The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-05-19
CANAL VERSUS RAILROAD.
Mr.. Germans Reply TO Mr.. Garrett.
An AJie an Comprehensive Documeat-ln.
terests Of The State Defined Proposition
for Uniform Rate
AGAINST TnE r. & onIos POLICY.

PROTECT AGAINST THE u. & oHIos POLICY.
The Hon. A. =. German President Of the Chesa.
peake and ohio Canal Company, has addressed the
following communication 10 President John W.
Garfctt, of the baltimore and Ohio RAILROAD. con-
Veying suggestions looking ~ an adjustment Of the
coal tolls between the two companies:
OFFICE CHESAPEAKE AND ONO CANAL CoNPAsY.
ANNAPoLIs, MAY 10, 1871.
Hon John w. Gayr,ii President Baltimore and Ohio
RuiiTDdd COmpdHyMy Dear Sir:-lOur communi-
cation Of the 9Th was received by me on the 9Th and
submitted To our board Of directors who have in
strcled me ~ rcassure you OF their desire To adjust
the differences which have unfortunately arisen be-
tween our respective companies.
They observe with pleasure yonr offer to make
such arrangements us u rates M will place Mary
land coal in market at the lowest possible rate Of
freight
As you have not made any specific suggestion by
which this result may be accomplished. they direct
me 10 bring TO your attention plans for arrange
ment which Il accepted, viii doubtless protect the
Maryland coal Interest and promote the prosperity
OF our respective companies
But before making the suggestion OF this plan II
Is proper for me TO notice some stateSments made In
your communication in order to remove the errOn-
eOus impressions which they may have made on
many iair minded persons who are not familiar with
all tho facts ofthe case.
The letter OF Vice President King incorporated
Into your statement, and purporting 20 give
count OF an Interview with me, No wOrded as 10
convey an impression not warranted by the circum-
stances attending IT, without detailing the several
prior interviews had with him In reference 10 the
coal trade upon our respective lines Il Is only me-
cesary 10 say that the interview ~ which he Tclers
was not sought for by me with the purpose OF maN-
ing complaint that the Baltimore and Ohio company
had made the reduction in rates which went into
effect on the 9th OF March but with the purpose Of
nscertninlng whether there was any truth In report
ed action Of your company In Offering to one of our
customers secret or special drawback Of twenty
two On cents ton below such published rate.
Mr.. King denied all knowledge Of such an Offer
Informing me he had been absent from the city and
hud only returned nom the West tbs evening be
fore, aud that II there was any truth in the report
the ofer had been made by some other officer OF the
company during his absence.
Mr.. King then, as he states, attempted 10 denon-
srate that there was sufficient difference between
the published rates Of the canal and railroad.
Although believed that special rates had been
offered ~ our customers, yet accepting Mr.. Kings
denial OF his knowledge of such proposition, con-
cludcd not 10 discuss the question further with him
therefore, listened only 10 such statesinens Us he
desired 10 make In connection with the whole qucs
tOn. lie seems TO have erred greatly IN interpreting
my silence as an ncquipsccnVe in his conclusions
aud figures When len he requested me TO call
again. as was usual ut the close OF such interviews.
Immediately after this cOny ersatiOn with Mr. King
! received positive Information that you * presi
dent OF the company, were making a determined
effort ~ draw away the coal trade from the canal
dhel y 20 sy mat you had already made an actual
orally large shipper by the canal and had sought
al Interview with the representative Of the Ameri
can Coal Company and expressed your desire that
his company should transfer from the canal tO the
nroad the product Of both lts mines. and rs an in
dncepent for such transfer had offered special
company rs chargeable To the general public That
finding the American Coal Company indispOsCd to
entertain the proposition 10 abandon the canal al
together You then offered special rate ~ that com
pnny II u would contract tD ship stipulated amount
Of coal by your road.
was further informed that similar offers had been
made by you 10 all the large shippers by the canal
II these Offers had been accepted by all those Ia
whom they were addressed the canal would have
been len without trade. Upon the receipt Of this
information addressed TO you my letter Of 3st OF
March. have not since that time had any CONVEX
sAtion with Mr.. King upon the subject.
greatly regret that IN your letter of May ;, In
which you refer 10 my conversation with Mr. King,
you make no Inference whatever ~ the action thus
taken By you the .umur rs 10 which was the coca
sion Of my visit 10 and Interview with MIR King
While in your letter already alluded a. you ignore
the real matter In controversy you also as 1t seems
10 me- assume contradictory Positions you insist that
the canal company desires To maintain high rate
Of freight, Notwithstanding the active competition
now existing with Clearfied aud other Goals and ut
the same fine you insist that the canal company and
not the railroad company, has been always pTact-
cally the aggressor In the reduction OF rates
To remove all doubt upon the first proposition, we
desire IL to be distinctly understood that the canal
company has been aud Is now really and anxious To
cooperate with the baltimore and Ohio company in
adjusting rates of transportation ~ % enable
Maryland coal ~ be sold In the markets Of the cOun.
Try at price which will defy all competition
Had you, after publishing your rates for 1877, be
come satisfied that different and even unrcmuneti-
tive rates were Necessary ~ meet the competition Of
Clearficld and other Goals with Maryland coal aud
informed Us Of your conclusions we would have
this state. In 81 doing, both companies would have
been sustained by public opinion and by the Lcgs-
lAture of this state
Butit does not seem Ia Us that the course which
you have pursued has any tendency 10 protect those
Interests.
IL benefits only the particular mines 10 which such
special advantages are offered and it tends, prima-
rly. To destroy of those existing outlets for the
coal products OF the State which, by permitting n
choice Of routes to market absolute pro
lection 10 the oalprpduring and cons uming inter
cs against any possible monopoly in the transporta.
ton OF coal
As 10 the second proposition, that the canal com.
pany had been practically the Hggrcssor In making
low rates you are pleased In say that 1t will lie OBJ
served that the reduction Of tolls by canal from the
nate of " cents In ls To the OF o. cents In 1876
Was reduction Of one half Of the whole charge OF
tolls ON the canal" Its true that tho canal tolls
were reduced as stated. hut Why Was IL to make
an aggressive war on the Baltimore and Ohio COM
panyi Wethlnk the following statement win de
monstrate that the reduction was made only To cor.
respond with the reductions made by your company:
Baltimore and Ohio Chesapeake and Ohio
charges from Cumber canal charges from
land TO Locust Point Cumberland 10 George