Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-04-26

PbUouGG tuG t1IkcSk SuOuQS u keveuUSs
and to avoid the injurious effect to said
company Of rival competition by 9TH
er internal Improvement compliance
Coast. srt. II, sec. q.
Il 10 happens that the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company il the only is-
ternal improvement company IN this
State between which and The canal
Company ouch rival eompetitions esn
arise, snd that tbe, coels of Wes&ern
Maryland i the aIticlk IN .leferoae6 q
which diAersnces have srisen. -
I think your company win do us the
justice to admit that canal company has
been always willing to avoid injurious
competition in its carrying trade BY
agreeing with your company - to the
rates which esch company should
charge upon its own line, and has been
always willing thnt your company should
acquire, at such agreed rate, the trade
to which it was entitled by reason ol
any advantage in the locality Of its
line.
The canal company has always been,
and now 10 snxious to unite with your
company in making any agreement q
to rates which will place Maryland coal
in the market at the lowest possible
rate Of freight. II only desired to have,
under such rate a. might be agreed
upon, the benefit Of that trade to which
il was entitled by the natural advantage
of the locality Of its line.
So long as this disposition was OBJ
served by both companies, both compa-
mes prospered. The rates agreed upon
were, in the main, satisfactory to the
coal-producing interests. The rates
charged to shippers upon each line were
knownto to be as reasonable ss they could
eb made. Neither company suffered any
wrong. because no aggressive competi-
ton between the two companies existed
and no advantage was held out to any
shipper Of coal BY either company in
which al shippers by that route did not
share.
Within the last year we have seea
with regret disposition exhibited by
your company to depart from this good
understanding. and to deprive our COM
pany from its natural and accustomed
coal trade: "a within Q Iew days past
have learned that this policy has .aken
definite form. We are informed that Of
fers have been made to certain OF our
customers to allow them special advan-
tages il they would ship The coal from
their mines IN whole, or at least to q
large proposed amount, over the Balti.
more and Ohio railroad, instead Of ship
ping it BY canal. One of the offers
made has been communicated to Us.
We greatly regret that the friendly
accord which subsisted formerly between
the companies is not maintained. We
express our willingness to renew and
uphold Il: We will cordially unite upon
any agreed rates which may tend to
the prosperity Of both companies.
II in your judgment such agreement
cannot be made, we must Of course pre-
pare TO enter upon any competition fol
business which any general reduction
Of your rates may force upon Us. We
shall not complain Of such resolution, OF
Of any loss Of revenue to which such
competition may subject our company.
Such competition will certainly be in.
furious, but we are without power to
prevent it. The people Of the State,
who are practically the owners of the
canal, will understand Why the fulfill
ment Of their reasonable expectations
that the canal should be made a source
Of revenue is DELAYED, and the general
public will have the advantage Of the
lower prices Of coal arising from such q
competition.
But we think We have the right to
complain Of the offer Of rates to par.ic.
ular customers Of the canal lower than
the rates which are offered to general
customers Of your road, because the ma.
king Of such lower and individual rate
is an act Of competition which can Of.
ford little profit to your company and
no advantage to the public, while il is
in the highest degree injurious to the
canal company.
In conclusion We wish to saw that We
have acted in the discharge Of our duty
hitherto in no spirit unfriendly to your
company. II has pleased the State to
call your company and ours into being.
The State has invested its money large
ly in both enterprises. We desire your
prosperity. We believe that the in.
crease in the trade Of the State viii en-.
able your work and ours both to prosper.
We only ask you to assist US ID the full
fillment OF the duty imposed upon US by
the constitution Of the STATE. We wish
TO so regulate the tolls Of our COMPANY
from time TO time, as to produce the
largest amount Of revence. and TO avoid
the injurious effect to said company Of
rival eompctition by other intefnal-im-
provement companies.
In one word. we earnestly desire "a
reach such understanding Is to rates Is
may best consist with our separate and
common interests, with the public good,
and as may best tend to procure to the
State that proper interest upon the great
amount Of its nancy invested in the ca
nal. which It's citizens in the last two
years have had good reason 10 antici-
pate was about TO be realized.
l trust that il will be IN your power
to make an early reply to this letter. -
We are compelled 10 submit the ques-
ton at issue TO the Board Of Public
Works At It's meeting April 10.
! am. Sir, with great respect. your
ooedlent servant,
A. p. GoRxax,
President G. q o. @. Co.
To this com ufunsc, ,Ssor M s~~w.. -.
been received, from which I am forced
e eoaclude that The president Of the
Dsilimore and Ohio Railrusd compsny
hsving desrrnihea sPe6hi. policy, doe.