New-York tribune., 1872-05-25
CONFERENCE OF RAILROAD MEN.
UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO AGREE UPON FREIGHT
LISTS.

UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO AGREE UPON FREIGHT
LISTS.
meeting of prominent railroad men, repre-
senting the chief carrying lines between this city and 81
Louis was held Thursday, at the st. Nicholas Hotel
Among those present Col Scott Of the Pennsylvania
Road VIM H. Vanderbilt Of the NewYOrk Central, Gen.
Diyen of the Erie Gen. McCuloch OF the Fort Wayne
and Chicago, Mr.. Sweetzer OF the Atlantic ana Great
Western and Mr.. Deveraux Of the Lake Shore The Cd
iect of the convention was TO arrive at some mu-
tual understanding which would prevent the
Improbable competition OF the past rev years
I'm the matter OF Western freigts cit has for long time
been the complaint OF merchants in this State, living at
distance from competing points, the line Of the
trunk roads that the Far Western merchants receive
their freighs at far lower proportonate rates thah
those living within radius OF from 100 to 800 miles from
this city This has been due, not go much TO the de-
creased expense OF carrying freight by the car load 10
distant points, by the cuthroat policy OF undero
ding adopted by many of the roads IL costs as much
to ship freight stations Buffalo as to Cincinnati
and points farther West, and, will be remembered an
unsuccessful attempt was made at Albany to have the
matter remeded by act regulating the price OK local
freight.
1t is stated by an experienced railroad that the
present rates for through freight are considerably lower
than proper regard for profits demands. Wheat graln
and -four which have materially advanced in value, are
carried for the when these products were
expenses have been constantly increasing The greatest
discrepancy in rates, however, is in the catecarrying
business in which the competition has been brisk that
the chief desire of every competing road has been to pre-
vent, at any sacrifice its competitors from making any
money These efforts have been successful that 1t is
said that for the past six months or more all the rail-
roads have lost money in this branch Of the freight bust
1t was hoped that the meeting at the st. Nicholas
would result in an agreement satisfactory to all con-
cerned, by which the cattecarrying trade could be
placed on paying basis Such, however, was not the
case The three main companies leading East from
Chicago were ready TO agree on terms, by which the
business would be equally divided; but the five lines
from ST. Louis unable TO reach any satisfactory
conclusions The larger roads seemed unwilling to re-
cognlZe the power for evil OF the smaller
ones, and the latter were unwilling to recog-
nize their really inferior position. 1t is said
that each road wished quarter OF the business ana as
the convention was unable to make five satisfactory
quarters result reached, and the cattedeaers
and the public likely to reap the beneht OF low regIs
for some time An agreement was made 10 sell
no more tickets at reduced rates for speca
objects exceptions being made for the Philadelpha ana
Baltimore Conventions, and the different state 1alrs
This action was probably taken because some OF the
roads were charged with adopting the excursion plan
for selling through tickets below the regular rates, ana
thus securing extra trdYel.