The value of the Harbor of Baltimore in a National point
of view, has been fully established by the results of this
rebellion. A depot for Naval Stores was found indispensable
in a locality contiguous to the seat of Government, at a
very early stap of the war; and the large transactions
centering here in commissary supplies for the general service,
demonstrated its claims as a commanding point of supply and
distribution. Looking to the great mineral region of Allegany
County—its inexhaustible deposits of the best Coals for manu-
facturing and Naval purposes, and the facility aud cheapness
with which their transfer to the seaboard may be effected, it
is a matter of surprise that it has not long since attracted the
notice of the public authorities. No better illustration could
be furnished of the value of this point to the Federal Govern-
ment than the passenger and tonnage statistics of the
Baltimore and Ohio Rail Bead, from the breaking out to the
termination of the war. I would simply state, that connected
with our military operations alone, there were transported
during that period, of troops and army followers, 3,460,000;
of horses, mules and cattle, 436,000; of ambulances and
wagons, 93,000, besides more than 600,000 tons of equipage,
subsistence and war material!
The location of a Naval Station at the only point convenient
for tho protection of the seat of Government, in time of war,
commanding at all times available communications with the
vast depots and granaries of the West, would seem to com-
mend itself as a necessary consequence, from the experience
of the past. But in any view the laws of supply and demand,
regulated by low prices and cheap transportation will make
the Harbor of Baltimore the rendezvous a a trade in which
the Government will not be the least interested participant.
Within a short time past, in anticipation of our probable
future in this respect, a movement was inaugurated looking to
the immediate establishment of a line of European steamers,
from tLte Harbor of Baltimore, under the auspices of the Bal-
timore and Ohio Bail Road Company. Your of the vessels
intended for this sqrvice are already in the bands of this en-
terprising Company, and are of a class to insure efficient
service until others of heavier tonnage can be substituted.
With the success of the experiment, now no longer doubtful,
I am informed that the number of these vessels will be in-
creased, and the scheme may be made eventually to embrace
in its scope the accommodation of all the prominent home
markets upon our coast.
Every indication, since the abolishment of slavery within
our limits, and the successful close of the rebellion, points to
increased activity in the general revival of trade. At no_pe-
riod has the future of our State been more encouraging. The
cordial co-operation in these efforts by the authorities of the