The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-12-09
For the Democratic Advocate.
To the President and Directors of the
Western Maryland Railroad.

GESTLEKES 81 have been requested by mar.
ties who frequently travel over the Western
Maryland Railroad to intercede for them with
a view of obtaining from you reduction In
the rates oil passenger fare. IL seems to be the
universal opinion of the patrons Of the road
that the present charges are exorbitant, aud
the purpose OF this paper is to discuss that
question.
Your petitioners freely admit that Railroad
companies are justified In adopting such a
tariff as they believe will yield the greatest
net revenue, within the provisions Of their
charters,) without regard to private interest,
and they recognize the fact that railroad trait
he is on the same basis precisely as all other
understandable matter, and that il would be
Just as unreasonable TO expect your company
to carry for less rate on the plea of pubIic
benefit, as il would be to expect merchant 10
reduce the price Of his cargo of sugar or coffee
on the same principle. The value Of nearly ali
articles bought and sold, Is reiatice and not
arbitrary, and q railroad ticket and n busb.i
Of wheat are each worth whatever tbey will
bring In open market 1t is true there are en-
ceptionable cases where values are arbitrary
as in instances where the necessaries of life ara
in the hands Of n few, and their purchase al
any price becomes compulsory. The same
reasoning will apply in some measure to line
oiraiiroad having no competition, where urgen-
cy demands the use Of IL In the absence of anv
other means Of transit. But at the same Tina
It must be borne In mind that railroads, when
built oy private subscription are designed for
individual benefit, and asithesc roads do M,
otherwise diminish the facilities for transpor-
tation they are much less amenabls TO the
charge Of extortion in consequence Of what
may Dc considered as excessive rates. Whether
the Western Maryland Railroad, which h..
been, 10 great measure, built by the comm.
nifty, and not by individual enterprise. is more
peculiarly bound to consider private interest,"
will not now be discussed.
The only question your petitioners take int
consideration is, whether or not you can make
reduction on the present rates 10 the mutual
dement, OF your patrons and the company. The
argument frequently advanced by travellers
based on the comparative low rates on this and
that road has no more force than the compara.
hre valne OF bushel Of grain In Baltimore I'D
10 st. Louis, and not worth considering; but Il
Is presumed, ifit can be shown that A lower rate
will probably yield greater income, You will
aecede to the request as here presented.
The average rate Of fare on your road i
about = cts- per mile. The distance from West
eight miles.
Round trip by rail $500
~ - Expenses Of one horse and carriage.
Toll rs
Livery for night sl.25 s2.oo
The horse could easily carry at least two
persons and the economy would be represented
by saving OF 100 per cent 10 favor OF private
conyeyance, not counting loss Of time and wear
and tare Of horse and vehicle.
From 0wings' Mills to Baltimore, and return
the cost BY rail Is $l.40, and the relative az.
Pense by private conveyance is only 10 eents.
fhat Is TO say,a one horse carriage with two
persons, can leave 0wings' Mills at i A. al
arrive In Baltimore at A. NJ, giving Il.
hours In the city for bhEiness, and rett;ng h. -
at the "a re time with tho evening train. Al n
actual outlay Of IS cents for each passenger
you will perceive this effects a saving Of a M
on The trip. In favor sof horse power, which
anoras Z handsome profit on the Investment.
luis iacttsso apparent that an omnibus line bss
been established, passing by your stations and
carrying passengers at ioesr rates from the anne
points, and the line paysi 1t Is a notorious fact
that people daily use their own eonvevances n
going 70 and from Baltimore, for long distances
up the line ofyour road, because thew find n
more economical to do so. There Is 4 trite
SAYING, that "time Is money" and Il Is true m y
railroad locomotion provides a means Of az.
ing this much abused article, but country peo.
pie generally, do not appreciate the value a.
time and the resources Of your road depend n
great measure on its use by country peonis
Your petitioners do not rely upon The great
prospective advantages Of low rates In dis
argument, because they are uncertain and do
49, -~%.4tt - @tiAfAto REORGANIZATION. IhDp
are aware that the present necessities Of M
road require an income adequate 70 the dis.
charge Of current obligations, and Therefore
temporary sacrifice Is not admissible even " IN
fair prospect Of ultimate gain. Rat vour
petitioners rely upon (aefs as herein presented
TO sustain them IN urging upon The COMPANY
such reduction in the fare as can be proved
will not diIninish lis revenue and ret win sdd
greatly 70 tho satisfaction Of your patrons,
Some years ago IL was urged by The oppo-
nenn o. low Postage then Contemplated, thst
the sudden fall Of per cent. In the rates would
ipeviiably load the Department with debt
'in6nitely creator than the one Il then labored
under. The result was very unexpected % III
Old Fogiss, who always have, and perhaps
ai.ays viii, oppose every measure Of reform,
and that class Of persons will no doubt be IL
utter amusement when II Is found that he NEXT
reduction now being agitated, from to cent
postage, will make The Post Office Dep artm emf
seif-auxtaininR institution
bnot this parallel caseg Ifyou thiak "a.
way viii you not q least test the matter b.
lar trial. aad make some effort 10 relieve 4
portion Of he public Of an onerous burtber'
creditors Of The soadf An Of which Il
Respectfully submitted,
CfIAS. PAINTER.
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