New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-09
BALT1MoRE---HER WAY TO TEE SEA.

/ BALT1MORE---HER WAY III Ih6 ShA'
There is charm about the Monumen-
tai City. The gallantry of her sons IN
defending their village Of the period
against an arrogant and formidable foe,
the refinement of her society, the indomi-
table enterprise of her mechanics, the
abundance Of her markets, the lndepen-
dence and comfort of her merchants
| made Baltimore one of the most promi-
| nent of American cities. There IS an
OF her feature in the character OF this city
W hich especially commends it to admira-
ton and imitation. Every one OF Its citl-
zens is proud Of the city, and Will back
| Baltimore against the world in any COM
parative enterprise whatever.
A very short review Of her commercial
hi story Will show that this devotion OF the
people to her destinies is well founded:
Baltimore town was an unlmportant
coast port, not accessible to vessels OF
large burden. It enjoyed the trade OF the
rich vallies of the Shenandoah and Poto-
mac, and supplied goods by wagon as far
west as Knoxville in Tennessee. Balt1-
more is entitled to the merit OF having
just demonstrated the capacity OF the rail
to traverse the mountain interval between
the coast and the Mississippi valley. Her
railroad overcame stupendous obstacles,
and upon its Western trade has been built
up population of nearly 4O0,0 OO. Bal
timore has either inaugurated a new
theory of through trade Or, perhaps,
copied Chicago in so doing Her
railroads terminate at the ships side,
and the transfer of through produce,
goods and passengers is made with
out change or delay. Perhaps there
is not in the world more perfect transfer
system than that at and below Locust
Point. Baltimore originated another idea.
It was to connect the transportation over
land with transportation via the ocean.
The Balti more and Ohio Railroad Com
pany built lines of transatlantic steamers,
which being run in connection with and
under control Of the company, assured a
through commerce between the interior
West and the seaports of Europe. The
ocean steamers were as much part of the
trolling stock" Of the company as its cars
and locomotives.
With all these Developments, Baltimore
suffered from the same great disadvan-
tage with New Orleans. Her outlet navi-
CATION was deficient. Having furnished
a commerce adequate to large foreign
trade, it became important to secure pro-
per facilities for its conduct. Many years
ago there had been federal appropria-
ton for the improvement OF the harbor of
Baltimore. This was expended under
the superintendent Of Colonel Brewer
ton, United States Engineers 1t fur
nished, in 1860, a channel one hundred and
fifty feet wide and twenty-five feet deep, for
several miles into deep water. In 1866,
the channel was re-surveyed by the Engi-
neer Department of the United States,
and ow permits the approach to Bait
more at mean low water Of vessels draw
ing fir ON twenty-five and half to twenty
three feet, and at ordinary high water, of
vessels drawing twenty-four or twenty
four and a half feet, with a channel
width of two hundred and fifty feet.
This has been effected by dredging
in the permanent bottom of the Chesa-
peake bay. The completion of his work
upon the joint contributions Of the fed
eral government and the city Of Balti-
more has been celebrated with an as
semblage Of those most deeply interested
in the renown and advantages of the
work. We hope it will not be long before
New Orleans can follow the example of
St. Louis and Baltimore in announcing
an uninterrupted access to the sea by
great national work. May We hope at
such eel Iteration similar harmony and
pride in the welfare and renown of the
Crescent City? Let US try.