Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-12-21
1LEXANnRlA GAZETTF AMI IRGINlA rVI5. Il

grain and -four Tor Liverpool, and schooner
tor Barbados ~ our wh,rves [ poa Inquiry
We tnJ tbaf he bai4ns brought iull cargo oil
sat 10 uur merchants thus proving tina; the
trade in TIL, article J.. Of -ueh magnitude as to
.o-'ji; direct ,mpof'aions IT large cargoes
II mly he asked shat have these vessels 10 do
with the d,,crimnaing question! | reply
much. For they demonstrate more clearly
than columns Of arguments that with proper
Loiicy by the railroad company our city might
recover, and, lerhaps, exceed the foreign
commerce which it enjoyed before the war.
earn that the railroad tariff ON salt does
not discriminate against Us, but gives to our
city the benefit OF lis location, bv making the
rate on that atiicIe less from here than from
Baltimore. Hence We find large demand.
which enables cur merchants 10 import direct
and dcly competition and bring to cur wharves
large vessels requiring return cargoes OF -four,
grain aDd other products Of our neiehborng
farmers thus saving to our customers some
twenty - twenty five cents 4 sack on the salt
they purchase, and enabling them to obtain
ten to fifteen cents bushel more tor their
grain, and fifty cents per barrel Tor their flour,
than they have been doing since the absence
Of ioreign shipping from our city.
The farmers and producers are thus put 10
the closest proximity to the foreign consumer,
thereby saving the expense of shipping to
Baltimore and New York, and the tribute
which must bc paid on ali produce passing
through the hands Of the merchants OF these
cities.
Now let Us note how the policy in question
operates in regard to the other vessel referred
To as loading al our whlrveS for Barbadoes by
one OF our most cnterprising merchants; aye,
our only active shipping merchant of the old
school that formerly lined our wharves and
whtened every sea with their shipping.
Upon inquiry We find that this vessel does
not return here with a cargo, but goes to Bal
timOrc with sugar and molasses Why not
come direct to Alexandria may be asked? The
reply is to be found in the communication Of
Your correspondent "Merchant;' where it will
be seen that the present policy of the Orange,
Alexandra ana Manassas railroad is to charge
forty five cents per hundred pounds on sugar
aud m0lasses II sent direct hence to Lynch
burg or iiarriS0nnurg. while it receives but
twenty three cents per hundred pound, il the
same articles are brought from Baltimore and
transported 10 the above places, thus Offering
bonus OF twenty two cents per hundred
pounds to our merchants to import into Bati
more instead OF our own port. on sugar and
mo!asses that may b. transported over our
own road to their Southern and Western Gus
toners.
Tie same pcrncious policy affects importa
tons OF coffee and other articles to greater cy-
tent even than Is shown above
With facts like these can We longer be sur
prscd al the general depression and slow growth
Of our pa0! I'D town. Some have attributed
this To the lack OF enterprise and energy on
the part Oi ear citizens. Such is not the case;
Tor We venture to assert that there has not
been A. much energy or activity displayed by
any other peopic (updcr rs many disadvanta
gcs u have embarrassed them As hy the mer
chant, generally of Alexandria since the close
ni the war.
With but the exception heretofore men
toned, al the shipping mc'chants who did
business here previous to the war have retired
ana Withdrawn their capital from active bust
n"-S operations, investing il in bonds or stocks
not subject to the risks ever attending it while
employed in prCcarious ENTERPRISES There
fore il has ievolvcd on men OF less means,
with bat restricted banking facilities, TO find
mafkeI s aHa di1pGfe OF III. The vast qualities OF
their enterprise to furnish consumers with
salt, oaslrr, fish and fertilizers At less cost
than o!lainlb'e a'4ewhc-e.
IL torciu,ion We vii state that no captlous
oppo.il;on IA ihc managers Of the road &C
mates Us. We you'd much rather add our
IeahI, ei!m,rinent 10 tie compliment paid
them by the author cl lie souioficial report
alluded To-. ;l7n attempt - question the effect
Of ther poaey bu whca we find aur city de
p.iycd Of tie advantage it naturally Possesses,
and ifs commercial prosperity crsmped ,Ahd re
larIel BY rhlr po'icy, we feel lmpeIcd IL dis
cln., tbai which j. - apparent TO us, WILL
both eyes opc1 to the interest and prosperity
If Al.v,pdri3. ANOTHER MERCHANT.