New-York tribune., 1873-08-01
TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS
TIE RAILROAD CONTROVERSY.

THE FREIGHT JINES-THE 5UBJbCT I'D BE CAM
yAssED In TIE FALL-REPLEs OF THE FREIGHT
AGENTS.
MANY of the large manufacturers Of this city
complain that they cannot compete with dealers al
points farther south and west especially on the line Of
the Baltimore and Ohio and Chesapeake Railroads. The
senior partner OF one Of the largest sugar rehnees In
this vicinity stated that Baltimore rehners could
ship their sugars to Chicago, b. Louis ana
other points West cents per barrel cheaper than new
York refners. His own refinery was capable OF pro-
ducne 10000 barrels yearly The difference in cost OF
transportation between the two cities would make .
very profit in the aggregate. NewYork importers
also complain that unfair discrimination Is made
against them by the railroad managers, as compared
with Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore houses, tho
latter being able to ship South and West from 10 70 -
per cent cheaper.
BENJAMIN B. Sherman Of the New-York Sugar Refining
Company stated that the unfair determinations OF rail
road companies IN favor Of Boston, Philadelphia and
Baltimore and against New-York, the principaI
grounds Of complaint on the part OF New-fork ner-
chants, and that they determined to put an end 70
such unfairness. He said that railroad cOrpofatons
longer be permitted to water their stock three
or four tines and then charge per cent As soon as
cool weather begins public meetings viii be held aEd
the subject will be pressed upon the attention Of Tie
people.
f. b. Thurber OF the firm Of H. K Thurber & Co, gro
GERS said that the merchants OF New-YOrk were JUST
arousng to a OF the danger which threatens tho
commerce Of the port and that they should not desis
from their efforts until they had re6stabished the COM
mercal supremacy Of New York on a safe foundation.
He thought that the railroads would be trinm-
phant az first because they could by raising the freight
tariff lay peo pie under contribution to furnish the
means Of buying their defeat In the end, however,
he had no doubt that the people would succeed Hs
said that there IS In this country to-day
s3OOOOOOOOO OF fictitious railroad capital,
on which IN order 10 pay dividends commerce is taxed
By high freight rates without limit He s In favor OF
the proposed double track road from New-Hork 10 tns
West TO be devoted exclusively 10 freight A present
freight trains are obliged 10 keep out OF the way oil
passenger trains, and they cannot run more than one
quarter Of the time. With exclusive freight roaa
goods could be carried from NeWYOrk to Chicago and
ST. Louis days. while at present 10 days are re-
qured for goods reach those poiuts The saYng In
expense would be about one-haf OF tho present.
rates. Grain would not accumulate In western
warehouses the Winter as It does now, but could 10
shipped to York at all OF the year. ana the
manufactures OF the East would certainly flow west
ward Such road should be built and owned by tho
Government but operated under general Fairoau Ia"
by the people, who should own the rolling STOCK anu
the rates charged should not be over per cent on the
actual capital invested. Mr.. Thurber also stated that
the Worlngmeus Association Of which Horace II. Day
is President is cooperating with the merchants hut
is thought best not TO combine the two associations, be-
cause the workingmen prOyerbay fearful Of beng
used as tools by capitalists. Early in September great
public meeting will be held In the Cooper lDstitdte
! while Committee meetings viii be held from time %
| time as necessity may dictate.
Mr Robinson, OF II. Il. ClaAn & Co., stated in regard
to the effect produced shipments by the transporta-
ton controversy that there more talk than action
aud that the results OF the gh we're much exaggerated
There have been few heavy shipments over the Batl-
more and Ohio Railroad, but 1t IS hardly time yet
form sound opinion in the matter There are three
| y. NsnWl~ DEn
bine as they undoubtedly will in opposition 20 the Bal-
more and Ohio the latter will be forced 10 succum0
Mr. Peake Of Peake, Opdyke & Co. stated that al
though he had hardly gwen the subject the attention it
deserved nevertheless lie did not believe In any dis
elimination shown by the railroads in favor Of other
cities the seaboard Freight charges at the present
time were cheaper from this city westward Than they
had BEEN The former charges about 81 per hund-
dredweight while at present the charges were only
about cents and in instances as low as " cents
p9r hundred-weght.
Other heavy shippers said that the contest con-
nuao1 Of the fight Of last year. It has not yet pro-
duced much effect the season Is more than usually
dull Tue matter has been brought up at This time IN
anticipation Of the FAN trade They did not consider
OF much Importance except to tho smaller shippers
They were able TO make their terns matter how
often the freight men might alter their tariis'
THE OTHER SIDE THE CASE.
reporter of TUE TRIBUNE called, yesterday, on sew
era of the agents OF tho railroad and forwarding COM
panes and questioned them relative TO the amount OF
freight now forwarded compared with that Of last
year. agent OF Of the trunk lines said that the
amount of freight forwarded great as 1t was
last year. The rates lower now tAan they have
been on an average, for several years. Every effort
was made by this ue protect the interests Of hppers
II merchants manufacturers to him and proved
that they were likely 10 lose customer by reason OF
the difference in freight rates compared with other
cities he made his To correspond that Of the
position There much trouble created Oy tie agents
OF opposition lines, the Vermont Central the Grand
Trunk and the Baltimore and OHIO, In making special
rates and thus cutting under those OF the trunk lines
The agent OF Of the leading fast freight lines
thought that there had been a considerable falling OF in
the shipment OF freight thus far this He ascrDed
much OF this however TO the fact that the Spring was
40 backward Many OF the merchants, when they came
on to lay in their stocks, either made 10 pur-
ehases OF Spring goods or else bougnt
moderately and shipped their goods az once The rates
for the shipment OF freight lower now than they
have been for long time. Frstclass freight - now
charged per 100 pounds 10 Chicago, ami propor
tionatey other points Chicago being the basis. It
was intended change the rate yesterday but be had
received orders 10 keepit Is for The present Tho
rates constantly changing, aud the teAdenO sees
to be downward