Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-11
THE COMMERCIAL RIvaLRIES OF BAL.
TIMDRE.

THE COMMERCIAL RIV&LRHES OF BAL. |
TIMORE.
At q time like the present of unprecedented |
activity in all business arrangements and com |
mercial enterprises. when every city IS trying |
10 do something by which 1t may command |
more advantages than It's ncighbor>. it is worth |
while for our own people to keep well up with |
these movements, and accordingly we have
as public jounalists-endeavored to keep all !
posted with what is going on. bearing either |
nearly or remotely upon the future prosperity |
of the city and State.
We noticed, accordingly, a couple OF NUM-
bers back, the movements on the line Of Nor
folk and Richmond To secure, through the
route across Kentucky, the trade of the West
and we have called attention also TO the report
that New York. Philadelphia and Washington
proposed to secure commanding facilities for
trade with the West and Northwest, by making
those citcs-Baltimore apparently passed by
terminal points" on the Atlantic coast
We find by the National htelIigencer,
of a late date. still another project on foot,
having for its object route to the West quite
independent of any present arrangements we
have in hand and whether there is anything
in it or not worthy of particular regard, on our
part just now, we propose to bring it also to
the attention Of our readers, in order that all
may know what they have to expect or guard
against. Here is the article in question:
A SHORTER RAILROAD LINE WEST.
In speaking yesterday of the railroad system of
upper Virginia, We did not much eypatiate upon the
short route to the West which would be afforded By
the extension of the Loudoun and Hampshire road
to IIarpers Ferry. The directory of the Winchester
road propose to connect theirs with the oudoun and
Hampshire at the Ferry, and thus obtain eommuni
cation with Alexandria and Washington; To do this
they would have to cross the Shenandoah near Har-
pers Ferry and come down the south side of the Po
tomac, apparently far as the Point Of Rocks from
which point railroad could be easily constructed to
Leesburg. To build by more direct route would, it
appears to us, require the crossing of the Catocin
be adopted much shorter line to the Vest will be
given US than the present one by the baltimore and
Ohio line. The traveller leaving Washington would
go towards Alexandria, near to a point some tour
miles South called "FOur-mile, Rum and thence
Rocks via l4GcsburG in something like two hours
sooner than by the Baltimore and Ohio road There
is perhaps fifty miles advantage in DISTANCE, by the
Loudoun and Hampshire road, over the Baltimore
and Ohio but the greater advantage lies in the fact
of the level grade by which great speed Of the trains
would be secured at comparatively small expense i
Leaving Wash ington by the Baltimore and Ohio line
reaching the Relay House there succeeds tedious
upgrade for long distance.
We learn from Colonel Stewart, Of the Washington
and AleXandria road. that the control Of the Lou;
d9un and Hampshire road is in the Washington and T
Alexandria company, which company anticipates the
pr9curatlon OF authority from the Virginia LeGiSa-
ture to extend the Loudoun and Hampshire to llar
we most heartily extend our best wishes TO Colonel
Stewart and his eont,ercs in their efforts
Now how fat this project is feasible, we leave
to better judges THAI ourselves to say: but at
any rate, there is showing Of pausibility
about it not unworthy of attention; and rs we
have already ntimatcd, at time when CAPT
talists are so busy with the idea Of getting up
rival lines in all directions, Baltimore should
be on the alert The AIR line project be.
tween New York and Washington-our readers
have doubtless already noticed, is assuming
new activity; and it is worthy Of note, that
there is hardly a movement for new line any
where within striking distance Of us but that
somehow it proposes 10 ''leave us out in the
cold" and curb that commercial activity and
prosperity here which seem to have excited
uneasiness on the part Of other communities.
And whilst on this subject, we would call
public attention to ono more article dealing
with these thingS-an article in the Phiiadc
phia Lcdgcr, commenting upon Mr. CARROTS
into rather Il lengthy review Of the points
made, and calls the attention of the Pennsyl
wanna public to the expectations entertained
and expressed by Mr.. Garrett, OF securing the
trade Of PittsbUrg and that vicinity by means
of the ConncllSville railroad. 1t sounds the
alarm to the people of Philadelphia, and in
quires-''Why it is that the feelings of the
people of PittSburg and Western PennsyIva-
mia are thus alicnatcd from PHILADELPHIA.
''that they should las one man''-moting
Mr. Garrett. cXprcsSion-'.d demand new
''outlet to the seaboard that will give PhiladcI-
phia ''the 60 by?'' Wequoto again from the
Ledger, further along
"We are ndulging in no petty jealousy Of
the city of Baltimore. 1t is an enterprising
land pluckv little city. and well deserves
every business encouragement bestowed upon
sit. Neither is it our design TO find fault with
cts great railroad company. 1t is thoroughly
"Baltimorean In its policy as it should be-
''But what we wish to impress upon the people
''of Philadelphia is, that our railroad policy
''has turned Pittsburg and Western Pel.nsyl
''vania away from Philadelphia, whilst that of
''the Baltimore company is attracting them to
''that city. The only way of correcting this,
sis to insist that the policy OF the Pennsylva
''nia Central shall thoroughly identify itself
'with the prosperity Of Philadelphia, Pitts
"burg and Western Pennsylvania"
The Ledger notices further the success of
our steam marne-as dwelt upon by Mr.. Gar
rett,-something that has struck Boston CAPT
talists also with a feeling of surprise, as is
evidenced by articles published by the papers
of that city; and it only remains for Baltimore
to bestow further attention on its commercial
lines to insure it a most prosperous and even
splendid future. 1t is much in the struggle
that is before us in competing with other com,
munities for trade, that already we have lines
established, and in successful operation, so
formidable as to defy for long time, at least
any rivalries that may be set on foot. But
with plenty of examples of what new lines of
railroad between commanding points may do
III diverting business from what seem cstab
lished centres of trade, we should hasten to
make every point doubly and trebly secure
We should beyond all else, we think, get the
new steamers to Liverpool on the line with the
least possible delay, meantime hurrying to
early completion the Connellsvile railroad;
and with our lines of communication to the
Southwest perfected through Virginia, our city
may indeed ''sit like Queen amidst rival
commercial marts. A glorious future is spread
out before us,-let us do what We can bv all
honorable efforts to secure it.
MARRIED.