Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-02
= GREAT BALTIMORE INTEREST"

Everything that can contribute to the trade
and other interests Of Baltimore should be
carefully and anxiously considered by its citi-
zens, and especially at this time, when so
many great enterprises are on foot and changes
in contemplation to benefit neighboring cities;
and therefore, it is our purpose to let nothing
pass to which it is worthy the attention Of our
people should be called. We find in the last
number of the Cumberland CicjiiuH and Tclc-
graph, an able and conclusive article dealing
with the merits of "THE WESTERN MARYLAND
RAILROAD, and as it is matter that directly
and closely relates to the prospective advan
lagos and prosperity of the city, we conceive
that we cannot better Use our space than in
calling particular attention to some Of the
points made.
To such as are in no wise familiar with the
enterprize in question, we would state that the
road is projected from this city to Cumberland
via Hagerstown that forty miles at this end
of ii are completed and in successful opera
ton; that that portion thence to Hagerstown
is well advanced, whilst the remaining distance
from Hagerstown to Cumberland
eight miles-has been surveyed and found
highly practicable. The amount needful to
complete the route to Hagerstown is 81, 200
0O0-of which the sum of 5000, 600 has been
provided, the remainder to be furnished by
the people of Baltimore and Cumberland
respectively.
Now IN order to secure the extension of
the road, as proposed, 1t is needfuI to raise
S4,000,000 more, which the company propose
to do by the issue Of bonds, our city to endorse
81, 100000 Of these, provided the coal com
''panies of the Cumberland coal regions will
'endorsc them TO a like amount" Now for
the prospective chances or notwithstanding
to our well informed contemporary-th
CirilidH:
''lt is calculated that the average shipments
':from onr mines for the next ten years will
'amount to 100000 OF tons per year, at
'east. in the division of this transportation
''25O,00O tons are allotted to the canal, $50,
1000 to the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. and
400, 600 to the Western Maryland railroad.-
''Of course the companies would ship more
largely by this road because they would be
''pecuniariIy interested. The present cost oI
Transportation by the Baltimore aud Ohio
railroad is Sl.2o per ton. Now the Western
maryland road will agree to transport the
coal at $3.50 per ton, and this will yield
revenue of $1,000, coo per annum.
This is certainly a tempting programme for
our city, especially upon the simple but vastly
important fact that cheap coGI is the life blood
Of our manufacturing interests, aud if there
was not another consideration to recommend
it, further than It's ability 10 thus foster o,r
already splendid advantages in Ibis line, the
enterprise in question should command the
hcartiest support of our city. The CjrjIiop
however goes on to clearly demonstrate the
paying character Of the investment; and as
Allegheny county is TO he canvassed and the
corporate authorities Of Cumberland are cx-
pected 10 back up the undertaking, we hope
that with the aid to be extended to it here,
the whole thing will soon be under way.