, 1873-10-30
HALLWAY FACILITIES EASTWARD.

RAILWAY FACILITIES EASTWARD.
The sonato aolsot Committee Of Transports
tion to tho Soaboarl ollcited nomo important in
formation during their roocnt investigation in
New York. They discovered tho main reason
for tho periodical w1nter-blookado OF freight.
Contrary to general boliet It does NOT ariao from
tho inability Of tic transportation companies to
forward tho produce. Tho trouble ilos ut tho |
Eaatern termiui, whore tho facilities for hand |
Ling grain aro so inadequate that, as Witness
told tho Committee. "they would not DO toler-
atod for moment in any Western CITY,"
Last winter, whon tho railroads connecting
Chicago with tido-watcr were uttorly unable to
receive another car-load Of freight, 1t WAS GUS
tomary to aak for half-a-dozon moro railroads to
the Atlantic; and 1t has long been favorito con-
coptlon that IN exclusively freight road to Now
York is orr greatest commercial desideratum,
and 1t would undoubtedly bo groat boon, but
tho investigation locates tho difficulty elsewhere.
It assuros us that Now York'a storage capacity
has mover boon fully taxed, but that her handling
capacity is inadequate. a committee OF tho
Produce Exchange place the storage capacity at
10, 000, 600 bushels, not moro than half Of which
is uHually filed. Woro those warehouses readily
ACCESSIBLE liko tho Chicago elevators, no ombar-
ransment would rosult; but tho difficulty and in
creased expense OF reaching thom rondera them
practically usoloas and occasions disastrous do
lays. Cars arc compelled to remain on side
tracks for wooks, which, werc tho storehouHes
conveniently located, could DO unloaded and TO-
turned promptly.
Tho prevalent impression is, that the railroads
should supply tho want BY erecting sufficient
elevators alongside their tracks. In this way,
Commodore Vanderbilt could better have &C
commodatod tho public than by laying down his
four-traok railway or overlooking himself with
telegraph stocks. In eome degree tho urgent
necessity has been met. Tho Now York Central
and Hudson River Railroad Companies have
built now pier at Thirty-fourth street. North
Rivor, with grain-bins having each CO.
paolty Of fvo carloads, and having
IN elevated track from which tho cara can DO
unloadcd. Tho Pennsylvania Company are
constructing q grain track adjoining their new
warehouse, and tho Eric Railway Company have
added largely to their " floators." Tor Bovoral
yoara paat, both tho Central and the Eric have
contemplated tho erection Of 1nrgo elevators,
but groat difficulty has beou experienced in Be-
| curing favorable locations. In Now York, tho
| atmosphere is somewhat moist, requiring more
| surfaco elevator room for spreading" tho
| grain than in dry climates like Chicago. This
/ renders construction near tho sea-coast costly
and hazardoua. In Boston, tho Albany Road haa
! also added largely to its facilities for
doing business, which improvements justify tho
belief that the o1nbarrassmenta and delays Of
last winter will hardly recur.
| Although no nov railway from the East haa
built it's way into Chicago during this year,
our facilities in tlat direction hpyo boon
materially increased. Perhaps tho most I'M
mediate relief was expected from tho promised
completion Of tho Chicago l. Canada Southern
Railway. The Canadian portion Of tho line las
boon In operation since early summer, and the
right Of way upon tho gapbetwoen Chicago and the
Detroit River Laa been all secured, and much
OF tho grading and heaviest work has been
done. Further construction, however, Is in.
definitely postponed. The branches north tc
Detroit aud south to Toledo will DO in opera
tion by Nov. 1. The bridge ovor the American
channel Of tue Detroit River ia completed and
q ferry capable Of carrying twentyone loaded
cars each trip will niako tho transfer across the
International channel. At Detroit, the line will
connect with tho Michigan Central, and assist
in keeping that road clear for through freight
'whi1o at Toledo, by taking tho creator por-
tion Of the Toledo, Wabash & Western freight, it
will rellovc tlo Lake Shore. md enablo tho latter
road moro promptly to handle Chicago business.
Another advantage will DO derived from tho dou-
bio track laid by the Great Wostern Railway.
at Glencoe, 80 miles east Of Detroit this noW
second track divergos southeast to Buffalo,
which it will enter over the International bridge,
now on tho oyo Of completion. Still another nd
vantage will accruo from, tho recent change ot
gaugo on tho Grand Trunk Railway. freight
eau now DO sent by that route from Chicago to
New York aud Boston without trangshipment.
These improvements arc equivalent to throo nd.
ditional lines Of singlo-track railway to the East.
Moantime tho Lako Shore and Michigan Con-
trail have kept paco with tho improvements
noted. Both nra now, practically, doube-traca
railways. A few miles on the wostorn ends re-
main unfinished, but sufficient has boen accom-
pliahcd to obyiato tho protraetod side-tracAing o
froIghta to allow passenger trims to pasa
Every ouch deluy incura o1ponsc, for which ILL
creased ratcs must bo charged. East Of Roohoa'
tor, the Now York ContralB four tracks have
boon sufficiently laid to allow OF thoir immediate
uso, aud tho balarce Of this work Ia bolne
prossod forward with yigor and All cnterpriat
, unprecedented In railway history.
From, this survey 1t will bo intorrod. .thas tile
Wostcr,, linoa will not ngan bo required to stol
> shipments beyond Chicago until the severa