Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-11-23
Meeting of the Board of Trade.


ON saturday evening meeting OF the Board
OF Trade was held at their rooms, No. Market
/ Space, 10 take some action in reference to the
railroad interests, at which there were present
/ Mehsrs. J. I. Mitchell, (Pre.ident) II b.
/ Sweeny, (Secretary.l VIM. Orme, W. G. Met
/ zeIoti, DR. James l.. MorSan VIM. Guinand,
| VIM. Wall. n. Sardo. and others.
The Char suggested that as 1t was proposed
! that the Board should confirm the action of the
| citizens meeting, and as the committee APP
| pointed at that meeting had not matured It's
| report, which would be in relation 70 the Lou
! don and Hampshire. Metropolitan and other
| railroad interests it would be we'll TO ad joutn.
SIR Metzrrott remarked that the comm ,ttee
of the City Hall meeting would mature plans
! AZ their meetIRg on "Wednesday, and suggeste d
/ an adjournment until Friday.
DIR. Morgan called the attention of the meeting
| to the presence of Col. Hutchins, one OF the
| Commissioners TO survey the route of the
Southern Maryland Railroad, and said the
| line had been run from Point Lookout to
| Bryantown. This road. if il ran into Washing
| ton, would bring in the trade OF the lower
| counties, which now goes to Baltimore: and it
| was notorious fact that only ten miles from
/ washington the very buttons used on clothing
are bought IN Baltimore. II by very small ex-
| ptndIture We can attract that trade TO Washing
ton, We should do 1t. This road, by ITS charter,
| Is authorized 10 be run from some point in
| Prince Georges TO Point Lookout, and it
Is proposed that it shall stop at Brandy
| WINE and connect with the Potomac
/ road from Baltimore to Aqua Creek; come
| direct to the District line, aud when cnarter
:
| or be contIE ned to Laurel when it will unite
| with the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
| Brandywine ont IL miles distant, but by way
| OF COllington by the Washington Branch OF the
| Potomac road II is 40 miles; and Baltimore is
as near Collington as Washington, and
| consequently If the shorter route to
| still continues To Baltimore. This road
| Is now in a far way of being built,
| for seven counties have never received any aid
from the State tor internal improvements, and
The last legislature gave Charles, st Mary's,
and Calvert counties S3I0,6tO, which the Poto-
mac road endeavored TO obtain, but 10 being
now under contract they did not succeed.
Colonel Wall said it had been stated that the
people OF Washington had not subscribed TO
the building Of the Metropolitan Railroad years
ago, when the wealth and population We're
limited. II could not be- expected that we could
build an expensive road without outside aid.
We looked TO the PeDnsy lyania avenue road as
aiding much in its construction. but, that road
was given 10 parties outside, having no inter-
eSts here-nay, even denied the stock to our
citizens, who could and were ready to build
and take every dollar of stock; but il was all
cut and dried and not penny of advantage
now arises 10 this city from IL, although 1t is
one OF the most profitable roads in the country.
In other cities certain amount is reserved for
purposes of public improvement. Thus was
inns valuable road by an act OF Congress passed
into the hands Of strangers, and the citizens and
city deprived OF any benefit.
IL Is also stated that we look 10 Congress or
ask II TO build our roads TO the city. We never
nave and likely never will. 1t is the old can:
that has worn thread bare. that we look TO
Congress-it we ever did VIE looked in vain;
but we do ask for Justice and equitable la VS. TO
govern US. We do ask to be plac ID on the
same footing as other citizens OF the different
States. We ask them TO fulfil their contract and
nothing more; although DISTINGUISHED and with
NO representation; the government has sold
property to the amount OF a million of dollars
ana Tie money kept in tue Treasury beyond
our reach. The government occupies more
IMAM half OF the city; the vast frontage and
open spaces rendering paving and grading
most expensive and almost impossi BILE. 1t has
been SAID that such Is the immense space on
some OF the avenues that il the property was
sold az auction along its borders. II would not
more than pave them.
