The New York herald., 1873-10-17
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.
Meeting Of the United States Senate Committee
on Transportation at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
Important Evidence Of City u EerchantA

meeting OF theUnited States Senate Committee
on Transportation, consisting OF Senator'S Window
chairman), Conking, Davies and Norwood, was
held yesterday at the Fifth Avenue Horel. The
committee ia desirous OF further information on
several points, and representatives OF various
transportation interests have been requested to
appear before it.
Mr.. CoBBs STATEMENT.
Mr.. Carlos Cobb grain merchant, chairman OF
the Grain Committee, was the nrst witness, and
he said 1T has been said one OF the deficiencies Of
New York Is Its elevator and storage capacity.
This is not true since the grain storage capacity
OF New York is about 100000 bushels. The
largest quantity ever held In store at one time
was something less than this capacity.
Usually not more than half this capacity is
filed. Nor Is it true that tho rates for
such storage compared with western places) is
excessive. Storage at New York on wheat and
corn is one and half cents per bushel for the frat
ten days, and one-quarter OF cent each ten days
following, equal to two and quarter cents for the
first month. For sixty days this would be three
cents per bushel, on which, at delivery, the grain
1s credited-three-eighth Of cent for weighing
net and two and nve-eighths cents per bushel
for sixty days. storage. At Chicago and Milwaukee
the charge ia two cents for the first twenty days,
or any part Of them, and one-nalf cent each
four cents per bushel. Owing to the moisture OF
the atmosphere Of New York grain is stored upon
floors and spread, involving large amount Of
labor and money, while at the West and In dryer ell
mates deep bins are safely used and the work al
most entirely performed by cheaper steam This, TO
say nothing Of the larger difference in the cost OF
ground and building, makes the disparity still
wider. Commissions are not higher at New York
than at Western places for similar service. The
undertaken
part OF the railroads Is by lighters from Ihirtythird
street, opposite New York. or from Jersey City, Ho-
bOken or Communlpaw, to some usual place IN
New York, such as Chambers street. Coenties slip,
&c., and then becomes subject to the order Of the
consignee. grain 1t is delivered lighterage free,
alongside buyers ship, store or pier. Prompt de.
livery according to quantity contained, is required
or demurrage charged ier deiauit; TINS % ngnsef ae
vessel store or dock has usually been iarmed out
to middle men, or parties having neither interest
in the roads nor in the sale OF the property. The
roads contract to pay them a certain sum per ton,
piece or bushel, with permission probably to
MAKE sacn e sc M Sru "
nants, unclaimed goods. demurrage, &c, and upon
grain recent invention has been put INTO practice,
viz. z.:-Chargng three-quarters OF cent per bushel
for wheat Is called ELEVATION which Is simply the act
OF discharging their lighters. Should the Cunard
holds OF their vessels and search out and re-
move their merchandise as come TO, or
pay the cInard people or dong ing sue sIcn cNspg
three quarters OF Q cent bushel for unloading
their ghter-f. e., the grain pays for being trans
ported according to tariff rate and in addition, is
then called upon to pay an uncontemplated charge
OF three quarters of cent per bnshe for unloading
the carriers or vessels while, the world over,
common carriers load and unload their own vessels.
Weighing Is done in the process OF elevation, and Is
part OF the act, since 1t consists simply OF passing
the grain through hopper In given quantities,
taying these draughts, and rnnning1t from such
the process OF delivery. The additional charge for
such weighing is three quarters OF cent per
bushel; this Is divided between the grain and the
h.,rA t,r otfvhf fhd nf nf aan Rv hfa
entertainment OF quantity the lighter and the ee-
vator make their charges. Among the evils 1t
present complained OF in the present system OF
railroad transportation may be mentioned the fol-
lowing :-Shortage, which varies from one-half to
ten per cent-0ne to three per cent not
uncommon-witheut ability to locate It; yet
the natural shortage should not equal ono
currence either in rate Of freight quantity that
some have supposed 1t the result OF 81 stem. Re-
fusal to be responsible for short and out turns
from railroad lighters, yet charging freight or
ers. For remedies he made the following recon-
mendations:-Each grain carrying road should
erect at their termini elevators OF such capacity
as would contain the deliveries OF such roads for
any one week.
: -. MR. HIcKooK's STATEMENT.
Mr.. G. p. HickOck also recommended the build
ing OF elevators at different tcrmini. Each car OF
grain should be inspected, graded and weighed on
arrival, and receipt given to the c0nsgnee for
the quantity and grade. These receipts would be
bought and sold on the market IN the same man.
manner OF handling grain in use here would not be
tolerated for moment in any western city, and
New York Is the only Eastern city where grain Is
exported that Is not already provided with ele-
vatorS.
Mr. E. B. Riggles and Mr.. ]. O. Jones also gave
some important testimony before the committee.
The session was adjourned until halfpast ten A.
NJ to-day. 8Age444f f1