Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-05-25

below the coal measures, with no independent
connections to the mines relying upon pri-
vate enterprises and other rival lines over
| which its trade is compelled to pass, discrimi-
mated against, rs it has been and now is by
such rival lines, is it any wonder that il has
not been a financial SUGGEST
! The Maryland coal iRteuded for shipment
1 upon the canal can only reach the canal at
Cumberland by the Cumbsrand and Pennsyl-
vania and the Baltimore and Ohio railroads.
| The bituminous coal of Pennsylvania can
only reach the canal at Cumberland over the
| Pittsburg and Connellsville and Baltimore
and Ohio railroads. The Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company controls both the Pitts
burg and Connellsville and Cumberland and
| Pennsy lvania railroads.
| 1t certainly will not be denied that the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company does
discriminate against the coal passing over the
lines under its control which is intended for
| shipment by canal
Prior TO the adoption by the Legislature in
1876 of the act relating to the Cumberland
| and Pennsylvania railroad, tho charge from
| Piedmont via that road to the canal basin at
| Cumberland was 90 cents per ton while the
pro Tdta rate for coal by the Baltimore and
| Ohio road from Piedmont to Cumberland,
when the coal was intended for continuous
shipment over the line of the Baltimore and
| Ohio ralroad, was only 30 cents per toh.--
| Discrimination, MS marked and oppressive, was
| and is made on the route to Cumberland via
the Pittsburg and Connelsvillo railroad
The alterations complained of by you in
tho charter of the Cumberland and Pennsyl-
vania road have only reduced the rate Of
transportation from Piedmont TO the canal
basin 10 GA cents per ton, against the charge
| OF 30 cents per ton over your road to Cum
berland thus ST i'll securing to you nm enor
nous advantage in the trade.
Had thecanal company possessed monopoly
| OF the coal trade 10 the extent which the Wash
ington Branch possessed of the travel to
| Washingion it would doubtless have been
most profitable investment to the State
But, Notwithstanding all the determinations
agains, the canal and its want Of facilities at
| both ends, we have succeeded ia the past
eight years in largely increasing its trade and
in paying out of its net revenues 81 800 900
on account of its Indebtedness.
These payments If continued Mt the same
rate per annum, will enable the canal COM
pany TO make fair return to people of the
State within very short time.
The increase in the trade and revenue Of the
canal with all the discrimination against it
only demonstrates the immense value the canal
would prove to every interest in the State If
it were extended to the city Of Baltimore and
| furnished with proper connections with the
coal fields. II is true that the original plans
su omitted by those in favor Of the construc-
ton OF the canal contemplated its extension to
the city Of Baltimore. The failure to carry
out the original plan was no fault of the canal
company.
The State had appropriated half million
dollars to aid the execution OF such purpose !;
other subscriptions were made for that object !;
Baltimore city was expected TO subscribe lib
orally TO the enterprise. Before this was done
the current Of public feeling 10 Baltimore
turned strongly in favor of granting aid 10 the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Only in this
way the completion of the canal to Baltimore
was defeated.
No further efforts were made to revive the
project until within the past four (4) years -
In that time charter has been obtained for
the canal so long ago projected, and the city
OF Baltimore has been authorized to subscribe
to the work.
| IL is of vital importance 10 the city of Bal
timore and The State to mid in the construction
of this work The desired canal will he only
twenty-seyen miles in length II would give
the city direct water communication with
Cumberland, the second city in the State and
would enable the canal TO deliver coal 10 the
citizens Of Baltimore at tho lowest possible
rate of freight, and would prevent that dis
elimination which is certainly now made
against them.
You are well aware that your published rates
Of charges on ton Of coal from Cumberland
to Locust Point shipping wharves is 81 90 a
ton of 2 900 pounds. On this rate draw
back is allowed of 20 cents ton on all coal
to be shipped by vessels or barges from the
city of Baltimore, making your rate from
Cumberland TO Locust Point shipping wbarves
81 AZ ton on all coal so shipped from the
city of Baltimore.
Your rate to the consumers in the city of
Baltimore IS 81 81 ton. For street
delivery at private yards or switches 80 cents
ton is added TO this charge, which makes II
difference against the citizens Of Baltimore o.
10 a net ton. Again take your rates on gas
coal, which as annuOnced are 81 30 per ton
from points on the Pittsburg division TO Bal
timore. If The same coal ia takon 20 Locnst
Point whafyes and shipped from thence to
points cast Of Cape Cod, you allow drawback
Of 81 40 n ton. In other words your com
pauy charges the people Of Baltimore IS cents
per ton more for Cumberland coal than you do
a citizen Of Boston who sends bis vSsse to
yonr wharyes nj Locust Point.
The gas companies OF Baltimore pay 81 40
more for coal delivered TO them in Baltimore
than is paid by the gas anes Of Bangor,
Maine, for the same coal delivered to them at
Baltimore.
SO great has been this discrimination against
the city Of Baltimore that in 1874 coal was
| shipped from the mines on the Pittsburg
Division 10 Cumberland transferred TO canal
boats, thence carried 1874 miles by canal
transferred TO vessels NJ Georgetown, taken
| down the Potomac river and up the Chess
peake bay 70 Baltimore gas companies Mt II
lower rate than your company would carry IL
by its roads from the same mines. II Is true
that as soon as II was known that the canal
company were delivering gas coal NJ Baltimore
yonr company so increased its charges from the
mines 10 Cumberland as 10 prevent US from
continuing to supply the city Of Baltimore
with cheap gas coal.
II the canal was completed to Baltimore this
| discrimination could no longer exist, as the
rule Of this company is 10 charge no higher
rate TO one shipper than TO another.
We do not now discriminate against either
the citizens Of Georgetovn or Alexandria, in
Virginia II our terminus was at Baltimore
not only would we deliver 20 the people Of
Baltimore coal at the lowest coat, but our ex-
tension would be certain guarantee 10 every
farmer and merchant Of Western Maryland
that bis products and mcrchandis0 would
reach, or be delivered frcEi the city Of Bati-
more Mt the came rate per bns5el or ion per
mile IS is charged to our most favored Gus
toners, and the just complaint woHld no
longer exist that II costs tho producers and
merchants Of this State nearly or quito ne
much to obtain transportation for the products
Of the westcrs counties Of this State TO The
city Of Baltimore, and for their return mer-
chaHdlse, as is charged the producer or mer.
chant Of Ohio, Indiana or Illinois, for the
transportation 10 the city Of Baliimoao Of the
produce Of those remote States, and Of their
return merchandise.
Tho reduction 10 freight nov paid by