The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-10
TEE TRADE WITH BALTIMORE.

Baltimore Merchants Urging Increased
Chnrleston-Another steamer Pro-
posed.
The Baltimore Sun OF The 9Th instant gives
the following report OF an important meeting
of merchants, which was called to take steps
10 prevent the through carrying trade of that
city being diverted by the lack of sufficient
transportation between Baltimore and
Charleston
The meeting OF merchants called by the
members OF the Provision Exchange to con-
slider the needs of increased means OF trans
por,alIou between Baltimore and Charleston,
was held Yesterday at the Exchange roo ms,
corner South and Lombard streets, the presl.
dent, p T. George, Esq, In the chair. Mr.. u.
stated that he had applied to Mr.. John King,
Jr., yice-presideDt OF tue Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad for assistance, aud that Mr.. King had
expressed to him the opinion that the mer-
chants of the city should take the matter 10
hand, as they were most intimately con-
cerned, The aHthorilies ofthe Northern Gen.
| trail Railroad informed him that by arrange
menls soon to be perfected by them there
would be no necessity tor more steamers to
Charleston, as they expected TO do the carry.
| Ing trade themselves. Mr.. George sald that
the matter was one which affected the vital
interests of Baltimore commerce., and tnat II
the merchants OF this city are not alarmed al
the prospect Of losing the Charleston and
Western trade, parties In other cities are
alarmed for them. He was In receipt OF let
ters from gentleman 10 Richmond stating
that at the Chesapeake and Ohlo Railroad
depot there he had seen large conslgn-
ments of bacon from Cincinnati which
| should have been sent to Baltimore. This
is q fire in the rear, reaching as 1t does
to Charleston, Macon, Columbia aud other
Southern towns, and absorbing the trade
there. There Is to-day In this city line OF
draws, loaded with freight, from mile to
mile and half loug, reaching from the wharf
OF the Charleston steamers. The chiet South
ern trade consists In liquors and provisions,
and bacon ls the heavy lreight-indsed com.
poses nearly one third OF all the heavy freight
| that is carried. 1t ls evident that we cannot
afford to lose this latter trade, Tor II the pro-
vision trade ls lost, what vii! be the situation
of the carving trade, The completion of the
| Chesapeake aud Ohio Railroad has taken us
! by surprise. Large quantities OF boxes, casks,
| &C., are daily shipped at Cincinnati marked
| "yla Richmond" Is this not an evidence that
Richmond ls gradually gainingi IT,? Are we to
| lose this trade That is The question. 1t seems
| 10 be the opinion that If the carrying trade IL
not profitable nothing should BIZ had to do
| With iC by the merchants. This Idea Is entirely
| fallacious. The only way to do Is 10 join
hands with the Charleston line, which has
now two steamers, unit, however, for the
service, stock In which to the amount OF
| thirty thousand dollars ls owned by the South
Carolina Railroad. These steamers cannot
accommodate the trade. They are too small,
and are run ut an expense equal 10 that OF
steamers twice the size.
Mr. David Mordecai, one Of the agents for
| the Baltimore and Charleston steamers, said
| that 1t had been seven years since the frat
steamer alter the war left this port fer Charles
| ton; that others were then put upon the route,
but all failed until the establishment of the
present line, which put the Sea Gull and
Falcon on the route, and had experienced
great success with them, haVlng been enabled
| 10 reduce the rates, which were l8 cents per
brshel on grain and 80 cenls per cwt. for local
freight, 10 IL cents per bushel and 40 cents per
cwt They had to contend with great difficult
ties at frat, being obliged in order to keep the
trade up 10 buy grain here and to buy return
freight at Charleston. They now had an
average trade OF FROM $4,000 10 10000 barrels
per month, aod could obtain 40, 900 barrels per
month with ease. Much dissatisfaction had
been expressed by shippers with himself and
associates because they could not provide &C.
commodatlons for largely increased freight.
But they we're doing all In their power. Their
ships were now tested to their utmost ca
pacly in making far too rapid and frequent
voyages, being hardly ever more than 48 hours
In port. The ships al present on The line have
each capacity OF 450O barrels. If one of 5000
barrels capacity were built. running at
the same expense. Is to s3 per cent. could
be reduced in ireights. The trade is over
! whelming, and must be met at once or 1t will
be lost; 600 casks OF rice was received for the
West 5y the last two steamers. A correspon-
dent at Charleston has written asking for
grain, saying that though he can get 1t cheap.
er from Inc West, some difficulty exists at
present, which necessitates it's purchase in
Baltimore. An effort has been made to char
ter an extra steamship, but none can be pro-
cured. A letter has been received by the
company from New York, asking to charter
the Sea Gull and Falcon, so none can be pro-
cured there. The only remedy is 10 build one.
One hundred and twenty thousand dollars or
thirty thousand dollars Is needed TO build q
ship of 5000 barrels capacity, which could be-
completed for next fals trade. The earnings
of the line would soon build another ship The
company had once chartered steamer of that
capacity FROM Mr.. George Appod. and in four
| trims to Oharlestop had cleared $500 net earn.