New-York tribune., 1869-01-07

this bin were, first. the necessity for such new
roads, and second the extent OF the power Of Con-
gress existing railroads, and 10 authorize
the construction Of new roads. In regard to the first
question II remarkable fact that the only
from the North East West TO the National capital s
by one railroad, branch Of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad-a Maryland corporation. No other town In
the country OF the size, the size OF Washington
without competing lines, and II was all the re-
markable when 1t Is remembered that Washington is the
Capital of the Nation OF 36 600 OF people, and the seat
Of all the great departments OF the General Government
Congress having exclusive control over the affairs OF
the District had corresponding duties, one OF which
might reasonably be claimed TO be TO provide for citizens
of the District equal commercial and travelling facilities
discharged while the people Of Washington were left de-
pendent upon branch OF the baltimore and Ohio Rail
road great foreign corporation having interests op
posed 10 heirs and being entirely beyond their control
1t would be natural that should arise from
the fact that this corporation had monopoly OF railroad
transit to aud from Washington, even II were content
with fair profit upon its investment but such was rot
the case. careful examination would show that the
Washington branch OF the road yielded profit grossly
out of proportion TO its cost. That branch was Only 80
House, and report for 1868 showed gross earnings that
year TO have been s9l6,2S7 over $4,000 mile During
leaving Balance @ Of sSosss as the profit on 50 miles Of
railroad for year He had not seen any statement OF
the cost OF constructing the road but from the conpara
lively easy grade and the absence OF engineering dcul-
ties thought could not have been more than ESQ per
mile that the annual profit about "a per cent upon
its estimated This profit divided between le
stockholders and the state Of Maryland and In fact the
whole policy and management OF the corporation were
shaped first to serve its own interests second 10 serve
the interests baltimore and build IL up and third 70
corporation for this but Il showed how unsafe aud now
wrong to leave the National Capital ana the cru.
in all parts OF the country who visit ~ the mercy
of such corporation and all that was necessary for Con-
gress do TO relieve them OF this dependence was to a
thOrze the building Of competing roads without cost 70
the United States. Another reason why such roads
should be bpit especially from the West was the In
convenience and want Of 1T9ctpSSS Of tho eSi9tis vis
compelling the passenger who wishes TO go West from from
Washington TO travel first 80 miles eastward 70 batl
If he prefers another route to go sun T.ner e
East and commence an entirely new Journey when N he
faces westward. There should be road from the west
direct to Washington which is the nearest udewater 10
But looking at the matter aHan as auecung ue hcfests
Of Washington and all who had occasion 70 vst u lIv
the North East, or west II should pc noed ht te o
travel and transportation upOn the Washington pFahch Is
much greater than the cost for the same on my
other road and much greater too thn on te main me o
the Baltimore and Ohio road The tax paid by that ROAD
to Maryland seemed 10 be levied chiefly upon tho Was
ingt0n branch The PASSENGER Iare on that az % Doa vas
nearly four cents mile, while u was clear tht w eos
mile would yield q handsome annual prom; ,, dhe
charges for freight carriage were even more e1ofDtah
In statement put forth recently by pubic meeting OF
citizens of Washington there was lnehlOhso he caho o
merchant there who had imported soio hardware rom
England the charges upon when Tor ihe ocean carnage
5000 miles, less than the railroad charges from Bal
tmOre to Washington is9 mlles ALSO hno,neI chhe III
which the freight charge from Chicago TO Baltimore was
less than that from BaltimoIe to washington.
The same meeting had also assert,
ed that in many Eases cases Yr.G,l, freight had
places in Virginia at lower rates than those charged f0r
bringing II from Baltimore TO Washngton Even out OF
regard for the local interests OF aG o DIS
trct Of Columbia u was clearly the duty OF congress 10
authorize the building OF new roads; but, taking wider
also clear tnt III euCn fOtuS were pult,
aud the present state OF things were allowed continue
ts tendency and result must inevitably he the removal
Of tho national capital wa S wa ba6 sp a as
vocated upon that ground but It's tine Etuaon on tho
Potomac It's association with the name and memory Of
Washington and the fact that costly public buildings had
been erected there. were all poweriu reasons against
such removal aud would probably be conclusive ones N
by the construction OF these proposed railroads the eig
was made accessible ana less expensive 10 reach,
or 10 live in But beside the danger "a ho interests Of
Washington rom railroad monopolles theIe was worse
danger 10 apprChcud-a combination Of hemin PROOF OF
which lie had read by the secretary the Following CIR
cular p.. -, q,
% s: no % s sis,s, sssf " wsh inoyorse several eoups.
