New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-05
TERMINAL GRAIN CHARGES


NO COMBINATION TO INCREASE Cosr or HAND
LING-AN INVESTIGATION UNNECEss tRY.
The statement made by Senator Jarvis Lord
that exorbitant charges oXtorted at this port upon
every bUshel OF grain that arrives here by canal,
was the subject OF universal comment on satur-
day among the members Of the Produce Exchange
grain dealers, and Others interested IN the
matter. The resolutions OF Investigation winch
were passed upon Mr.. Lords motion, caused
comment rather than anxiety 10 be expressed. lac
prevailing sentiment appeared to be that there was no
ground for his statements, and that they we're mads TO
divert attention from himself AMI the main issue.
When the canal arrive the docks in this city.
they subject TO wharfage fee Of 30 cents day for
outside berths and 81 day for dock bertbs. These
prices regulated by statute. The boats arc then
towed to the elevators at charges varying from Gil to
Ga according to the distance. and the boats are then
uuoaded The expenses charged to the grain which
comes by canal boats are as follows; AS a
eanalboat seldom remains over three Gays a' 'io
dock the wharfage may be called 81 ~, Or upon an
ordinary boatload OF 5000 bushels less than onetenth
of mill; the towage is cent per bushel; one-hs OF
the cost OF weighing is cent making the amount PAID
by the owner consicnee Of the grain cent per
bushel. The owner OF the boat pays for the unload
ing 4 cent. The other half Of the cost OF weigh
ing is paid by the buyer Of tho grain, cent
This makes a total charge OF u cents per Dusnei'
This the cost when delivered at Warehouse "Helc
DAYS; after which cent per bushel Is adaeu Aoi
zach 10 DAYS that IL remains storage the WAREHOUSE
men guaranteeing the quantity without any eA""
charge. II the grain Is shipped IN scnooneI' 'no %
ira charge Is cent which the schooner pays LOT uc
uyerng the grain in Its hold and slowing IL away ID
proper shape II the grain is shipped IN steamer or
ocean sailing vessel, the extra charge varies from
4 cent TO cent, Which the ocean vessel or
steamer paws. II 1t is desired to have the grain
cleaned, the charge for such Is an additlonai
1 Eeent. Tue charges on The gram, then' are
are summarized as follows:
Delivered in warehouse including 80 days storagoscs
Delivered on board coastiug eSses.........1bc ts
Delivered 10 ocean steamer OF vesseL Gus
In order 10 ascertain whether any OF these charges
we're deemed exorbitant, the views OF persons IN
terested in such matters were sought AT the 'Ece OF
the Northern Transportation line OF Towboats at Coen
tesp and southst, eight or nine canal boatmen were
found and they gave their views freely in regard TO
the matter. They stated, Substantially, that
the charge for wharfage exceedingly moderate
They had fault they said, 10 find with che rates OF
towage, which amounted only to about
cent per bushel. They united in the statement how
ever that the charges made by the propetors OF the
elevators excessive aud should be reduced The
grain was taxed Il cents b1shc onehaf OF which the
boaimen had 10 pay, but that, OF course, was
charged 10 the owner OF the grain. Per
souslly II did not affect them, but
simply the grain owner: stn they thought the charge
too much. when tho canal boats were unloaded by
hand the charge only cent bushel. Handling grain
seemed to expensive than handling any other ar
tcas OF merchandise which generally costs from $50 to
90 ton whereas the handling OF grain costs $780, They
cid not know how this matter could be rtucded. how
the prices were fixed by the persons or con
panes owning elevators and they had the right 10 ask
David Dows. large grain dealer doing business in
soutnst stated that the only charge whchbe thought
could be reduced that made by the elevators ana he
thought reduction would be made ut an early day lie
bers of the Produce Exchange that was Desirable 70
reduce the charge for handling the grain, and he
had reason to believe that a reduction oud soon be
made. lie regarded The statement about llne ia ms
eity incorrect and knew OF no combination among the
OF elevators or among any other persons The
charges for brokerage and commissions were proper
and lesiiunate aud would always be made wherever
grain sold. whether IL reaches this city by boat or
Tic other charges were also proper and with the
NJ. Hazlotcn. of the firm OF Jesse Hoyt Co.. SAID
that he was OF the OPINION thst this ae aanG Dy Mf.
Lord for an investigation was made SIMPLY 10 dfect At
antlon from himself and was an expedient devised by
desperate ring He denied that the Produce Exchange
controlled the cost OF transferring OF unloadtg grain
and said that he thought the charges were ali reaSOn
BILE. The e,ovatng business was Carried on by system
Of open competition there being no COMPUTATION or ass0
catOn governing IT, so far as ne knew The cost OF hand
ing for years, which due 10 the improvements made
by the Introduction OF machinery. He said that he
ton Of the true position Of the member. Of the Ex-
change in relation to the transfer OF grain IN New York
There combination in the eevatLg business that
he aware or Indeed, there were various prices
charged among the oSners OF elevators and receivers
small price, relative insurance and other contingencies
OF course being taken into consideration The cost OF
transferring grain In New York, he said, was much ess
nan II was formerly and storage was exceeding low
lie added that he did not see how any lhvesugation
could be made among the different companies there
only one cOrporatlOn-the Atlantic Basin Company
and it had BEEN as he understood losing money for
could not well he reduced and that the desire for
investigation here was 10 distract attention from the
Mr. Grant. Superintendent Of the Produce Exchange
stated that the amount Of total charges, q cents per
Al hX Mr lar
the cost Of towing unloading weighing aud screenins
well as leading ana a % 1!ad 70 G GS ES G
tcent to the vessel cent IEe seller psli for towing
G 9Sai to me Oh and 5 fHh pf ts %
, mo"Hf CENT. Tue YSo buyer paid for half Of tic
Sssls ae esE to the the to S would
all extra charge for blowing ana screening OF cent
The tote q cents for ne Wole cost grain goes
store there additional charge for the first 80 days,
DAYS that II remains store, the warehouse guarantee
ing quantity. As to the truth OF MI Lords charges
regarding the existence OF rings at the ends OF ne canal
Mr. Grant said that certainly the PRODUCE Exchange
liked rates. anu he believed that there was 10 cono
nation that dd Ire rates were customary, and Ikea
b. tho Individual operators IN the course OF therreguar
business. Trc Produce Exchange had been trying for
their efforts hal been directed to RAILROAD and not 10
canal freehts The EXCHANGE was ready for inves
tigatiOu that might be Instituted.
gentleman prominent IN the Produce Exchange,
into the iermna! charges on canal irtlgbt said that
there could be doubt abO1 the charge of p per
lushc which Hppl!tG Only 10 HOalln9 tlcNatOrs and
was twice too much. There wac, he said, place III
me world where grain could be put il store held there
and taken cut again 50 chcspy as II has been dOuc In
New-York for tie last ye6t aud half or two years.
within the last five yosrs floating elevators had
beeu so mucr improved tnat their managers could We'll
afford TO reduce their charges perhaps one-al. More
over he believed that the elevator men were prepared
10 make a reduction. The Produce Exchange, lie said
had endeavOrng To Se reduction OF these charges
for some time. They had gone over them very
fully for Is months, but nothing had been effected The
charges had been tho great stumbling block In t1e way
Of an IN regard to The grading and pooling OF
grain between the Exchange and the railroad CON-
psnies. Hr. Lords motion, lie thought, was "a
good and sbrewd one, and he hoped something might
nf ON lv I'm