The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-15

In determining the true course for Maryland to
pursue, when called upon finally to determine
whether her fortunes shall be linked with the
South, or whether she shall ally herself with the
North, we are naturally lead to study carefully
the effect that must be produced upon those varied
Interests and enterprises which have heretofore
contributed so largely TO her wealth and pros-
perlly. Chief among these stands the BaItinore
and Ohio Railroad. Built principally by means
advanced by the city of Baltimore, the State of
maryland ana private citizens, the success of this
road not only exercises a large influence on the
trade and business of our city and State. but an
increase or decrease in its receipts makes an inn
portant difference, both in public revenue and
private income. As with every other leadino
interest, we do not hesitate to say that this, also
must be largely benefited by an alliance with
the Confederate States, and greatly injured bv n
separation from them. About three-fourths of
the entire road-projected by Maryland enterprise.
constructed with Maryland capitalize in the
State of Virginia At the distance of so miles
from Baltimore it crosses the Potomac at Har-
pers Ferry, and con tinues on the right bank Of
this river for distance of over 90 miles before if
returns to the State of Maryland. Beyond Cum
beriand 1t again passes into Virginia, and runs on
Virginia soil TO point beyond Piedmont. q dis
lance of about 10 miles, when it again returns to
this State in which it continues till it reaches the
Western boundary. From thence to the Ohio
river, Cor distance of 24O miles, including both
branches, the entire road lies in Virginia. In
addition to this, even on the Eastern sec ion of
the road, the two largest workshops along its line
are located in Virginia-one at Martinsburo the
other at Piedmont. This great avenue of trade
is, in fact, completely and entirely under the
control of that State by which its operations can
at any moment be stopped and its business
paraIyzed. This alone should show how abso-
lutely necessary it is for its prosperity that
our State should connect herself with that
Confederacy of which Virginia becomes
member, and how unwise and impolitic it would
be TOR Maryland to take any action which would
lead to an entire separation between the two
States, and entitle Virginia to possess herself of
and control that portion os the road living within
her borders But even if she were not to interfere
with any portion Of it, she could and would deal
most serious blow to the trade of the Eastern
section of the road, by the completion of the Lou
doun and Hampshire road, in favor of which she
would certainly discriminate, probably by LAYING
a tax on all freight, from the Ohio river and West
ern part OF Virginia, forwarded TO our CITY, Sep
araon would give life and vigor to this enter
prise which for ten years has dragged slowly for
ward. Capital would be expended upon if and
its completion and connection with the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, at point below Piedmont,
on Virginia soil, would not only tend to turn the
trade OF the Western portion of the road to a port
on the Potomac, within the limits of the Copfed
crate States, to the lasting injury of the business
of Baltimore city, but would also offer TO the coal
region oil AlIeghany county a route shorter by
forty miles TO tide water, over which would GER
tanly be transported all the coal REQUIRED nv the
Southern States. Let US suppose, however. that
this road should not be completed, and that the
management of the Baltimore and Ohio
road should not in any way be inter
fered with by the authorities of Virginia, and
inquire into the effect that would be produced upon
1t by an alliance with the North. The PRINCIPAL
articles transported over the Western portion Of
the road eastwardy flour, grain, provisions,
live Stock lard, lard oil, butter bark, cotton and
lumber. A large proportion of this is through
trade and is now forwarded directly to New
York. With the exception of the live stock and
lard oil, and a portion of the lumber, which is
consumed at home, and the provisions which are
disposed of principally 10 the navy and mercantile
marine and shipped coastwse these articles are
all exported, large portion of them being
shipped for European account This THROUGH
frelUht on nh,
ia'eS Us VIII enable this road to complete success
fuily with the parallel ones of PENNSYLVANIA and
New York, and although the rates so CHARGED con
be productive of very little profit, it is hardly to
be expected that in case of separation from Vir.
ginia this trade will be left to the road. Bv
reference TO the annual report of the Baltimore
and ONO Railroad Company for 1860, it will be
found stated on page that
THE great capacity of the Atlantic lines has through
out the year. continued to be largely in excess of the re-
aurements OF trade; and consequently, the vigorous
10 rule, generally, at low standard"
1t cannot for one moment, be supposed that 50
long as the through lines of New York and Penn
sylvania afford ample facilities for the safe and ex
Peu'''ouS transportation of more freight than can
oe obtained, and while they continue to carry
mercnanoise at sufficiently low rates, which thew
will do, so long as they have 20 comne,e with tho
Baltimore and Ohio Road, that the shippers from
the Western States, who furnish almost the whole
or the through freight will prefer to forward their
goods through the State of Virginia and over a
foreign soil. No matter what guarantees they re-
ceived from Virginia for the safe transit of mer-
chandise through her territory; no matter how few
restrictions were placed upon goods destined for
the Northern States, the through business of the
west would inevitably be diverted from this route,
e,'ner oy the action of the people of the West
themselves, or by discrimination on the Western
i0"us IN iavor of the Northern rival lines. or by
s .. ACT OF the Congress of the Northern States
1or 0ouo II De hoped that any of this trade could
:. .es'i rsu w OF turned to the City Of Baltimore,
where there would be less home demand and loo.
opportunity for direct foreign shipment than '' ..
present. The mere local trade of the western ons
of the road, between different stations W., CIV ~
Piedmont, is at present too insignificant 70 h.
worthy of consideration. Deprived of the tbrouoh
trade from Benwood and Parkersburg, that nor
ton would be unable even to sustain itself. Much