The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-01-12
USE FOR THE CANAL.
Vanderbilt Railroads Could Reach
Baltimore and Washington.
IMPORTANCE TO BALTIMORE.
New Independent Trunk Line Badly
Needed.
From the baltimore Sun.

From the Baltimore sun.
The determination of the board of
public works to sell the States inter
est in the Chesapeake and Ohio canal
and the announcement that a syndi-
cate has been formed 10 bid for the
property has aroused much specula-
ton as to the future of the canal.
There is a genera feeling in business
circles that in the sale of the States
interests there should be a strong eff
fort to place the canal in hands that
would ultimately give to Baltimore
and the State another independent
railroad system. This ground is taken
bv men who feel that the city's eX-
panding commercial Importance in
the light of the handsome volume of
increased business which each year is
bringing will influence one Of the
other great trunk line systems of the
country to seek an entrance into Bal
timore.
Economy of handling was never
more closely studied by railroad of
ficials than it is at this time. Balti-
more's advantage of being nearer the
wheat fields of the West than any of
the Atlantic ports is growing more
important every year, and despite the
the most adroit manipulatiOns by
railroads and business organizations
to stem the drift of the grain trade to
this city its growth continues This
and the other tailic that is moving to-
wards this gateway with increasing
force year by year is now largely
shared between the Pennsylvania and
the b. &. O. To get share Of this
business and offer another seabOund
outlet to the rapidly multiplying agri-
cultural and industrial interests of the
West makes Baltimore an object of
serious interest from the other trunk
line system. 1t is conceded that to
build railroad along the canal for
purely local business affords nopres-
ent prospects of financial success.
The chief value of the canal therefore,
is the opportunity it offers to some
railroad system desirous of reaching
Baltimore.
Washington as we'll is being looked
with increasing interest by the more
Northern trunk lines who are now
without any entrence to that city.
AS the national capital it is the cen
tire of tremendous passenger taffic,
the Pennsylvania Railroad, by re-
cent action, gave eloquent testimony
of the value of reaching Washington.
This was in placing on sale tickets
between the East and West via Wash
ington without extra cost.
In discussing the subject OF secur
ing a new trunk line for Baltimore
the question of which one of the
great systems has practical chance
of reaching this city is of interest. A
gentleman who has studied the rail
road situation closely makes a sug-
gestion along this line that is of more
than passing interest. Referring to
the canal he picked up a map of the
Vanderbilt system and said:
Events seem to be so sharpening
themselves that the great Vanderbilt
system may move to reach Baltimore.
Whether this would be done openly
or through some less pretentious
means is matter of detail. This sys-
tenn now passes through Pittsburg
and runs southeasterly in Pennsyl-
vania to New Haven, which is about
so miles from Pittsburg-and not an
appreciable distance from the Mary
land State line. While noun
famous country would have to be
traversed, careful examination of
available data of its topography in
dicates that a satisfactory line can be
built that would connect the Wander
bilt system with the West Virginia
Central and Pittsburg Railroad at
Piedmont, w. Va. This would bring
the Vanderbilt system into that great
and practically undeveloped coal and
timber section of West Virginia
touched in its rich spots by the West
Virginia Central. The possibilities of
this section are almost illimitable, and
to the Vanderbilt system, which in its
ramifications enters most of the larger
industrial centers, whose factories
could be fed for generations with raw
material from West Virginia the rea-
sons for the construction of such a
road are apparent. With access to
the Connellsville regions in Pennsyl-
vania, West Virginia Central in West
Virginia and the Georges Creek re-
gion in Maryland, which the con
struction of such a railroad would
permit, the Vanderbilt system would
take a commanding position in the
bituminous coal trade. 1t is difficult
to estimate how many miles of road
would have to be built from New