, 1874-11-23
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION,

Western producara have abundant reaaon to /
rejoice On the subject Of cheap transportation |
there begna to be flight al round" 1t comes |
eyeu from Now York. 1t has II last dAwned |
upon the visual organs Of the bnsinoae mon Of [
that city that their own trade Is In danger from
tho systematic extortiona OF their railway mo-
nopoliats. Tho report Of the Cheap 1ranspor-
tation Committee. at \ meeting Of tho Asaoca-
tion on Saturday, Nov. II, published in last
wosk'a TRIBUNE, ras decidedly good reading for
tho people Of tho West, It nhows that few
man, 1t loass, in New York appreciate the
dangers that threasen thor trade from
the machinatlons OF Vanderbilt and his
confederate monopoists Of the Eric and the
Pennsylvania Railways. Tho failure Of their
pilgrimage to Baltimore to wheedle or to force
the Baltimore l. Ohio Railway to Join and to
aharo in their Rchames Of extortion, may well
alarm tho merchants Of Now York. It certainly
is received with tho most hopeful satisfaction by
the people Of the WeBt. For yeArs paat TUE
CHICAGO TRIBUNE has earnestly protested against
these extortious. It has told New York repeat
cdly that these cxtortions would In tho end rc-
coil upon tho honest dealers In that city; but In
her pride and power sho let them pass Is old
! wiyes' fables. Now that her most prom
| ineut citizens have indorsed the facta
| wo hayo 30 often presented, perhaps tho
| merchants Of New York will demand justice to
| tue Vest and force Vanderbilt and his aaso-
clates to charge such rates Of freight and fares
"a will give tAon fair percentage On tho actual
coat Of their ruads.
| To show that the New York Committee un-
deratand tho subject We quote ths following
from their report:
TIE management oY thcss three great hlRhwayn has
mt bocn characterized BY dianteseatcd and public
spirit which would mako tho possession af ach power
either desirable aafe From the most reliable tats
cx.ant Il Is evident tlat tho New York Central Il
Hudson River Railroad did not cost Its stock and bond.
hollcra 10 exceed $1s o00, ,0o0 willis la altea now
exceed 4117 900, The Eric coat a stock and bond
holders less, and lsa liabilities exceed 3lae
600 co., The stock Of thn peunaylyanl4 Central has
not been garingly waserod, but Its liabilities are
now upwards Of $ll1,ooo, 900. All energtea Of the
managers Of these great highways now bent upon
maintaining fatea Of freight 1t point which will pay
dividends upon these hotluous yaluos Most Of till
inaaion has been accomplished by zing high rates Of
fseght accommodating largo surplus fund putting Il
AAA tA04& A5bAluH BtOEk 10 feEf9
aont tho yaue Of these improvements; or, In othe,
Words first e1ao.lng money from tho puhltc and then
forever mixing tho public pay interest upon The
| amount 60 exactod.
Can the merchants and capitalists OF New
York suppose these exactiona eau ho continued
forover2 The West has appealed Ia vain to tlei,
honesty aud thoir patriotism to stop them. The
opening Of the Baltimore l. Ohio Railway ts
tnle city will NOW enable us to make direct ap
/ peal to their pockets. Thoy must maize thol
> railway chargea Is low "a thu new line or lose
, very large percentage OF tha trala Of all sh,
Staten and Territories weat Of Ohio. From thi
righteous Judgment, entered up sgainst thou
by, tho public opuon OF tho country, there Ia n
possible appeal.
The Committee ore not afraid to quote tho OF
ample Of tho Baltimore b. Ohio Railway an
. fling II into tbs testh Of the Wa1l-atseet sharks
They say,
contrastod with tho policy Of the other great high
vaYs tie policy of tha baltimore Ohio Railroad Ia
been to devote s surplus earnings to incsease The
Il racy Of aud peF3octlug the road, but not i4suu
stock to represent Aeso improvements, and II IL IL
Intention Of its managers, when toir road ID u pei
j. feet and compatea condition, to rsauco s furht
It ther rates Of freight thua building up and devoopu
not ouly baltimore, hut tho whou country aud II
tho fear Of this that Induces mon like Messrs Wanda
II bl,, Scott aud Jowett to journey down to Dslttmo
xu cudsayor to drive preadent Garrett OF Ii
>, Baltimore Ohio Railroad, tnto I combination vii
them.
rhta ID plsin talk. .nd Ner York nil .ot mo
vtsely hy giving duo heed to the truths hsra
nj ....ses......--........-...-::..e.-