New-York tribune., 1875-02-13
BOSTON FREIGHTS.

INQUIRY BY THE COMMITTEE on RAILROADS OF
TIE MASSACHUSETTS, LEGISLATURE INTO THE
CONDUCT OF THE BOSTON AND ALBANY RAIL-
ROAD-THE COMPANY CHARGED WITH DIS
ELIMINATING AGAINST BOSTON-TEsTIMoSY Oh
PROMINENT BUSINESS MEN, AND or THE VICE
PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY.
BOsTOY Mass, Feb. 1.-The Legislative
Committee on Railroads had hearing today on the
order offered by Frederic Moscey OF Boston to
inquire whether the Boston aud Albany EhF
road is furnishing freight facilities and charges
80 as to discriminate against the City OF Boston,
and whether the State directors OF tho ROAD
have made their annual reports as required law
cePresident Lincoln represented the Boston ana Al
bany Railroad, and Mr.. Bartlett said the Commercai
Exchange and Board Of Trade had appointed commit
tees To appear.
J. IL Locke said the difficulty with tho grain trade
was the lack OF guarantees OF weight and drafts were
givcn for full weight when the weight was short.
The matter had been placed before the railroad OIL
Gers but nothing had been done. The harm done 10 the
Boston trade is sometimes very groat, as when the
grain s put into tho cars. they have no assurance
OF the weight until 1t is unlOaded at the elevators Inc
curo FOR boh tne y doo a o crtan persons but
not to the trade as whole Inc present. & ~ ga'o az
enables operators elsewhere 10 lay down corn at
aye to seven cents less than in Boston. The rates
published. stlye cents more 70 boston than W
NeyYork and the road adhere3 the published rates.
while New-York always cnts" the rates. Evidence OF
this had been shown Mr.. Bliss the Boston and Albany
HalrTaa iSH Serson, who got the "cat" rate were
willing to state the facts Tao Boston an anu al al.
Western lines but required so mnch for carryinga given
amount. which leaves all tue cutting 10 % uonV VIII -,
tavor of Portland Boston merchants had talked OF
having cars billed through Portland and having them
stopped at Boston, for they could then make hve ee
on ne hnndrni II costs more lay grain down here
for home consumption than - does IN NeW 1orR b
Calvin NJ Winch, OF Cutting, Winch @ CO., sh,n nv
Am had abandoned the grain business On account oI
the refusal Of The rnad % guarantee the III
There was nducement to MAKE an advance on Ps Ths
shipper receives bill OF ladns Tor orrtan a.
more or less and draws on tie merchant mere i9r y ~
o much ner bushel; bat In 50 many cases Md there
been shortages that his firm refused q Continue tue
John r Paul narrated tho difficulties he had encodn-
tered I'm the lumber trade He turned MS trade 70 NV
York. and there made handsome prom on It. ~ lleSn ~
can 20 through Boston for i've cents less han IL COSTS 10
stop in Boston, something IL wrong. - ,,.eo... ..o,
tba he bppad 10 per cent their freight the Bos
ton and Albany, Al per cent over the Vermont Cen,r
and Grand Trunk and 50 per cent over tn. Erie This
was because ~ the high rate OF charges o. the boston
and Albany. This morning he nd1 Deen OH5rcu roshs
10 cents hundred less than what the Boston ana Albany
VcePresident Lincoln being called upon. said he had
doubt the shortage, ETC., was much oxdgGerael ho
believed the grain coming regularly, an1 the Com
mtes would be surprised TO how regularly it pro-
eeeed lie was Wiling 3 to gave ts9 a ana an he
would be glad to have the Board OF Trade or Ex
The elevator lie SAID the road had reduced tho expense
OF transporting freight and passengers 80 or ~ per cent
since he consolidation. He denied that guaranteed
bills OF Iadlng had been gwen TO any one. He said
tnat they mad settled eases of shortage when
satisfied that IL WAS from leakage, or
any reason which showed that tbs iOi1 at fault
Ths road had been putting in track scales az every I'M
u1rapt point so at all grain Is weighed. except
tnat which goes INTO the elevator where IL
is weighed. Business heretofore had been done
very loosely. They could have scales In Albany,
but doubted power of the road to enforce any rule
as TO quantity. The roads sharos In the through
lines 50 much pro rata for tho mile OF each road Iney
would recognize contract made by an agent or
those lines In regard to shortage lac had no doubt
they could arrange that with the New-1Ork central
by means OF their elevator at Buffalo. The New York
Central had absolutely refused TO guarantee freiGhts
and declined to join giving spech; butts OF Ildhg on
miscellaneous freight from Inc We5c. Tle hearing was
adjourned till tomorrow.