The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-21
DIvERrINo THE cIrY's TRADE.
Railroad Preisht Tnrinh Enabling Other
NiiIes TO UnderselI New Yerk.

The Western freight agents met yestcr-
day, but, as far as could be sscertclned, took no
action In regard TO the discrimination between
tho tariff from Boston and that from New York
This subject Is greatly ssitatine the merchants
OF this city They say the unjust discrimination
IL driving the bulk Of their Western trade to
Boston. as Western buyers can get their goods
there at only a fractional advance over New
York prices. at the scne time being insured OF
n handsome prOnt arising from the uiHofenos IN
All the trunk lines except tho New York Cen
tral have signned their desire to protect the in
tcrcsts Of New York os far as thev c n. and In
the recent meetngs OF general freight agents,
Mr.. Villas. Of the Erie, was the CONSTANT advo-
cate Of equalization Of the tariffs, while tho Cen
trail people pcrsistently opposed II.
An instance Of the operation Of this discrimi-
nation WAS cited yesierdoy by leading frelGht
agent. lie said: A Western merchant camo to
this city two weeks ago to buy soda ash, but he
fore he mode his purchase which ws large
one, he triod to make contracts with certain
of the railroads for the transportation OF
his goods to New Albany Ind his place ~ busi-
ness. lie found that II would cOst him - cents
per 100 pounds, the regular scnedule tirin. "
can dn better than that from linstun," said the
Now A,o9nv man, ara e nd, un lte 2ns Nu KS KS
bany for ID cents' per leo pounds. Now in New
York he could have bought soda ash Tor cents
tgoldl ucr pound. wherens IN boston ne had ip
pay = 1. III cenia stil ne saved 10 cents per 100
pounds In freight tolls, and havina struck a
bllrncs found th7t he had made a clear uront
OF ever one-eighth u a cent. per pound bv buy
Ing In II ston rather than in Ncw York.
Hut this determination gOra sttll further. IL
strikes not oulv az the srccil class Of freight.
such ma soda ash. hut AZ all mere nandise. IL 4,
asserted that one shipment Of 300 pack ages Of
dry goods VIVA made from Bostnn to Chicago
list week. bv the Blue hrc, one Of the New York
Ceutral's sutsidiarCs, at ~ cents yer lOO bounds.
Tndrr the compact ~ lna. summer no road run
ming Gus of thus city could have t.ken this lpt at
less than the schc iule ratio 20 cents Ter 100
POUNDS.
"Who Is responsible for this state of thinqsr'
asked n SUN reporter " a leading railroad man
Yesterday.
zine New York Central Railroad ! see Mr..
Vanderbilt denies tnnt he b, any control ~ the
Boston and Alpanv Railroad, over vlich much
| Of the westward bound freight from Boston
| comes, but all r.ilroad men know that he could
stop that road short at Alunuy by refusing u
pro-rate with II. and thus establish tho tariff
| from Boeton on a basis which would be fair not
| only to New York but Phiiadelphia and Balti
more, which arc also sufferers by this discrim-
| nation"
- rnen what can be done to avert the threat
| ened disaster to New NOrk's trade p
| ." / think " the leading merchant, would band
Themselves together. and refuse to ratrunilN the
! Central until the Boston rates are raised, Mr.
! Vanderbilt would see his error within ten days.
| s.'rhe freight lines along broadway report al
most total staguation IN Western frcirhts. " Al
| our business" the officers say, is going To Dos
ton. We can't compete with Boston limos"