National Republican., 1873-09-12
THR RAILROAD DIFFICULTIES BR.
TWEEN WASHINGTON AND NEW
YORK

YORK.
At the regular monthly meeting Of the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad Company, held In
Baltimore on Tuesday last, Mr.. John King,
jr., the president pro tenn, stated that he had
been advised by Mr.. Garrett, from Europe,
that he had succeeded In negotiating s5,00O,-
boo OF the company's 0 per cent. sterling
bonds through Barring Bros. d Co., OF Lon
don, at 96i, This large amount was taken In
q single day, and Mr.. Garrett says he had
offers for more than s10, 900 900 at the price
named. This expression Of confidence In the
Baltimore and Ohio road, by foreign capital
lsts, should be very gratifying to Its stock
holders. The revenue Of this road for August
was a, l13, ,&s3, being an increase Of s423,
h3S over the corresponding month OF last
year.
With the nattering financial prospects Of
this company, and the fact that tho Penusyl-
vania railroad has outhanked 1t between
New York and Washington, It bto be hoped
that when President Garrett returns an active
movement will be made towards giving the
public another through line between the ma.
tional capital and New York. The Pennsyl'
vania company, It Is understood, Is quietly
building Its own road between Phlladelphia
and Baltimore, thus giving that company a
continuous rail Of Its own between the South
and the East. As the Pennsylvania company
owns the only track between Philadelphia
and New York, the importance Of this new
road To that company will be understood,
The Pennsylvania company Ia doing between
Philadelphia and Baltimore wha. he Baltl-
tlmorc and Ohio and Philadelphia, Whining
ton and Baltimore must eventually do be-
tween New York and Philadelphia In order
TO obtain any Of the travel and commerce
east Of these points.
When the Baltimore and Potomac road
succeeded In making the connection between
Baltimore and Washington, we were In
hopes that the dependence Of this city and
the public generally upon railroad monopoly
was at an end, and that the rivalry Of the
competing lines would result In increased ia
cllitles to business, and additional accommo.
dations 10 travellers. But It seems as II we
have escaped Seyils only to be swallowed by
CharybdIs. The Baltimore and Potomac
connection removed the iron heel Of the Bal
timorc and Ohio from the neck Of Washing
ton city, but there Is danger Of the heavier
place. Before the completion Of the Balti'
more and Potomac the trouble was between
Baltimore and Washington, which the Balti'
more and Ohio road owns. This trouble was
removed, but now the trouble Ia between
Philadelphia and New York, which the
PENNSYLVANIA company owns. We have Q
change Of masters, but the tyranny remains.
When the Pennsylvania company succeeds
In getting Its own rails between Philadelphia
and Baltimore the case may be improved as
regards regularity Of mails and the accom-
modations for passengers, but the mo-
nopoly remains so far as trade aud travel
arc concerned with points north and east of
Philadelphia.
We have no partisan feelings for either
OF the rival railroad companies between
Washington and the North. We contend
only for public rights, proper facilities for
commerce and ample accommodations
for travellers. Experience has taught
that we cannot obtain these so
long as any one road maintains monopoly
Of the travel. For years we were dependent
upon the Baltimore and Ohio, and for years
we have been suffering and watching and
praying for dollverance. We have been cry
Ing for bread, and in our desperation, 1t Is
very much to be feared, we have grasped at
the stone scductiyely held out to us by the
Pennsylvania company In the shape OF the
Baltimore and Potomac. Our difficulties re-
main. The point Of location only has been
changed. Before, Mr.. Garrett guarded the
switch at Baltimore; now, Mr.. Scott guards It
at Philadelphia. There is but onc remedy by
which we can hope to be freed from tho imperi-
ous sway OF these railroad monsters, and that Ia
to build competing road from Phiiadelphia
to New York, and thus secure two con-
tinuous and independent lines Of travel be-
tween the South and East. The very neces-
stiles Of the situation, II would seem, will
force the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Bal
timore company to build this road, and a
sagaclous business policy should induce the
Baltimore and Ohio company to second the
enterprise. II this be done, the public will be
independent OF railroad dictation and inso-
lence, and will be left free to make choice
of route. Let us hope that this large fnan-
cIai operation, which Mr.. Garrett has so sue
ccssfully negotiated In London, has this object
in view.