the charges for loading and unloading, weighing, storage,
receipt and delivery.

It will be observed that, according to the tariff, all freights
shipped from way-station to way-station on the Washington
Branch, are charged at the rate of four cents per ton per
mile, but not less than $5.00 per car by agreement.

Upon first-class freights between Washington or Baltimore
and way-stations, the total charge for loading, delivery, &c.,
is from 26 to about 30 cents per ton. Thus, according to the
tariff, the charge on first-class freight from Baltimore to
Annapolis Junction, 18 miles, is $1.30. This sum may be
made up of these items
Transportation to Relay, 8 miles, at 8 cts............ .64

" " Junction, 10 miles, at 4 cts........ .40

Loading, delivery, &c............................ .26

1.30

By a similar calculation, it will be found that for the last
item, 30 cents have been included in each of the charges from
Washington to the way stations.

This being very low as an average charge, is not excessive
in any case, and it has been found more satisfactory to the
public to include it in a total sum, which covers all expenses,
than to separate it.

Your honorable Body will thus perceive that this Company
has violated no provision of its charter; and I may be pardoned
for adding, that the charges made for freights on the Wash-
ington Branch, are among the lowest railway charges known
in this country. The maximum allowed is less than the cus-
tomary rates on many other railroads, and much lees than
the rates allowed in the charter of the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad and other roads projected for the same region of
country. Yet this company in a multitude of important
instances, keeps its rates on the Washington Branch below
those allowed by its charter.

The deep interest of the- State of Maryland in that road
may justify me in supposing that the Honorable Senate will
be pleased to know that the company has been able to make
still larger concessions to the public, in respect to the pas-
senger traffic. The charter authorizes a charge of $2.50 for
for each passenger between the two cities, but the charge
actually made is only $1.50. For way passengers generally,
a similar reduction has been made, and for the special accom-
dation of the people along the Washington Rranch, and the
citizens of Baltimore and Washington, a system of commu-
tation tickets has been adopted, which results in extraordinary
cheapness of travel. Persons are charged a gross sum for an
entire year, being permitted to travel over the road as often as
may suit their convenience. For the entire distance between
the two cities, the annual charge is but $150.00 per annum;