The daily union., 1854-02-08
Fos uls 'Uniol
The Railroad Dincuittes at Erie, PcnnsyIva
nta. and the Commerce Of the West.

From The tone OF The public press in relation to the
troubles al Erie, il is evident that general impression
prevails that Erie somehow, for her own advantage,
wishes 10 maintain obstruction between the eommeice
OF the East and The West Such an idea seems to
have entered The halls OF Congress; and many who de-
tend the position OF Erie county do upon the ground
that sbe is coniendng for advantage TO which she has
only an equal claim with her competitors, This idea
does great injustice 10 Erie, 10 Pennsy and TO the
facts ot the case II great peerslon Of the facts
that the immense railroad interests and power inducing
the error must be regarded with painful surprise when
the truth is once known The position taken by Erie
county is effort TO free the railroad unication be-
tween the Eas, and the West from unnecessary obstacles
and from oppressive monopoly This is not matter
OF opinion assertion. but fact sustained by
hard, unyieding iron rails which any may look al
and see for himself
will be remembered By many especially those inter-
esied in freights between the Fast and the West that
bitter complaints made during the past year OF the
detention OF goods at Dunkirk, which had been reighed
by the New York and Erie road for the States
What was the cause OF this detention The goods came
to Dunkk upon the sixfeet track OF the New York and
Erie road but alter reaching this point, they de-
pendant upon the four fee, ten.nch road. attempt
ing TO force it's way through Pennsylvania, for getting
further West This four-feet ten-inch road started its
from Buffalo, loaded with the goods OF its ally, the
Central New York road. and consequently by the
accumulated goods at Dunkirk. Such monopoly
through the State OF New York is seeking TO extend
itself all alcng The lake shore, and is resisted by the
stand made by Erie county. The success of this mo-
nopoy necessarily nerposes breaks instead of one
between the East and the West-one break where the
four-ee tenncb meets the feet track at Dunkirk
and one where it meets the fourfee eight half
inch track al Buffalo The effort of Erie county is to
have both the New York tracks meet the western gauge
the harbor OF Ee and thus reduce the two breaks be-
tween The East and the West TO the one existing of ne
cessity, and al HE same time TO give 10 the
un,rammeled choice Of the New York roads, besides
those constructing in Pennsy These facts admit
OF neither denial argument, far the interests OF
commerce concerned TO be sure. the OF the
railroads lie in another direction, and the following quo
aiion, from defence of the roads. opeay admits the
selfish policy, so hostile to free commercial intercourse
which attuaies them
"Thas, for me il seemed inevitable tha, two par.
alle competing railroads to be constructed between
Dunk'rk and Ene-insolying the unnecessary cos, Of
making two railroads instead OF between these
points, and, what was deprecated more by the railroad
companies, competition for business which must resul,
In the injury, II no, ruin, OF both"
Thus il it is the interest of commercial intercourse 10
have various channels instead OF one, 10 have those
channels free from unnecessary obstruction the position
OF much abused Erie is the side of liberal and en-
ghened policy. and the clamor against her is the off
spring Of selfish, monopolizng power which has spread
its influence far and wide cry down the truth So far
the inerer, of Pennsy alone is concerned she
in much stronger position of abstract right than con-
,en,ion for mere advantage. She is called upon
TO resist arrogant attempt to upon her coil
and build up artificial distractions necessarily re-
qured. between her and her market Whilst her war is
with the gasping OF railroad capital il is in harmony
with The copmerce OF both Eas, and West and those
not in railroad interests, who oppose her lettering
their own freedom and helping railroad profits at the
pense OF the NATION