Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-25
EXPENSE A BURDEN UPON TRADE.

One OF the strong points to consider in the
development of trade for our city in connec-
ton with its railroads and steamship lines. is
the conceding of every additional advantage
possible to the many already possessed for the
easy transhipment of freight An article from
the New York Evening Post deals so sensibly
with this subject that we cannot but commend
it to the special attention of all who have aught
to do with fostering the trade of the city. For
tunate already beyond comparison as we are
in this regard, everything that can be done,
additional, should be done, to make the pas,
sage of freight through our city as little expen-
sive as possible.
AT recent meeting of the New York Association
tor the Advancement Of Science and Art the subject
for discussion the proposed underground railway
in the city Mr.. Craig remarked that the whole con-
tnent was interested in the question. THE heavy
expense fer the carriage of goods between the rail-
ways and tho shipping in fact, an export or I'M
port duty on all goods passing and repassng between
the West and Europe
of course this is so. and it is serious burden and
drawback upon trade. which it would be worth wbile
to expend millions of dollars to get rid Of And vet.
while this is so obvious in regard to burden which
Is at most mere percentage the whole necessary
cost of the exchange Of products between Europe
and the West, people hardly take notice that the
duties imposed by the Government in the name of
protection to home industry do actually double the
whole cost OF many most necessary articles imported
from Europe. and in addition double the price of the
same kinds Of articles when produced auong our
selves.
II 1t be true, reported by the Revenue Commits
sloners. that we necessarily produce nne-tenths of
the manufactured articles we consume, because we
nave neither means to buy them abroad nor ships to
prng them thence, then every hundred dclrs' worth
imported not only costs the consumer two hundred
on account Of the tariff, but costs the country nine
hundred more in the enhanced price of domestic
articles. VI "'t--'''-'
Another fact elected in the discussion at fsoon,r
institute was, that the cost of cartag, ha,ao ~,
railways ana the shipping lis equal IN tbo fra;ht
from this city to Boston," This is Ar, instaoo IL"
tratlns the fallacy of the allegation so conS+antI
urged by protectionists that distance is rtnu;.
element of economy in production The truth ia tba
distance is consideration of minor imp ortance and
quite insignificant oftcntimes in comp arison with
well-arranged conveniences of conveyan ce and de-
livery and with many other consideration rs also We
Know Of an iron company who own an ext elIent mine
within mile of their own works, and ct they pay
royalty and bring their ore from mine forty miles
distant simply for the greater convenience of deliv-
ery at the exact spot where they want to use it. &c.
~ the case before us. it is said that goods can be
piousn' from Boston ana delivered here on ship
uoo io' less money than the cost Of cartsge from
Inc Fallroads across the city to the sbJnu