We are told that Baltimore mainly built up
me Baltimore and Ohio railroad; indeed, they
built n by endorsed bonds OF the state, with
fOrty cents capitation tax on every QUE that
left or approached Washington. With such
resources, II was not hard tax on Baltimor.
when the whole country was tributary 10 AZ,
and the people of Washington in particular
having direct intercourse. Hence we helped
10 build II As much aS they. What is our con-
oiIon NO territory 10 tax the travelinZ COM
inUnity DO vast revenue arising from such an
lnlquIIous source; without systematic lsgIs!a-
tloh city cut of from outer communications
excerpt by monopoly Of one railroad. Nay.
every street that We wish graded aud paved
m ust be kept IN mud and swampS. and we are
10 be told that We have no enterprise Il is
time we show 10 the public in the States our
condition We have been denied the power By
COnSItsS 10 issue money or bonds, and
Councils time and again have pointed out
those wrong but 1t Is OF n -y.I.
We are told that tn Is:.l,ImGre and ONO
Railroad is ready to do jusuCe. Yes, by "A vast
monopoly. for instance, If coal is sent on
the Northern Central Road To Washington, of
course in these cars they are retained and every
annoyance and difficulty thrown in the way of
n prompt return, besides an extra charge OF
My cents per ton. and the cJnseq uence Is they
will not send their cars
Let no one suppose that the Metropolitan
Rng is ~ 10 hr,rIt
be made as blind. Let make strenuous
efforts for other communications, and b. no
longer deceived by delays. Neither let Us be
lnnmIdated by their agents who fill the Hobbies
OF Congress TO oppose every movement made
that v Ill give the people a right to approach
Their capitol without being taxed forty cents
i head and pay monopolists prices for freI GIT.
How long Will the people OF the States sub
NIT 10 ihis unconstitutional exaction
In regard 10 the remarks of the comm ssiOnpr
appointed by the government of Maryland ia
reference 10 the survey of a road in the lower
counties of Maryland, which Is to con meet with
the baltimore and Potomac road, he thought il
would b. we'll 20 see that this read Is built first
We are told II is being graded; but people grow
skeptIcal when they see years roll round aad
nothing done, " hen a few months would finish
IL But the fare on this road would be bat
Dine y cents 70 Baltimore. and of course this
would interfere with the inevitable Baltimore
ana ONO railroad, and ne road cannot b.
built.
I'll. Sardo offered 4 resolution endors NJ the
actIoG of The Cry Hall meeting SO lar as !,
looks TO railroad Communication with thu Dis
INIT OF columbia, and p!rdglng the c0.opeTd-
non Of the boarI win The Citizens; which was
adopted
Mr.. l.. " Il. HU'chins stated that although the
survey o. the southern MaTylaud road was
nearly completed, h. found that the attention
OF The citizens of Washington had not ben
called 10 n. He had faith that the PolOmac
railroad would go through, for the city of Pc
teIstuTg had pledged lis All, and Gov. Bowie
ass ured him that il would o. built. II was
proposed that the branch of this road 10 the
DIStIici should connect AZ COllington, and the
rotG win winch he Is cor nected lthe Southern
Mary lanil IS proposed 10 IoIn IL AZ Brandy
wine. II the road is brought 10 the District
line and charter - obtained 10 run i: into
Washington, then Washington VIII be ban-
Gifted, but otherwise the trade Will - to Bal
iImOTr- This road would give 10 Was hinEton
an Independent route of eighty four miles II |
Point Lookout, passiI < within two miles OF the
moulin of FatuXent Tiyer. a harb0r that COM
Inanus the largest oyster trade in H. Ini,ed |
States; and this can b- commanded by wash |
lEEton city by SIXTY -four miles of road: III. |
CHEAP est and easiest built road in The nited |
"A stream except the Eastern Branch |
10 eros, not stone 10 b. moved, and passing
through abundance OF chestnut and oak tim
Der, and through country adapted to fruit |
and gardening purposes equal to any IN the |
country. l. II asking too much of Washington |
people 10 aid in building this independent |
TOau, that must pour Its wealth INTO Washing
Ton " hereas If she now uegleCts to aid the l
enterprise, she can only receive, as she rs now
doing, secondary benefits from it. IL will b. |
seen An act naSSpd nv the last Loo \