Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-04-26
RAILROAD AND CANAL.
OSYIcE CHEsApEAKR AND o CAKAE Co
ANNAPOLIS, April 10, 1877.
IL he BoGyd Of Directors:

- =
The usual expenses, 16, l28 .6f
The coal tonnage for the - +
month was 9.s7s tons
Both the revenue and coal tonnage sx-
ceed that Of March, 1876.
Accrued revenue 1877, &6, 400 80
Coal tonnage 1877, 0,319 tons
Accrued revenue 1875, $4,083 rs
Coal tonnage, 1876, 3,756 tons
Increase, 1925 76
Increase, seas tons
Usual expenses,
March 1876, 90, ,06s "a
Usual expenses,
March 1877. 16,4as 81
Decrease $3.50 %
Notwithstanding the favorable result
in the business Of the past month, as
compared with corresponding period Of
1875, it is far from being satisfactory.
Nor is the prospect for . large and re-
munerativs trade for the year as bright
a. was anticipated.
The general depression in all branch
es Of industry is more severely felt now
than at any time since the panic Of
1873.
This, coupled with the fact that the
anthracite and Clearield Goals are being
put IN market at ruinously low prices,
compelled our coal companies to reduce
the prices Of Cumberland coal to a.
ure which gives but small profit, either
to the owners or carriers OF that coal.
The canal company has in the past
fully met oil proper demands tor its
proportionate reduction to enable our
shippers to meet this ruinous and use
less competition. and, doubtless, will
continue to act upon the same sound
business principle in the future.
] also regret to be compelled to re-
port that since, your last meeting Of
the board, serious and, As think. un-
fortunate complications have arisen be-
tween the management ofthe Baltimore
and Ohio railroad and this company in
regard to rate Of charges from Cumber-
land to .idewater. For many years the
two companies. competitors for the
transportation Of coal, maintained that
good understanding (Which should have
continued for oil time) Of charging
moderate but uni form rates. In other
words, each company have published
rate Of charges. which applied to all
shippers for the same distance. Each
company obtained such transportation
As was offered, aud neither company
sought or offered any special rate or in
ducement to any shipper.
This good understanding was MAIN
tanned until the past year, 1876, when,
we are informed, the railroad did offer
to some Of the shippers by canal . spe-
cial drawback or rebate below their pub
lished rates Of 10 and 90 cents a ton
from Piedmont to Baltimore. Not
withstanding this offer, no serious in
roads rere made on our trade during
that year; nor did the canal company
deem it wise to give publicity to an act
which they believed TO be not only inn
polite but unfortunate N its operations
Tor both interests, and " hich they hoped
would not be repeated. In this Just
expectation We have been disappointed.
As usual. the canal rates were published
Immediately upon the opening Of navi.
CATION this year.
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad rates
for 1877 were announced to take effect
March 26. 1877, viz:
From Cumberland to Locust Point
wharves 81 81 per ton Of 2, 2,24o pounds.
From Piedmont TO Locust Point " harves
% IS per ton Of z. $40 pounds.
Which isa reduction on published
rates OF last year, from Cumberland, of
% cents ton.
Had these rates been maintsiaed there
would have been fair difference in fa-
vor Of the canal. and would have ena-
bled both works to make some profit on
the coal shipped. But shortly after
these rates were announced, I was in
formed that the managers offke rail-
road had offered some Of the customers
Of tie canal special rate, proridtd tie
coal eempsnies rosId transfer from the
canal TO tie Baltimore and OHIO railroad
eos.pans tie entire product Of tie mines
Of sGid eomponies. or an equally iesr
rate for stipulated tonnage. Several
Of these offers were communicated TO
me by the president OF the coal COM
psnies 10 whom the offers were made,
and are herewith submitted for your
information.
After consultation with such mem.
bers of the board as could reach. II
was determined to avoid, IL possible.
any conflict between the companies in
which the State OF Maryland is so large.
ly interested, and TO that end the follow.
lng communication Was addressed 10
President Garrett, Of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company, and delivered
to Vice President King on the I'd in
staht:
OTFrcH CHEsApsAxE . o CANAL Co.,
ANNAPOLIS, March 81, 1877.
Hon. J. w. Gcrreff, Presidens Balfi-
mare csd OAio Railroad Conpsas:.
MT DEAR SiR: The president and
directors Of The Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal Company are oaly the agents Of
the State Of Maryland in tAe manage
ment Of that work. The duty isimposed
upon them BY The constitution Of 1861
to regulate tolls upoa the canal from
time to time In Srseh vnaD~ee - vsN