Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-02
OUR LINES OF STEAMBOAT AND Rail-.
ROAD COMMUNICATION.


We have from time to time called the at
tention of our citizens to the need that exists
for extending and perfecting lines of commu
nication in every direction, if we are to hold
our own with rival States and cities; and
whilst many are fully alive to the great neces-
sity upon US, too many are disposed to drift
along in the old fashion, content with what
chance sends to us in the way of trade, upon
the old basis. And although we may well
congratulate ourselves on what has been al
ready accomplished, yet when we see the far
reaching enterprise which at other points north
of us is stretching out to grasp the commerce
of the vast Pacific region, should we not heed
the purpose of the more enlightened and en-
terprising amongst us, who, aware of what is
doing, desire to second the efforts of Memphis
with its prospects for great Pacific road, to
get into direct communication with Baltimore
by the route across Virginia.
Let it be observed = that remote as are
the chances comparatively of Boston for
approprating the coming Pacific trade, thanked
as that city is by New York, yet awake to
the necessity of doing something, her NOR
chants and capitalists are on the alert; and to
show the broad views current there, we pro
pose to quote from an admirably condensed
article on these matters which we find i'll y
late number of the Boston Journal, the subject
being
TRANSPORTATION.
This word, which take occasion TO use so fro-
hp 70 ha nj aud
industrial problems now pressing upon the people Of
the United States for their solution Every day fur
nishes new evidence of wonderful and varied wealth
of resource in almost every part Of the country in
the SOIL in the mines in the water power, all POSSIBLE
inducement and all needed promises ara held out to
the laborer and to the capitalist, and nothing re
mains but for to possess ourselves of that which Is
waiting for our grasp. But this variety Of cInato
and condition which furnishes such variety of pro
ducts implies extended distances and wide scpara-
ton between the producer and the market in which
he make his industry available These distances
must be overcome; this gulf of separation must be
pridged over otherwise there be facility of
changes, and adequate result from the great
raj advantages with which the nation is endowed.
Hence. as fast as emigration has pushed westwaTd!y
from the seaboard the attempt has been Professionally
followed up to keep communication open between
these settling in the interior and those remaining on
canal and atlength the railway, all constructed
for the purpose of securing this intercourse and for
maintaining highway over which articles Of growth
and manufacture might freely pass and repass.
We who in older States find every convenience al
hand for rapid and economical transit and trans
portation can form bat faint conception Of the en-
barrassments and hindrances which surround those
who in the localities there struggling TO in
troduce civilization and to subdue the soil. Their
r l. IL
ton and circumstances, so far they must be sup
piled from without, are more expensive to them than
our Injuries are to u.s. The returns they receive for
their labor ample and generous but before these
can reach market they heavily taxed with
transit charges that in many instances there is moth
ing left for the producer Or he is altogether pro
hibited by these charges from shipping to market at
all. We told that freight from San Francisco 10
Idaho costs twenty-seven cents a pound, of which
twenty cents is the rate from the head of navigation
on the Columbia river. We have seen an estimate
that Idaho, with population of fifty thousand per
sons, paid last year for transportation twelve millions
of dollars, which would be two hundred and forty
dollars for each inhabitant. This is probably too
much, but the actual figures if they could be ascer-
tanned, would be sufficiently startling. Governor
Bross Of Illinois, in his address before the Board
Trade of this city, not long since made the statement
that the present expense Of transportation brings the
cost to the miner in Montana or Idaho of mining q
gold or silver dollar very nearly to dollar, while
with such facilities might readily be supplied the
cost would not exceed twenty cents.
But it is not necessary TO go to the vicinity of the
Rocky Mountains for illustrations of that which We
are endeavoring to explain. In Illinois and low
the farmers Obliged to use their for fuel be-
cause it will not bear the cost of transportation to
market. 1t was said at Detroit last summer that it
costs the Illinois farmer average three bushels
of to carry the fourth to New York. and that ii
costs one-half the flour and wheat of ell the lake
States to convey the other half to the markets Of the
world.
When it is remembered that to us on the seaboarl
it )ortant to obtain these commodities as il
for those who reside in the interior to supply US with
them, it becomes evident that we all have a common
interest in remedying the great defects which now
exist in our system Accommodation in this country
If the great staples arc abundant to excess in one
part of the country while they ard costly
in another there must be something essentially
in our routes Of transportation. or in their manage
ment. Without dwelling particularly on the nature
of these defects which have repeatedly sought to
point out will content ourselves at this time with
impressng upon our readers the Importance of muI-
tiplying the means Of communication of every kind
between the various parts Of the country and of per
fecting the management of them in every possible
way By doing this the rates of freight will surely be
reduced, the producer and the consumer viii II,
longer be hopelessy separated from each other whit
the forwarder will waste less and will make more
than he now does.
We regard it of the highest Importance to ever
portion of the country and to the support of the
tonal finances, that the two railway lines projected
to connect the Pacific with the Atlantic should be
built with all practicable expedition. The Central
which is already in process Of construction, will bring
the middle tier of States into close proximity with
the East. The Northern Pacific will open up Daco-
tab, Montana and idaho to immediate settlement to
speedy development, and to almost unexamped pros
periy. These lines will also unite the eastern and
western seaboard OF this vast empire to the mmens
advantage Of both. 1t is proper then thatICongreS
should foster these continental lines and encourag,
in every practicable manner the enterprise and en-
ergy Of those who have pledged themselves to the
immediate construction.