Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-09-10

Boz Some several weeks ago We
called the attention of The people OF
Baltimore to the importance of estaL-
fishing other channels of transportation
of trade to their city other than the B.
& o. Railroad. We are pleased to find
that that very vigilant paper, the Balti-
more Sun, has taken up the subject and
makes the following appeal to her young
mem
The RAILROAD ISSUE THAT BALTIMORE
MUST FACE.-The time has come for
Young Baltimore TO bestir herself and
equal in vigor and enterprise the old Bal
timore that on the 18th Of February, 1927,
held a meeting "to take in consideration
the best means of restoring to the city that
portion Of the Western trade which had
been lately diverted from ito build the
Baltimore and Ohio RAILROAD. Baltimo-
reans have never been wanting in enter
prise, but there is now, perhaps, at very
critical moment in the history of the city S
trade and trade connections, too much dis
position to rest content with the laurels
won by the past generation. As cores
pondent, writing from Spartanburg, ). c.,
wells SAYS, Baltimore is the natural
trading centre, the queen city of the
South"-or, rather, has been hitherto, for
as he continues, sit is 4 common remark
here among our business men that the
trade of Baltimore with this section is de-
clning, and that Of Richmond and Phila-
deIphia incfeasing,' a result easily az
counted for "when all the railroads are
1,i, al hni litr f,1a
at the expense Of Baltimore. 1t was easy
for this city to maintain its pre-eminencc
as the emporium and market for the South
as long as the railroads of that section
connecting with this city were few and
capital for building others had to come
from Baltimore, the only wealthy city on
the Atlantic coast that felt kindly in
terest in the South. But the case Is now
altered. Vast amounts Of capital have
poured into Virginia and the cotton coun-
try from Philadelphia, Cincinnati, New
York and Boston, and comparatively little
from Baltimore. The result is what was
to be expected. Most of the railroads con-
structeG within the last few years III the
South have made suck connections and
taken such directions that-whether from
design or accident tits useless to inquire
Baltimore's interests are seriously tmper-
lied.
The trade formerly credited to this city
from the South Atlantic and Gulf States,
and also that from the lower tier Of mid
die States, is now being tempted TO other
ports. When we turn TO consider what
strength of hold Baltimore has upon its
Southern trade we find it consists more OF
warm ties of affection than Of double track
steel railroads. Baltimore at present con-
trolls no line OF railroad further south than
Danville, Va. 1t is intended some day to
build a new road in its interest to extend
to Augusta. but if the project be deferred
until the merchants Of the south have
succumbed to the temptations held out by
easier connections with other cities, it
NAV then prove to be difficult task 70 re-
gain our lost trade. These things are yet
If. the future, it ia true. But unless the
Young men Of Baltimore take hold OF the
problem presented to them and exert
themselves, as did those who have preced-
ed them in the activities Of life, the work
OF retaining our hold on Southern trade
connections must become involved by the
complexities of current events, and may
end in serious loss. 1t is our young men
of active brains and strong character who
must face the issue forced upon them by
the recent consultations Of old railroads
and building of new ones throughout the
South. And il may be well 10 remind
them that whatever the trade of the
South undeveloped may be worth TO them
now, that Of the rich prosperous and de-
yeloped South will In the near future Be
worth ten times that amount.