New-York daily tribune., 1843-12-30

1t is difficult to say what would be an ade-
quate and fair charge for transporting Inerchan-
disc or produce from one gwen point to an othef.
4 fair price for transporting hundred pouhus oi
groceries, hardware, crockery, IRON, drugs ana
medicines, paints, and other heavy goods from
Ncw-Yo-h to Buffalo would be 10 cents. and
for hundred pounds OF dry goods, boots, shoes,
caps bonDets and other light goods SlOO; OF
which eight cents per hundred on heavy and
sixteen cents cents per hundred on light goods Is
paid to the tow boat lines for transporting them
from NewYork to Albany, the toll charged by
the State on merchandise, and the boat lfcm Al
banv to Buffalo, amounts to thirty-iour cents per
hundred pounds, leaving Tor Transporting 'he
same to the forwarding merchant thuty-three per
hundred for heavy, and fifty cents per hundred
for light goods, Now the forwarding merchant,
II responsible, nsures the goods against al con-
tnrencics from New-Y orli to Buffalo, and that
insurance is fully equal to thirty and a half
cents per hundred pounds on dry, and SIX cents
per hundred on heavy goods. Deducting this
from the amount and 1t leaves twenty y-seyen cents
per hundred for heavy, and fifteen cents per hun
dred for light goods, or an average Of about
twenty-five cents per hundred pounds This on
:. boat load of twenty-five tons, which IS mucn
more than twice the amount the boats average
during the season, would be $l25. Now suppos-
ing the down lreghts to average that amount
over toll, which am told is d large estimate,
and the actual receipts on boat round, lnclud-
ing what may be received from passengers VIII
not ayerarc during the season over $3.50. The
expense incurred in manning and towing line
boat, we are informed bymen who have had great
experience in the business is equal TO THIRTY cents
per mile. The distance from Albany to Buffalo,
by the canal, is 364 milcs-inaklng for the t1p
round 72S miles, which, at 81 cents per mile,
would be $2lS 40-leaviDg for the wear and
tear OF the boats and horses $3l 60, which, al
lowing a boat to make twelve trips, would make
her net earnings for the year 1919 20. without
allowing any thing for office expenses, or the use
and wear of the eproperty. This certainly cannot
be considered very money-making business.
One thing is ccrtain-the prices now charged
for transporting merchandise and produce be
tween New-Y ork Buffalo, Oswego and White
hall, are less in proportion than they are between
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh or on any railroad
or canal in the Union No business is more haz-
ardous, and no property more perlshable, than
that engaged in in it and the only question IS
this Is it for the interest OF those who have
merchandise and produce to transport to sup
port the regular forwarding merchant, and pay
a fair price for their business or encourage every
kind of opposition that presents Itself, without
reference to means or responsibility For my
part, am free to say that so far as my influence
extends, l always heve and always shall use 1t
with nv customers in favor OF the regular trans
porter. | do it to protect myself When my
customers meet with losses in the course OF trans
portation, it is for my and their interest that there
should be some responsibility resting somewhere
some known person and place where all dltilcu-
ties may be promptly and honorably adjusted.
A MERCHANT.