVANTAGE de-
riVed by New York through the arrival of emf
grants there, feel more than ever assured of the
pFacucaDility oil this project hasty glance at this
matter Will have little no influence with anu one it
Is subject which requires the deepest consdera-
ration. 1t is not a thing which will alone tran
silently benefit this city, but steadily build it up
and ultimately make this one of the most
important of ports in America. As can be
proven by statistics which l have the increase in
the number of emigrants to the port of New York
during the past fourteen years has been perfectly
astounding During ten years (from 1887 to 1917,
the number of emigrants arriving in the a0hoIe Of
North America, only amounted to l,026, l25, and
of these 552 3O5 direct to the United States
The number exceeds four hundred thousand
per annun, the great ajority of whom, candidlv
believe would prefer this port if proper facilities
offered. Every one is aware that the tide of
emigration flows westward, and therefore il must
appear perfectly plain that this port is better
adapted for emigrants journeying to the West than
any OF the Northern or Southern cities By con.
sulting the map, and examining the geographical
position OF Baltimore, it will be seen the distance
from Great Britain to the West, direct, is much
shorter than by any other route. If our citizens
but have the determination and perseverance I
confidently believe Baltimore can be made, in a
few years, the central city IN America Geographic
cay, it is the central port-let it be so in business
1t is now necessary to awaken the whole public
ind To thn tpnnnr no
timoreans erpect their city to euer rank omong the
first an the 'corld, If they hold Intercourse NTH
foreign countries through Northern ports2
Must they be under the necessity of always pay
ing freight charges on imported goods received in
New York, and then conveyed here? While su CHI
Is the case, it is most papabe that imported goods
cannot be sold as cheap here as they are in North
cities.
whole West and Southwest will gain by this move
ment Goods (impOrted) can be shipped at less
cost to them, than what they pay now and instead
of being compelled to visit New York and thera
purchase goods, losing money and time by travel.
ing two or three hundred miles out of their wav.
we should concentrate the achole trade of all kinds
from the Vest and South, and Southwest an his city
and 1t is natural to suppose that they are necess
tated to purchase imported goods in New York or
other Northern cities they would buy all other goods
they might require in the same places, and Tins
transact the whole of their business at once.
1t is unnecessary here to enumerate the different
U
a concentration Of Western and Southwestern trado
mere The hotels would be more crow ded mann
factories receive increased orders and in every p
enlistment more assistance would be REQUIRED
be otherwise idle. AssuredIy property necessarily
would increase IN value; more buildings and LARGER
ones, would have to be erected, and in few wears
we should behold Baltimore completely chan eed in
appearance and mercantile importance
There are some, perhaps, who will consider that
have exaggerated the benefits which will accrue
through this proposed line of steamers But it is
only necessary for them to give the matter that
mature consideration which have done study the
statistics of the railroads which make this ctv
their termini, and inquire from the different i'm
porting houses the amount of business they do and
now much time and money could be saved if thew
were not compelled to buy and send their goods
shipped to and from Europe, through New York
For instance, during the past six months the
amount OF cotton received in this CITY for sbipment
was twenty-five thousand bales. At present the
Northern cities monopolize the entire trade which
Baltimore should and would have, if her merchants
would come forward and assist an enterprise
winch must eventually prove beneficial to her
interests.
The fabrics alone imported from Germany and
France would almost support line of steamers to
this port, exclusive of other business
Citizens of the West and Southwest desirous of
visiting Europe, could sail from this port with
greater despatch, and at less cost than nv oo;nt,
from any other port.
1t can also be shown that a steamship company.
such as the one proposed could convey passengers
and freight to and from Europe at less cost than
by any other route.
Had consulted my own feelings | should
have remained silent upon this subject but at the
lnsigation of many friends and influential citizens
have expressed my opinions as to the practicable
lty OF this project. 1t is one which, privately
nave advocated for years; but now, as ! am offered
the assistance of some of the most important mer-
chants in the city, many of whom are ready to
subscribe IN large SUING, have to ask the endorse
ment of the press, knowing its influence with the
public, will tend to awaken them to immediate
action in this matter.
baltimore neUer can be the important the Influential
cly II should be, until can cast ASIDE the po,er of
Northern cities 1t, hold direct communication
iGtm Europe, and thus dra,o the combined trade of lie
Souh and Southeast 'cithin its boundaries
In few days will write more fully upon this
matter, and show concusively how vastly import
ant 1t is to the people of this city and State to have
a line OF steamers from Baltimore to Europe
Very respectfully yours,
THOMAS RAWLINGS