Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-05-17
The Railroad and Canal War.

President Gorman Of The q. l. D. Canal has
replied TO the recent letter of President Garrett
OF the BALTIMORE and Ohio Railroad. We make
the following extracts which have special ia.
tercst to Alexandria,
You ask in substance why should The Chesa.
peakc and Ohio Canal Company deliver coal at
GEORGETOWN aud Alexandria at q less rate than
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company de
vrrs it to the citizens of Baltimore?
You further ask is it the interest Of the
State Of Maryland TO destroy, practically, one
of the largest aud most important traiicks of
its great city and chel port, BY allowing ex.
trenic dscriminations in L system Of tolls by Il
canal which it can govern, in order to transfer
this trade 10 that canal and 10 the cities OF
Georgctown and Alexandria,
We have already shown that the canal COM
pany has not Disseminated against the Balti-
more aud Ohio Company. Under the leelsla-
ton Of Maryland, Virginia and Of the United
States, forming compact between these par
ties, the canal has It's terminus at Georgetown,
in the District Of Columbia. 1t is the duty Of
the canal board 10 manage the work under the
terms OF the contract under which it was built,
aud that board has right that it shall be sus-
tanned 10 the performance Of its duty by the
people OF this State.
But il you desire to malntaIn the proposition
that the State Of Maryland and other stock
holders who have Invested nearly Sl2, 900, 900
10 the construction OF the greatest work oil lis
kind on the continent, lT9 miles Of which are
within the State of Maryland, shall abandon it,
sink the capital invested in making it, deprive
three thousand persons who earn an honest
livelihood upon Of their means OF substance,
break down the various interests dependent
upon it in Western Maryland increase the cost OF
transportation Of coal from that section 10 tide
water by leaving the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company without rival for the carrying
trade Of that region, simply because the pro.
jcct0rs Of this work located five miles OF it with
in the territory which the State of Maryland
coded to the General Government for the Ma.
tioual Capital, is proposition SO extraordinary
that it will meet with no favor from the people
Of the State or OF its chief Commercial city.
1t is true that the original plans submitted
by those 10 favor OF the construction of the ca
nal contemplated its extension to the city Of
Baltimore. The failure to carry out the origi.
nal plan was 40 fault of the canal company.
The desired canal will be only u miles in
length 1t would give 10 the city direct water
communication with Cumberland. the second
city in the State, and would enable the canal
to deliver coal to the citizens of Baltimore at
the lowest possible rate Of freight, and would
prevent that discrimination which is certainly
now made against them.
We do not now discriminate against either the
citizens Of Georgetown or Alexandria, 10 Vir-
GINA. II our terminus was at Baltimore Dot
only would We deliver to the people Of Balti-
more coal at the lowest cost, but our extension
would be certain guarantee to every farmer
aod merchant Of Western Maryland that his
products and merchandise would reach or be
from the city Of Baltimore at the
same rate per bushcl or ton per mile as is
charged 10 our most favored customers