New-York tribune., 1869-03-29
RAILRoAD POLIcY-PRO RATA.

We do not know that the great Railroad
corporations of our State regard THE TRIBUNE
as their friend, but that we desire to be. We
have no prejudice against capital nor even
large combinations of capital, if said capital
be employed in operations that promote the
public good and we heartily rejoice that most
of our great Railroads are now making money.
We would rather hear that they were making
ten per cent. per annum than three for we
believe they can serve the public better If
prosperous than otherwise We ask their mana
gers to listen to o few paragraphs OF friendly
counsel.
put Yourself in his Place. is the title of
one of the current novels. We ask our Railroad
managers to imagine themselves, for the Occa-
sion, farmers in Western NewYOrk. Those
farmers are mainly engaged in producing But
ter, Cheese, and Fat Cattle for this market.
They naturally want transportation hither at
moderate rates. They think the circumstance
that they live in the State which chartered
and has lin the main) generously treated these
Railroads, ought at least to secure them equal
Justice at the hands of their managers. Now,
when they hear that cars laden with Cattle or
Dairy Products from the farther West are
taken across our State at lower rates than
those which convey the products OF this State,
is it not natural that they should feel ag-
grieved and maltreated9
We hear that the Erie Road-and Others as
welfare making great efforts and outlays to
secure direct, unbroken connection with CIn-
cinnat, st. Louis Chicago, Omaha, &c. We
will presume that these efforts are as judlciOus
as they are spirited But without objecting to
them, we insist that one-half the money and
effort so employed would have insured the
Roads in question more profit if wisely devoted
to the development and increase of their local
traffic Who believes that the Harlem Road
ever received SO much freight on single
through train as it receives every day from its
Milk Train, which is run but 100 milesf
The Erie Road has advantages over its great
rival in proximity to Coal along two-thirds of
its line and in abundance of Wood from end
to end. 1t has also a supply of Water-Power
within 200 miles of this City which would sui
fee TO run all the machinery in our State But
that Water-Power is almost wholly unused and
the Road runs for q hundred miles through
wilderness, which ought to be alive with the
hum of manufactures of Wool, Cotton, Furni-
ture, Wooden Ware, &C., &c. Half that Power
in use would give the Railroad more and
better business than all it now draws
from the West--business of which no competi-
ton could deprive it. Yet nothing seems to be
done, and nothing has ever been done, by the
Erie managers, to have this immense Power
utilized and made productive, though each
factory would give it as much business as
rural township while good deal more constant
than that.
So of building up the vicinity of our City
by convenient local trains at low fares, with
very low, Communication for those who work or
trade in our City. But we are tired OF urging
our views on this point.
Tn all kindness we ask the Railroad men to
consider the demands of our own citizens in
the right spirit. Put Yourself in his Place"