The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-13
TIE TRANSPORTATION. BATTLE.
Meeting Of the Cheap Tranportation A,.osi.
ion-The Widening Of tho Erie Canal
Canals W RsilwayS-Rapid Transit

The directors OF the Cheap Transportation Asso.
citation met yesterday afternoon at No. 10 Pearl
street, Mr.. Benjamin r. Baker in the chair. Mr. r.
B. Thurber acted as Secretary. ss.
Mr.. 8. B. Ruggles, OF the Chamber OF Commerce.
addressed the Directors, thanking them for
their aid in defeating the "Hatch amendments" in
the Legislature. The absurd proposition OF pre-
venting the enlargement OF the most important.
canal OF the state alarmed the Chamber SO that ir.
sent up six OF It's most prominent members to Al
bany to protest against the proposed action. With
the aid the association had rendered this PERM
cious measure had been decisively defeated The
Chamber had discovered the value OF the co-Opera-
ton Of this association and would solicit 1t also in
the future.
Mr.. Ruggles' remarks were applauded, and the
President acknowledged the nattering sentiments
which they contained. The association, he said,
hoped sincerely that the Chamber would cooper
ate with them also in the future for the advantage
OF the city ana state.
A resolution was passed appointing committees
OF three to confer with other leading commercial
bodies OF the city with view to the attainment
OF cheap transportation.
long list of new members was read and ap.
proved.
Mr.. John IL. Kemp, OF the Committee on ClalmS
and Grievances, submitted report showing that q
number OF grievances against railway companies
had been brought before them. He recommended
that the funds OF the association be increased SO
that the committee might be enabled to employ
regular counsel The complaints of merchants ON
the score oI excessive transportation charges
were very frequent, audit would require energy ,
and means to effect the desired reform. The
report was accepted. /.
Mr.. Thurber read lengthy report of the Com
show that the relief proposed in the report OF the
United states Senate Committee on rransporta-
that there should be no water routes but they did
claim that the experience OF the past lew years
haa n II that great had
separation OF freight and passenger trnfiic would
mark new era In that kind OF transportation. :
1--WE claim,n says the report 'that vast majority
OF the articles which the nation consumes villa
always be carried by rail, and that the Time has
United States and all her material interests should
not be further taxed to perpetuate the detects and
managers OF railways VIII loudly dissent from this
view OF the question. and their views will be sup
ported by many honored and respected merchants
whose railway interests 0verbaance their com.
mercial interests but we think that the In
NOTED BY the increased growth and pros.
pertty OF our commerce. which Will surely
present railway system; and, even allowing shar
1t would have an opposite effect, 1t becomes q
and sha be made
servlent to ina. OF taeorailways: me statistics;
are largely in favor or canal transportation, and
many OF our Oldest grain merchants are still I'M
favor OF that method. The conclusions arrived
but for the reasons given IN this paperl Is our
Judgment, as merchants whose business depends
largely upon transportation facilities, that any
system which will remedy the evils under which,
the people now suffer must embrace one or more
against consolidation with existing lines. Whi'e
we cannot wholly endorse the plan. Of the
for building freight railway between the West
and the seabord, MS set forth in their recent re-
port, we are convinced that such road, properly
constructed and guarded against combinations,
would be Of inestimabe benefit to the whole cOun-
River ana the enlargement OF the Erie Canal, we
would nave practical ana permanent sOiuti0n OF
the problem OF cheap transportation.
The report was adopted. &
The Legislative Committee reported on the de-
feat OF the two bills which they prepared, one to
create Board OF Railway Commissioners Tor tha
State and the other to insure complete representa-
porations in the Boards OF Direction BY a scheme
! Of minority representation. Neither OF the bills
/ were reported by the Railway Committee of the
legislature. The following portion Of the reports
is OF particular INTEREST,"
Du .;., portl;G;n Of the time while the LEGISLATORS
S y s Of e "a a.
Ss q Ss q the rasG
in the city Of New York Bus even here. not%
Ss ' aH %sS ns RHSs
whose zeal e Substitute tt s the Eas
s s ssssn he s s the
the Senate, by Insisting upon amendments Of minor
importance delayed its passage in that chamber
thus prevented its becomng law And yet incxpedi-
ent as IT supposed to be to give those
Which, ssf on S
one hand TO protect the state and city OF New York. and
the other the corporations with which they propose
to- deal II deemed expedicnt by the Legislature,
without restraint without safeguard for the public
tcrcst to grant charter to Mr. Gardiner and others,
Of New York quick transit railway. which may Or
not be transferred to OF the main lines
the exclusion OF Its rivals and will place the New
York, Its commerce and Its wealth. still than the
present. ct the mercy and at the feet OF gigantic
nopoly None deny that rapid transit passengers
commerce Of New York; and yet perhaps il would
been far better that we should, for year more
Time TO suer the evils OF barbarous and inadequate
methods Of conveying persons and goods compared
with the facilities afforded in other large cities rather
safeguards 10 protect the public Interest," cbsSs,.
control tor ever-taking future probabilities into
consider tonof the most important in the
world. Communities. like individuals pay too
much for advantages and pleasures and II
tonnblc. indeed, whether In passing the Gardiner bill
the state OF New YORK has not paid very TAR 700 much
for the facilities OF rapid transportation for IFS nhSb..
tants. Your Legislative committee respectfully submit
that they had but little II any, hope of exercising any
very strong and Immediate influence upon the Legsa-
frmed in their views thar the railway power In the
State of New York had already become sufficiently
that without active persistent and energetic war
fare. creation public opinion ana making OF drect
political issues the question: no progress
hoped against the entrenchcd position OF rail-
ways in the Legislature.
Alter transacring some minor business the meet.