The New York herald., 1874-11-26
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS.
L. New York to Lose Her Comm orcia1
Supremacy?-Past and Present OF the
Metropolis.

Il New York to Lose Her Comm erciaI
Supremacy?-Past and Present OF the
Metropolis.
No question of greater Importance has agitated
commercial New York in q decade than that OF
cheap freight transportation and the coiateral
questions growing out Off AS long az the genius
of DE Witt Clinton gave this city superior trans
portation facilities 1t was invincble but the great
metropolis, since his day. has grown, and now To
more or less laborinR under the double disad-
vantage OF inefficient means Of distributing mer1
chandise and the combinations between the trunk
railway lines, leading from the seaboard to tho
Great West amounting almost to
A CONSPIRACY AGAINST NEW YORK.
Our terminal facilities for the handling and
storage OF produce and merchandise are detective;
our storage, labor carriage, ltgnterage and
cooperage all being too high. Heavy charges are
levied on our commerce at Quarantine, by Harbor
Masters at our wharves by Sherlrs, Marshals and
Customs officials, and the annual expenses OF our
municipal government which ultimately fall Q
burden upon our commerce. have increased IN ten
years from Sl4 co., 900 TO $3i 900 000 Our railway
system Is burthened with millions OF watered
stock, and TINS, taken in connection with ex.
travagant and corrupt management, makes IL i'm
possible Tor the roads COMPOSING 1t TO carry
freight as cneapy as those lines. which have been
built honestly aud economically. and now diverA
our commerce to sister cities.
Having In view the danger to our mercantile
supremacy number OF leading members of the
trade exchanges. representing the most wealthy
fins IN this metropolis, formed themselves into
an ASSOCIATION scile time since, the avowed object
or which was 80 obtain. preserve and circulate
valuable ana useful ir!.rSat,on relating TO trans.
portation, TO encourage the i,s-rovement and In
crease the capacity OF our termi1s faciiifies for
the handling and storage OF produce arie saercnan-
disc TO facilitate the adjustment OF dIifcrcnreSv
members and transportation companies; to advo-
cate the construction OF new avenues for trans
portaion, and the Improvement OF those now ex-
isting; TO devise. submit and advocate plans OF
legislation by which the detects and abuses OF the
present system may be remeded, ana to advocate
such other principles and projects in connection
with the subject OF transportation as will tend to
advance the commercial prosperity OF our city and
country" SO greatly was the scope widened Of
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION,
that 1t now embraces such worthy opJects as the
Improvement or the water 'front.', the moulding OF
legislation in wise anu equitable channels, In the
creation OF Boards OF Railroad Commissioners, and
the regulation OF the same.
Conventions nave been called which tended to
educate cultivate and harmonize commercial In
terests, and in nne to organize upon an honorable
trade basis, without regard to party intrigaes OF
party Affiliations, TO press all wise and honest
measures Tor the protection OF the commerce and
the advancement or the prosperity OF New YORK.
before the people, their representatives. and the
railroad companies, until broad policy OF i'm.
provement should be carried out whIcn woulf
inure to the benefit OF every merchant having
business relations with this great city.
IN THE LATE AMENDMENTS
to the constitution two relate exclusively to the
New York state canals aud two to the general
financial interests OF the state, which may te d.
toned association In guarding the interests OF
the merchants against the insldious attacks OF
the railways and other monopolists. general
acquaintance with the facts produced a very
strong belief that the mercantile interests desired
to rid themselves OF the care and incident ex-
penses OF the mantenance of the lateral canals,
and, by improving tse main lines, facilitate the
transportation by water, at a cheap rate, Of the
bulky productions OF the West through the valleys
or our own State 10 our own seaport.
In order to snow how harmonious were the sup
porting interests represented In this work, II nay
be stated tnat in this city nearly
NINE HUNDRED MERCHANTS AND FIRMS
contributed 70 the support OF these amendment6
to the constitution. Ths support was subscribed
az very short notice, proving tnat cheap trans
pOrtatlon meant ample and cheap facilities for
handling ana storing merchandise, less expendi-
ture oil the public FUNDS upon improvements for
which there was no Immediate necessity, and
speedy competition OF our system or DOCKS Win
close connection between the cars and ships when
bring and carry alternately the freightage OF this
great port. Upon this nigh and solid plane OF ad'
vantage TO the community the members OF all mer.
camille firms were invited to cooperate IN tue
grand work OF dschargng the debt they owed 70
the metropolis OF the western World.