The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-09
rhn l,rnni.ions Time.

rhe baltimore dnericax Of "wednesday,
IN an cd,torsa, on the need OF Baltimore for
ga through line Of raiIrcsd to some lead
inc soutbcn trade centre. controlled and
CONDUCTED exclusively in Baltimores an
,erest. ~ admits that city s'is rapidly losing
it, southsn trade ard Its opportunity to
manufacture goods Tor the supply oi that
trade.r The reason assigned Is railroad
determination against Baltimore, and as
a temporary expedient 1t proposes
that az the city controls one eighth
IT. Interest In the Western Mary
land railroad-ei an important through
route 10 the South, 1t should pro-
vide for n dissemination In its favor over
this much OF the road. Suchs course, the
A,aericar contends, would among other
results compel "the Baltimore and Ohio to
complete the Valley railroad, In which the
CITY has 100000 unprodnctive capital,
and similarly the Danyille and Richmond
syndicate would be forced in seif-deience
to complete the Virginia Midland to Ba'ti-
more, and give our traffic fair-schedulc
Of rates.p According due weight TO
our coD,emporary's charges relative TO
~railroad discrimination" the bare
admission that Baltimore Is losing
its southern trade, with the expensive
measure suggested TO retrieve the loss'
Is fraught with the deepest significance 10
our Richmond merchants. What has DC
come OF this trade? Our business statistics
for the past year show that great deal OF
IL has come to Richmond, where ii belongs
naturally, by reason Of increased accessl-
bility in point OF distance to the field OF de-
mand, and the consequent economy OF
time In shipments. A large extent oil
territory which has hitherto been tri-
butary TO Baltimore became so IN
default OF our incomplete railroad
connections; and although this difficulty
has been rcmedied, and Richmond is one
of the largest railroad centres in the SOUTH
ern country, and possesses peculiar adyan-
taees for shipping, The tide OF trade, once
ret, was hard TO change. Force OF habit
has operated in this as II does in most
things. Now, however, that the tide has
turred, there IL no reason that the benefit
should not be permanent. We can and do
compete with Baltimore, and II behooves
our merchants and manufacturers TO de-
moHstrate the fact in every possible way.
A few days ago n communication appeared
In our columns asking what had become OF
the proposed merchants and manufacturers
association. II such an association Is to
bean association the object OF which, we
apprehend, Is to render Richmond attrac-
tive to strangers and advertise our advan-
fages as a commercial and manufacturing
centre--tho present is the propitious time
for organization. If Baltimore can afford
the experiment the american advocates, Of
taxing itself 100000 year for ten years
In the hope OF forcing 100000 bales of cot
ton to that city annually and "doubling its
sales OF canned goods, clothing, fertilizers,
agricultural implements, boots, shoes,
furniture" &c, certainly we can Of
ford the small sum necessary to show
that as mere business proposition it Is to
the interest CT this trade to seek Richmond.
This we believe car be done by pcriecting
an association Of the character indicated.
In conjunction with the Chamber Of Com
merce and the proper committees Of the
Commercial Club, a merchants and manu-
facturers association would be prepared,
not only to hold the present trade of Rich
mond, but seize every advantage and prose
cute every interest, in the matter OF freight |
rates or what not, that could contribute TO |
it, increase. In short, Richmond now holds !
the KEY to the southern trade within her |
grasp, and al that is necessary to manipulate
II with the best results is proper and ener-
getic concert Of action on the part of those
most deeply interested.