Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-02-25
THE RAILROAD CONTEST.
"Causss and COBseqUences'' Of the War
Between the PennsyI Eania and
Baltimore aud OhiO Rail-
roads.

"tauses ana COnseq OenceS" OF the Wal
Between the PennsyI SanIa and
Baltimore aud OhiO Rail-
roads.
Baltimore sun.
Il is well said that the only sure pro-
lection Of the people against oppression
by monOpOlies is in competition. We
surely have that protection now, az be-
tween the great trunk railway lines of
the country running east and west, ex-
cept, as it appears, on a small link con.
trolled by the Pennsylvania railroad
through New jersey, by which 1t com
msnds for itself the gateway to and
from the great city of New York, and
essays to grant, on such terms as il may
please, or refuse altogether, the favor of
a passage that way to others. 1t is in
evitable, therefore, that the power of
this short link must soon be broken, and
the completion of the second road be-
tween Philadelphia and New York, now
in course of construction, is the agency
| by Which it is to be done. 1t is known
to be in the hands of interests adverse
to the Pennsylvania railroad, Mean
time it may be worth while to look at
! the contest which is now waging be-
tween the Pennsylvania and Baltimore
and Ohio railroads, involving the facili-
| ties over this mOnopOlized New Jersey
line, and Incidentally the greater
| stretches of western traffic, from the
! Baltimore standpoint. 1t is unmistaka-
| bly, demonstrated through ali the organs
| or expression in the west that Baltimore
| has the full sympathies OF that great
producing section in the contest, and
| also, as evidenced by the tone of and the
strong array OF facts in the New York
and Boston press, the confidence and
favor of the east is given to very con-
siderable extent to the economic and
we'll managed line of Baltimore transit.
What, then, is Baltimore likely to lose
by the efforts Of the Pennsylvania rail.
road to push it off of the line of ninety
10 one hundred miles of rail through
New Jersey which that company con-
trolls? The Pennsylvania road may gain
the small additional sum upon each
through passenger between Washington
and New York that it did not get before,
the local travel between Washington
and Baltimore remaining as heretofore
nearly altogether with the Baltimore
and Ohio road, as will also largely the
travel between Washington and Phils,
delphia. To gain this small sum per
head of that portion of the through
travel previously enjoyed by the Balti-
more and Ohio company, the Pennsyl-
vaniA road sacrifices all the large freight
business both ways of the former COM
psDy over its New Jersey line, while the |
Baltimore company will probably secure |
an accretion of freight to and from the |
north by its steamer lines hence, taking |
business at such rates as it pleases, and |
competing thus more vigorously, be- |
cause unrestrictedly, than ever, with |
the Pennsylvania road in New York |
and at all other eastern points. But tie |
losses here are bagatelle to those which |
the Pennsylvania road must incur in the |
west, especially on its expensive leased |
lines, by the TuinOusly low figures at |
which it must wOrk-for where it will |
lose money the Baltimore and Ohio can
at least hold its own. 1t can, indeed, |
aft ord to work for One-half of what the |
Pennsylvania can, by reason of its line
in that quarter having been so much
more cheaply constructed than those of
its adversary. This, however, concerns
only the two railroads. AS to the city
of Baltimore itself, its trade and COM
merce, its manufactures and other in
dustIies, etc.-With the broad and hearty
sympathies of the great west, the north
west and the southwest on our side
ought not great benefits be made to re.
suit t. US here from present circum-
stances? In all branches our people |
have but to arouse themselves in a re-
ciprOcal spirit to that manifested in their
favor, and be prepared adequately to
meet and supply the wants of those Sec
tions of country. The hindrances and
impediments which the wise solons of
the Pennsylvania road, in utter dis
regard of the rights of the public
and the purposes of the fran
chises bestowed upon all such
corporations by states, have sought to
place in the path OF the people passing
between the west and the east, by seek
ing to deprive them of the facilities of
one of the lines starting from the nation
al capital for New York, should and |
can be made to rebound to our advant-
age. By reason of the greatly reduced |
passenger fares and freight charges es-
tablished over long routes by the power
Of our great unit line to the west, we
may expect Baltimore to have its full
share of the travellers as well as of the
business. When once the trader from
the interior reaches here, his nearest
seacOast port, we must make it SO unne-
cessary for him to pass beyond our limits
that he will not desire to do so. With
our regular steamship lines to European
as well as the chief northern cities, and
our large sailing vessels trading to both
foreign and domestic ports, thus placing
in our market the products and wares
and fabrics OF all lands by which to
make up full and varied stocks, with
the addition of our local manufactures
to complete the supply, we ought to be
able to meet the needs of all corners.
{ 70 q n " OH poh n haU |
son to be stimulated by the Circumstance
es of the occasion, and to expand
their enterprise. Those men, too,
of capital and sagacity in New
York and elsewhere, whom we have
heard of as contemplating a transfer of
their business to this city, on account
of the economic advantages afforded by
cheaper rents, lower taxes, etc, may
find it their interest to give renewed at
tentiOn to the subject, now that Balti-
more bas so largely enlisted western CO.
operation and trade. Thus the Penn
sylvania railroad, without intending it,
may in some sort become benefactor to
this community. Whether that road
is entitled to be looked upon in that
light as to New York and its other con-
stituehcies is question which they
may ponder upon at their leisure. 1t
may be working more wisely for us
than it knows, and no effort on our
part should be omitted to make its pres
ent course so result. We say again,
therefore, that the present circumstance
should stimulate our merchants and
in all branches to make
ample preparation for future business,
and to let the west know the readiness
OF Baltimore to meet its commercial
wants.