National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-03

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which may be made as useful to railroad man
agement as any other business. And 1t seems
to us clearly the duty Of Gen. Wickham, as it
certainly would be for the interests of his road,
to apply remedy for the wrong we COM
planned of.
awe can only" says Gen. Wickham, "con-
troll the rates upon our own line, but as far as
that is concerned We have been ready and are
ready to make arrangements, the hberality of
which no one will question" Very well, so
far as it goes. Good intentions are commend
able always. But the trouble is they rarely
effect a cure Tor any great wrong, financial,
social or political. We believe, however, that
we understand what Gen. Wickham means by
this declaration of good intentions. 1t is that
this throws the responsibility for this injus-
tice to Washington from his own shoulders,
and fixes It upon those of Mr.. John W. Gar
rett, president of the Baltimore and Ohio.
Let us hear what Mr.. Garrett has to say on
this subject. He promised more than two
years ago to atone for all past sins and Omis-
sions against Washington by henceforth giving
her equal advantages with Baltimore, and
indeed proving himself her best railroad friend.
Taking Mr.. Garrett at his promise of good be-
hayior we have done what we could to stimu-
late good impression in his favor among the
people of Washington. But if .Wickham's
theory be correct, and we confess there are q
number of circumstances which give color 70
its correctness, Mr.. Garrett still sticks to
his old policy of making Washington pay trib-
ute to Baltimore. Before pronouncing judg-
ment, however, we should like to hear what
Mr.. Garrett has to say in reply to Gen. Wick
ham.
We have heard it stated that Mr.. Garrett
and other stockholders of the Baltimore and
Ohio road were so largely interested in Cum
berland coal, the transportation Of which eI-
ceeded fifty per cent. of their earnings on the
main stem, that they could not afford to have
the Kanawha valley Goals, which were so much
superior for fuel, gas, steam-but especially
fuel-brought in competition with it. Hence
their objection to transporting it over any of
their roads. But such a policy seems to US
so short-sighted that we would fain not believe
Mr.. Garrett guilty of practicing it. The sea-
board cities of the United States, to say nothing
of Western cities, afford markets enough for
all these Goals, and the quicker railroad man
ayers cast aside their petty rivalries, and take
broader and more generous views of the situa-
ton, the better it will be for themselves and
the country at large.
Since the appearance of our article of the
25th ultimo We have been furnished with q
number of communications all tending to show
how both the Baltimore and Ohio and Chesa-
peake and Ohio roads discriminate against
Washington. We intend here, however, to
confine ourselves to this fuel question. The
dealer informs US that he has tried in vain for
three years to get the camel coal of the
Kanawha into this market by rail. The
Baltimore and Ohio would refer him to the
Chesapeake and Ohio. The Chesapeake and
Ohio would refer him back again to the Balti-
moro and Ohio. Both would give assurances
of magnificent intentions, and that was the
end of it. He finally made up his mind that
he had been made the victim Of huge joke
that there was no such thing as camel aud
splint coal in the mountains of West Virginia,
and that a ring of New Workers had manufae-
tured the story to sell the mountain land they
had got possession of.
Another persevering gentlemen thought he
would try the experiment, and began by ad-
dressing a letter to General Wickham on the
subject. We make an extract from the reply,
which is dated Richmond, Oct. Z, 1874.
< We should he pleased to have our
camel coal introduced in. your city.
We can deliver from miners to Washington at
Rates of about six (6) dollars per net ton, by
Water or Rail, 1--WE quote literally,) and hope
such Rate" (the capitals are not ours twill
enable your friends to handle the coal. eve
simply name the cost of transportation, Co.,"
This communication was signed
BIS. FITCH,
G.. A, c. g. ORR.
The perseyering gentleman whom we have
just referred very soon found that Mr.. Fitch's
letter meant just nothing at all; that in fact
this coal could not be got here by rail until Mr..
Garrett was consulted He thereupon ad.
dressed letter to that gentleman, or rather to
Mr.. Sharp. Here is a copy Of the reply:
BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD,)
FREIGHT DEPARTMENT, ,
BALTIMORE, Oct. 2, lS7I.
DEAR SIR Referring to your favor, 18th
inst, addressed to Mr.. Sharp, which is just
referred TO me, beg to say that coal can be
transported through from mines on the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railroad to Washington via
Staunton.
Please address B. s. Fitch, G. F. Agt., Ches-
apeake and Ohio Railroad, Richmond, Va, for
rates of freight, stating probable quantity to
be shipped. Yours truly,
N.GULFoRD, G. F.A.
These letters are enough to show that there
is something radically wrong in the business
system of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad at
Richmond. The same persistent gentleman,
unwilling to give up in despair, wrote three
letters to Richmond inquiring what camel
coal could be put on board for at that port.
Richmond could not inform him. Philadel-
phia had to speak for her. Here is the reply
). TATN.ALL LEAF
No. 325 CHE SMUT STREET, y
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. II, 1874.
DEAR SIR: Your favor of the 10th instant,
addressed to Mr.. Gervas Storrs, is received.
The price of Cannelton Company's camel
coal is 81 per ton of ,240 lbs f. o. b. at Rich
mond, Va.
Very truly yours, J. 7. LEA, Treas.
We beg Gen. Wickham to accept what we
say here in a spirit of kindness. Nothing would
give us more pleasure than to see his great
road out Of its present financial difficulties
and doing prosperous business. And to the
gentlemen of the Richmond press, who have
become so excited over our article of the 25th,
showing the serious disadvantages of making
their port a terminus, we can only say that we
shall return to that subject yery soon and sub