The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-21

sylvaDia Railroad Company from and 10 Phiis-
delphia, TO break up our discrimination In favor Of
tLis city. But these reductions were met by simi.
Philadelphia, and the competition was thus con.
tinued on both sides by further reductions, until
the losses became heavy that the New York
lines deemed II expedlent to surrender the point
pated in this contest and IN the final adjustment
of rates that followed, the policy of a minimum
discrlmnaiion IN favor Of philadelphia was secur-
ed, as large as practicable which differences have
not, with the consent of this Company, been de.
parted from, but from many points and at different
II is quite true that the Pehnsyl ysn,a Railroad
Company may have carried ireights upon the same
day out of New York for less rates than from Phi
ladelpha, while at other timea the rates from Phi
ladelphia are much less than the established dif-
ferences would indicate. This Is due to the vicious
practice want System existing among Rail-
way Companies for regulating rates, on through
traffic under which they may be suddenly reduced
or raised at ore point before the act is communi-
Gated to the other. The rates of the Pennsylvania
Railroad are always kept under the control of it's
officers, and whenever reductions are made bv the
New York lines they are promptly met at Phia-
delphiayby the invariabe policy of the Penusyl-
vania Railroad Company. This policy will of
course require any competing line, old or new, to
conform to IT, but contracts TO secure object that
both parties may be interested in violating ne
OF no value, however carefully drawn up. The
parties to meet the object desired.
II is confidently affirmed that no case of seeming
determination against Philadelphia has occurred,
which, on examination, will not find its full ex-
planation In the reductions of rival line, or a
comparison of rates of different dates.
The commercial and man featuring interests of
Philadelphia have been largely promoted by the
operations of the Pennsy lvanla Railroad Company
IN the establishment by 1t of rates of freight already
far below those anticipated when the work was
undertaken. But this is not the only thing re-
quiTed TO centre commerce in this city, as seems to
be the general belief The rates of freight have
really but little to do with this question, pro ovided
they are fixed as TO meet fully the efforts of
competing avenues to divert traffic from her route.
The large receipts Of the Company are the best
evidence that such diversion has not taken place.
Mercantile enterprise must seize hold of the pro-
ducts of the West so abundantly flowing over this
avenue, and by ITS activity, aided by capital, pur
chase secure by actual consignment and ship
them TO other markets There is no other way to
add to the commerce of Philadelphia, and any
movement to that end will meet the hearty CO.
operation of this Company.
II the advantages Of locality possessed by this
city are permitted to pass by unimproved by her
merchants, they must not complain that those of
the West seek other markets to sell and buv In.
The Pennsy ylvania Railroad Company has offered
every facility to bring the city the products of
the Great West, well for their storage while
here, and will feel deeply interested in any cor
responding effort upon the part OF onr merchants
and capitalists TO avail themselves OF the advan-
tages thus provided.
Although this Company was organized only for
the purpose of carrying freight and passengers to
and from the interior and the West yet IL has re-
peatedIy sigDifed its disposition to aid in the es
tablishment OF Steamship line between this port
and Europe, that the necessity for sending western
PROD ucts TO New York for shipment abroad might
at least be diminished. This aid has been offered
by subscription to the shares of a Company to be
raised for that object or by paying six per centum
upon the amount of capital so invested, together
with other valuable and impor business tacili-
ties, and they still hope that the mercantile COM
munity will cooperate in such manner as to render
this aid efficient. In the success and profitable
ness OF such an enterprise, com menced and man
aged upon proper basis, your Directors have no
doubt, and with the consent of the shareholders,
this Company will, unaided, establish such a line
OF steamers.
Since your last Annual Meeting, the General
Superintendent of your Main Line of works
(Enoch Lewis, Egg has resigned his Office, post
which he had acceptably and efficiently filled for
nearly six years His successor, Edward H. Will
liams, Esq, has acted for nearly year past as
Assistant General Superintendent and in that
paciy has evinced qualities that it is believed will
give to his administration a success equal to that
of his pred ecessors.
The General Superintendent Of the Philadelphia
and Erie Railroad Company, Joseph ID. Potts,
Esq, has also left the service OF the Company for
more profitable employment elsewhere. His place
has been filled by the appointment of Alfred l..
Tyler, Esq, whose previous success in the man
aRement OF Railroads commended him to the no.
tice of your Directors.
The Acknowledgements of the Board are due to
the untiring efforts of the Ohieers of the Company
generally, Tor the efficient manner that the busi-
ness of the line, during the past year, has been
conducted, Notwithstanding the disorganlzation
that existed in the labor OF the country during the
fret half of the year.
BY order Of the Board
J. EDGAR THOMSON, President.