New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-06
BITTER RAILROAD WAR ENDED.


THE NETWORK CENTRAL, ERIE AND pENSsYLvA-
MA RESUME THEIR FORMER RATES OF IMMIGRANT
PASSAGE TO THE WEST.
The railroad war concerning the rates OF
passage for immigrants bound West. which opened 10
March last has Just brought TO close For four
months the triangular ght has been waged WIN mucn
bitterness and each OF the contestants mas doggenV To
fused to yield. The combatants we're the Ne"-iofk
Central and Hudson River, the Erie and the
Pennsylvania Railroads. The New-York Central
threw down the gauntlet on March %. when II
suddenly reduced its rates nearly 40 per cent, md
threatened still further reduction at early day The
OF this action the discovery that the Eric
Railway had entered into contract with the principal
English steamship companies Tor the transfer OF all
their passengers TO It's rails This had been effected
in this way: The three great roads to the West had
maintained uniform rates to all important points, and
had thus given immigrant tho choice OF road with
out regard to rate Of fare.
Ia this way each road received fair share OF the
patronage 1t was suddenly discovered the close
OF March that the Erie Railway was taking passengers
the West tickets sold for $40 instead of s3, the
nominal rate Tho tickets were sold In European cities
with the steamship tickets themselves, and 1t was In
ferred that the s. thus saved was saved not
by the immigrant. but by the steamship
companies. The motive for transferring all
passengers to Erie was therefore apparent.
The New-York Central Railroad Company at once de-
manded that the Commissioners OF Emigration protect
the immigrant from exorbant charges since tickets to
Chicago by the Central were only o. (the having
been reduced) and they paying at least $40 and
probably sl3 by Erie. Tue Commissioners took the adj
dresses OF all immigrants bound West who had been
overcharged and sought the advice OF their counsel
to their ability to collect and return the amount over
charged
Meantime the Erie seeing the action OF the Central
at once reduced its rates the tariff, and the
Pennsylvania had already done the same thing. A
week later the Central again made large reduction In
rates. bringing down the Chicago tickets TO S. Tickets
to all points then selling about 40 cent Of the
prices OF fortnight before The Central had with
drawn its agent Castle Garden, and declared the
injustice OF lis paying one-thrd the expense OF handling
baggage there while 1t only secured occa-
sional passenger From this time the war
went on steadily The other followed the exam
pie OF the Central and sold tickets by the same tariff Ar
fairs remained in this state and further reductions
were made though the Central had declared its deter
nnaton to carry passengers 10 Chicago for 81 II That
was necessary to its final triumph. IL was supposed
this enormous reduction In railroad fares would prove
a considerable stimulus to immigration, out the 1acts
prove that this not The number OF Passengers
has materially increased since the reduction was
made and during tile past month uas laeu Oh a. usui
this season OF the
1t until very recently that the railroad agents
took any measures tending toward reconciliation AZ
leugth meeting was held. the COMPANIES heeihlng u
Uiure themselves FOR the sake or
lujurng their neghbOrs After considerable discus
sion end reached and t resolved TO restore
tho Old rates which have not been IN effect since March
This Increases the rate OF Immigrant are 10 the
than per cent, and to some points more
tnAn $50 per cent; Tho following table Will show the
rates established BY the Central Roads changes the
rates to-day beng the same as those or Marcn !: