The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-09

"A I'm
WEST PoIST-rnE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF
THE VIRGINIA MIDLAND ROAD FROM DAN
WILDE TO CHARLOTTE, n. C.
baltimore American, cditorial1
Twovery important subjects we're bfough'
to the attention OF the members OF Tue mer-
chants and Manufacturers Association at
their meeting Monday afternoon. Inc nr't
concerned the propricty OF ISSUING, III
form suitable for gratuitous dis'riDutlop'
compact and at the same time compieie eX-
hibit OF the business advantages oil the CITY
~ Baltimore: its water and rail connec-
lions; its harbor approaches ana tefmlnal
facilities: its mercantile and industrial In
terests; IFS parks, public buildings, water
works, institutions Of learning, llbra'
ries, centres OF MISUNDERSTANDING
in a word, that makes the city attractive
to visitors or tempting 10 trade. Inc Asso.
citation ordered an inquiry lnto tue cost VI
such a preparation, and VIII douDt'e's au'
tborize i,s pubIication at an early day. 1t Is
scarcely necessary 10 say that thi, is q l01g
stem in The dire clion OF giving that publicity
IN fine bus,pess advantages OF Baltimore
which Cincinnati and Chicago, by similar
methods, long ago secured tor 'he'r OVID
The second Ipatlcr Of moment which re-
was the increasing necessity for independ-
emf rail and water communication with the
south and Southwest. i, is possible mat
some Of our merchants and manufacturers
will be disposed to regard the presentation
81 this question in Secretary BANDS
',houpbtful paper IS rather more SOM
brr Than the facts warrant, but invcstiga-
ton will only confirm the substantial accu'
6p1uItl0nE. a
Glance at the railroad systems OF Virginia
and the Carolina. will convince the most
skeutical that Baltimore Is already practical
TX shut ont from some CT the most prOhabie
markets OF Ihe South by The Determinations
which the railroads have made in favor OF
Norf,lk. Richmond, aud West POM and
mat. with the extension OF the Chesapeake
and Ohio 10 deep water at Newport
News. and the completOn Of the She
nand0ah Valley road to salem, ana
III onerafiou in connection with the At.
Ilntic. Mississippi ana Ohio, the process OF
>tran.hng our southern trade VIII be sill
inrlh + accelerated. H. must not be inferred.
Of course, from this exhibit that there Is
now. or is likely to be IN the immediate
fntnre. any actual decline in the volume OF
orr trade: but what we are losing l. equally
important namely, the priceless opportu-
ni,v TO extend our trade TO just the degree
that the present combinations against Us are
succes ,ful in attracting 10 other ports the
trade that might be ours. What we need
i. lr.t of al. through line To the
South. operated in sympathy With Balti-
more Interests, so a., on the one hand, 10
protect our merchants against unfair dis
ordinations in outgoing freights, and, on
the other hand, to secure TO this market the
cotton and tobacco that now find shipment
al other points on the seaboard. There Is
noihin" Of which Baltimore stands so
greatly in need now Us a dIversihcation OF
her imports and exports; and 1t cannot be
doubted that il any considerable portion OF
The cotton of The Carolnas and Georgia
that now finds an outlet uia the Richmond
and DanyilIe at West Point, and ola the At
lantic. Mississippi and Ohio al Norfolk. could
be secured TO this port, il would materially
increase the inducements to steam ship lines
TO come here for cargoes. And what Is true
OF our railway connections is equally true OF
our water communications. Unless yigor-
Gus effort is made TO increase our steam
ship accommodations, the New York mer-
chants are sure TO rob Us OF The little that
i left of our coast trade with the Car
oIinas. As Mr.. Bland pointed out, our
caief reliasce must now be placed IN
The extension OF the Virginia Mid
land from Danyille to Charlotte. where con-
nection can be made with The Atlanta Air
Line, and should the negotiations which are
now pending for the construction OF that
road fall through. our merchants ought to
come forward and take the burden on their
own.shOuders. TIE Merchants and Nan
nfacturers' Association iss doing great
work in awakening the business sentiment
of the community to just appreciation OF
our necessities and opportunities, and 1t
should continue its agitation OF these ques'
tias until some substantial result has been
reached.