V. md s1 ...ss ss g1 s @ 'a o. & ,s'5 e ~ s %
S sSS Of Ss s snso @ oas,aos or fs 10 s o on ny
1aiosd IL vrsas ills tLs ils entering
over ,fV I 81 f hin 'oSs be d,,rd Sfs,s e. .s s .is G @
sosS Interests. promote wild dishonest Speculation sua
. sss IL May cor rs@s IA ,ss 6 .
q ,hs Oh ~ e., st e5, s Sss' s 'S ,o, AZ
lsgaon who are in i sobsB pposi 70 IL Ut4e, the nprs.
posed h. ssare Poslt s.nAe however say tl d,ns,r'
a ,S an ss ,a s T,lo.a S os. 20 aver, 1q IL ssaa %
appear oa does to u.s. ~ nEse hai yoa use your n
with yo1T iead' CoS' especially IL 'te seaA1e 10 sss'
j. Edgar Tlo,, President Psanslva Railroad comPrny Gssrs,
Jss,t freser pbargb Cnenrit oho 81 Lou Railroad i',ae
ChasE snh President Philadelphia ard Reading if adj A'bbsi
& ss P,srt er,oy RAILROAD al Trsspcsoa cd.pssI,
WIN H. atlmer Prt,ls Camden and AEboy Railroad AID Tipor
Commenting upon this circuler, Mr. Sherman said tho
sgners OF were among the abiost raoad men ~ the
country bat he warned them that this effort of theirs
was adyised. and II persisted IN would inevitably
suit IN combinations both IN the states and IN Congress
which would override all attempts 10 prevent free
petition among railroads. Experience had shown not
only that such competition was beneficial 10 tho public,
developing territorial RESOURCES aud decreasing tho cost
OF living but also that - not injurious 10 the ra
roads Even II were injurious 10 them, that would be
no reason Why IL should not exist. man who sets up
cotton mill blacksmith shop In town does 40 know
ing that there arises demand for other sn
ia and pha not
object 20 10, aud reasonably can railroad com
pay object to competition, there being no better
for limiting by law the number Of railroads than for
limiting the number OF steamboats, or cotton mills. In
illustration Of tho good effects Of competition, lac
the construction, OF railroads under general
a,cannent @ ~ her resources Mr. sber%on cy
discussed the question Of tho right OF Congress to pass
the bin under confederation, claiming that Congress had
such right under the power 10 regulate commerce be
tween the states aud hc denied the light Of Maryland
NewJersey or any other state 10 SET up ara mallsn
citizens Of other States OF the United States Finally he
of is necessity internal commerce beng essential TO
national existence armies or nayles, or even
essential and as important an object Of government as
tho view Of tho framers OF the Constitution, he cited
from the debates In the Convention which preceded it
The Eederaiis, that the Importance Of tho Union In
nght wac mater o sDSS Sch there was no
At the conclusion OF hs speech Mr. Sherman moved TO
postpone the further confederation OF tho bill until Mon
day next, which was done.
FOR PROPERTY TAKEN BY TIE ARMY IN
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
The Senate then resumed the consideration OF the bill
'or the relief OF Sue Murphy Of Decatur, Ala.
Mr.. WILEY Qsep.. WestVaD advocated II upon the
ground taken by Mr. Howe IN The previous debate that
The Slain for property regularly taken by the Army
II the United States Tor the benefit Of the United States
and not claim for compensation for property destroyed
by the enemy incident Of and shOpd therefore
allowed under tho general principle that the Govern
mont has no right TO take private property Of oyac c
zen for public purposes without paying Tor IT,
Mr. MORTON rep. Iud) asked him 10 state the differ
nce between the liability OF the Government for prop
rty taken regularly III this case by the Army 10 build
fertilization, and It's liability for the property OF Union
men destroyed by the army Oh It's march, or during
latte.