The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-04
TEE BALTIMORE AND ONO RAILROAD
MONOPOLY.

MONOPOLY.
1 --.>>->~,-~~>~->-o>>>~@
WASHINGTON, DEC. B. 1868.
A movement has been organized by the most
4 wealthy and influential citizens OF Washington and
| vicinity break up the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
/ road monopoly that has controlled the freight and
l passenger transportation between here and other
parts OF the Union for the past hrtysix years. 1t
may not, perhaps be generally known, but is never
theess the fact that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
| Company will not permit the New York Central,
| New York and Erie or the Pennsylvania Gen.
| trail Railroad companies 10 sell through tickets
\ or check baggage through to Washington.
| via Northern Central and Baltimore and Ohio
Washington branch roads-the only practicable
route FOR their Western patrons. Nor Will
| the monoposts themselves sell tickets over the
above mentioned roads. Tie men who have the
matter In hand OF breaking up the dog In the man.
| ger policy not the sort to stop at half way
measures. They held their second meeting day at
| the City Hall. Speeches were made by Amos Ken
| DALI Robert J. Walker and others, after which the
following report, presented by the committee APP
pointed Tor the purpose at the meeting the 18th
| ult.. was adopted
| REPORT OF THE C0MMITrEE
Your committee have had the matter referred to
them under consideration and recpmnend that CHAR
tiers for four lines OF railroads be requested OF Con-
| gress, one to be known as the National Railroad
| North one as the National iairoad SOUTH one to
| run TO Point Lookout 10 be known rs the National
Chesapeake Railroad and one to run TO the nearest
/ point on Chesapeake Bay, 10 be known as the Ma
tional Transportation Company 10 ntersect with the
Northern Central near iCrk, Pa, and the Pennsy
vania Central al point east OF Harrisburg. This
would make tirst class road oNew York city (via
Allentown road) and to Philadelphia via Pennsyl-
vania CentraD. 1t will DC but few miles longer
than the present route, and owing to the fact thai 1t
pha, and Will be free from long stretches OF dam
gerous trestlework, 1t DE in less time and ut
very much less cost. Besides tins Ii VIII make the
best connection with Pittsburg, buffalo and The West
and Northwest. IN short 1t would be the trunk line
| 10 Washington from all the Northern and Western
States
TIE second road is to run from this city south
ward and connect with the Virginia Central and
Loudon and Hampshire railroads at point SO as TO
reach Cincinnati, st. Louis and Louisville by much
shorter route than any one now In use. II this road
was opened the price Of farm products would be re-
as two OF the roads contemplated reach the finest
coal fields in the world their construction would at
once reduce the cost OF that article to consumers
here
the power OF Congress to build roads or authorize
them built for military or postal service cannot now
be for one Instant doubted, and We believe 1t will,
without unnecessary delay grant the required char
to Congress- provson viii i be made FOR OPENING
books, which shall remain open suffcient time TO
enable al who desire 70 subscribe for stock and II
stricken pro rata from the largest subscribers
thereby preventing the charter from being controlled
l by few wealthy subscribers. Provision win also
be made to adopt as part OF the route any road
constructed, upon terms that may be just and right.
Your committee cannot doubt that Congress Will
readily grant the required charters, and have every
reason believe that the stock Will be Of once taken
and he road butt i INSIDE OF one year :, Every
OF Washington. Certainty they all desire to promote
the interests OF our national capital, which alone can
be done by opening new and better roads to tt from
all parts Of the Union. The only road to this city
from the North and West Is the Baltimore and Ohio,
and such a system Of exgctions this road has
made upon the people Of the United states visiting
their national capital or sending freight thlther Ia un-
known In the history OF railroads. me washington
islature OF 1880 and an act OF Congress OF 1881,
by both OF which and passen-
ger rates-are limited but the legal limits are new
ertheless entirely dsregarded By the company. By
that charter the road should have been governed.
S So and he Maryad Ieessre
In 1885 and 1886 the Maryland Legislature author
lied the alteration OF these charges but that act was
OF force unless the consent OF Congress was also
obtained which has never been done. AZ an exam
pie OF character OF these charges for ransporta
ton have had our attention called TO the case OF
merchant who shipped hardware from England to
this city. rhe ocean charges $4,000 niles were less
imam Inc ,ress oa Snow ~ an ~
rail freight charge from Chicago to Baltimore on a
parcel or freight to be less than from Baltimore TO
this city, such cases may be said to be almost with
out number all OF them In violation OF the charter,
| which likes the prices within reasonable limits
By the act OF the Maryland Legislature OF 1882 pas
senger fare from BALTIMORE 30 Washington was liked
| at two dollars aud nfty cents Of which sum fifty
the act OF 1855 the charges fixed at dollar
and nifty cents, one-flth OF which was to go into the
| Maryland Treasury. These acts were not approved
Baltimore and OHIO Railroad Company has for thirty
six years been neccng the public FOR the benefit Of
its own and the Maryland State Treasury.
That Congress ought TO take steps to put IN end
to these outrages Ia the sentiment OF our entire
munity. Early In isea the principal railroad com
this city and agreed to carry soldiers for the govern
ment at reduced rates--about two cents per mile
| yet the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company re-
fused 20 accept this compensation and charged and
has received full first class passenger fare for all
collected the Maryland tax Every soldier who has
tened 20 his national capital TO defend 1t during the
rebellion was taxed oy me state o. Maryland thirty
| turned home after being mustered out OF service,
| and Ii ne meanwhile made Visit 20 his family the
while tno bodies OF those who fe in the defence Of
their country were charged double price when re.
who came to washington 70 meet or seek their sons
in the hospitals were thus taxed. The small tribute
levied on our shipping by foreign state and which
at once commanded the nterposition u our govern.
ment was nothing In comparison TO this; yet Den
marx Is many thousand mics away rom Wash
ington.
For weeks ana months all soldiers on the way tc
JOIN the army Or the Potomac were obliged to pass
through the OUTSKIRTS 81 bat i 70 prevent roy
did not ia any instance fail 10 collect the tax OF
EACH What reason existed for the payment OF higher
rates TO the Baltimore ard Ohio Railroad Company
than 10 any other II Is not our duty to inquire i
could afford to carry soldiers at less rates, as thel
had larger NUMBERS 10 carry. Whas Wonuer tna
there should be millions OF dollars surplus in thu
company's treasury al the close OF the war; tina
auch favors were extended to the Baltimore ant
OHIO Railroad Company on account OF the UnioI
sentiments OF its managers could not have been, al
the correspondence dated April 40, 1861, WA
show
ions w. GARRETT President Baltimore and Ohio Ralroa
\ Company =,
sfsWs advisc tho troops here be sent back 70 tn
borders OF Maryland. GEORGE NJ BhOWN
by HE Board Of Pohce.
| CHARLES HOWARD, President Of Police
| To fhat fatfor tim IN wing rpplv " madc.--
Mos, cordially approving this advice have Instantly ele
ayhei the "a 20 Philadelphia, Wilmington and BATH
Railroad. and their company will act In sccordanc
'' '''' '''' j. ". GARRETT, President.