Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-12-12


Its well known to cur business community
that one of the great drawbacks to business
here hiss been the break IN freight connection
in Baltimore, through the quarrel between the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad and the Northern
Central road The cost of re-shipment of
freight and baggage in Baltimore has been q
heavy tax upon Washington; and one of the
eau ses for the solicitude With which the pro-
gress of the Potomac railroad enterprise has
been watched here has been from the prOspec
afforded that BY II the much-needed connection
through Baltimore might be supplied. Mr.
Garrett IN has able, but specIOus plea for his
road msde on the occasion of his reelection to
It's presidency the other day, undertook 10
show that the freight charge upon coal over the
road from Baltimore and Washington was less
than had been alleged, but he failed 10 explain
away the fact that through this break in the
connection i n Baltimore, the whole charge of
getting freigh through that city and 10 Wash
ington, Is We ~ much larger than - ought TO be;
that 1t delays Washington lreight frequently
twelve hours in B-ltimore, and that the same
break puts our business men TO the incouya-
nIence of having to employ persons in BlIti-
more TO ~ the transfer of their
freight from one depot to the other.
He was also silent in regard to the great dis
to check baggage over the Northern Central
through to Washington.
The fact that so powerful a corporation as
the Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad Company,
and so specially influential that company is
IN Baltimore, was exerting all its strength to
prevent rival companies from effecting a con-
nection through that city has caused our
people to fear that the project might fail after
all or that the connection made between the
Northern Central and Potomac road would be
go imperfect as TO be of no real benefit to u.s.
1t seems, however, by an article in the Balti-
more AmerieGH, that the opposition railroad
interests have effected combinations against the
Baltimore and Ohio road, or rather its Wash.
iEgton Branch monopoly, that will result in
giving Washington what il wants. The details
Of the arrangement, the Amsricda says, have
beer kept very secret, but enough has leaked
out TO enable il TO give the outlines.
The first movement In the great railroad COM
binatlon referred TO was the securing control
of the charter of the Baltimore and Potomac
road by the Northern Central, which gives
them an independent road from Baltimore to
Washington. The next movement was TO get
control of the so-called Union railroad
which, by its charter, was to furnish connec-
tons to all roads centering in the city Of Bal
timore, and to give them passage over It's rails
around the city on equal terms. The endorse
mentby the city of half million OF its bonds
was secured and the Company organized. To
complete the work around the city with the
necessary tunnels, II was found would require
Lot less than million and a-half Of dollars.
This money could not b. obtained, or 1t is so
alleged, and the commencement Of the work
was delay ed for that rsl,on. In this dilemma
the Baltimore and Potomac and the Northern
Central made proposition TO the directors to
a anu H.
that they would make the connections with
them At or near the old Mount Royal Reser-
yOr. This proposition has been virtually &C.
cepted by the Union railroad, the result OF
which is that the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
As oebarred OF Its right of connection unless il
makes It's separate junction with all that is TO
be built of the Union railroad al some point
near Jones Falls. There is question as to
the legality OF this agreement, the American
says.
This, however, is but the basis of the combi.
nation to which we have alluded the contract
ing parties 10 hich are the Northern Central,
the Baltimore and Potomac, the Western
Maryland, the Philadelphia, Wilmington and
Baltimore, and the Union Railroad Company
The terms of this connection were agreed upon
at general meeting held al the METROPOLITAN
Hotel, New York, about a month since, to the
following effect All that tract of land west of
the Charles street bridge, where the old Mount
Royal reservoir stood, and on the other side OF
Charles street, where the ruins of Lanyale
factory have long been Standing, has been pur-
chased. on which is TO be built an immense
Passenger and Freight Railroad Depot to be
the joint property of all these combining Com
panies, and TO be used by them as h>ir p1ss.n-
ger depot "a the eity Of baltimore. The work.
shops OF the Northern Central are to be trans
cd 60
will enable the Company to dispose OF the
whole Bolton property for building purposes
The Philadelphia Road 10 transact Its princi.
pal passenger business here also, but will
probably not abandon the passenger office and
depot at President street. So also the Northern
Central, the Western Maryland, and the Bal
umOre and Potomac, which is now being
rapidly constructed.
At this depot az the Charles Street Bridge,
these roads will inject with the Union rail-
road, which, through tunnels and overland is
now being constructed TO connect with the
Philadelphia railroad and a water front at
Canton. There is also to be a way station and
passenger depot at the mouth of the tunnel on
Klrby's lane and Winchester street, for the ae-
c0mmodaton of passengers from the west end
OF the city. The trains Of both the Washing.
ton ard the Western Maryland road will stop
here to receive and discharge passengers. This,
the Amer1cGH justly says, Is San immense ar
rangemenr," and Will place the new road to
Washington not Only in TuiI connection with
the NOH h and West, enabling through passen-
gers TO be taken around the city Of Baltimore
by steam, but will give II depot on the line of
the Charles Street city Passenger Railway,
which is not the case with any Of the present
depOts
Washington city. 1t is almost superb nous to
say, will watch with intense interest the con-
summation of this arran cement
HIGH PRICES AT WAsHINGrON-The New
York Commercial Advertiser, in speaking Of the
desire of Western people to have the g pitoI