New-York tribune., 1875-12-24
TRADE ALLIES.

| n
RAILROADS AND BUSINESS KEN-A wEIGHTY
CONFERENCE AT THE GRAND CENTRAL DEPOT-
RAILWAY MANAGERS AND LEADERS OF TRADE
| IN ACCoRD-FREIGHT RATES.
A meeting Of prominent merchants in various
branches Of business held Dec. the Chamber
OF Commerce, to take action toward securing read
justmen OF freight rates by the great trunk lines to the
West and toward aboshng determinations In favor OF
Boston committee appointed to meet the repro
sentatives OF the trunk lines and interview was ap
pointed tor 10 a. yesterday at the Grand Central
| Depot In the meantime the New-York Central
Erie, and Pennsylvania Railroads reduced the rates
| from rs cents 10 80 cents hundred for
frstelass freight TO Chicago, thus temporarily
removing the grievance. Nevertheless the In
terview held yesterday. The members OF the mcr-
chants delegation W. +. Dodge, A. A. Low, r. q.
Arnold. Samuel ID. Babcock H. b. Cahin f. g. Janray,
George W. Lane, j. W. DeCsstro, j. Havomeyer. Josiah
| NJ. Fish, Theodore Roosevelt, W. T. Garner Charles 8
Smith, Oliver Hartman, W. j. Hurst Andrew Barstow.
J. II. Peters Gustav schwab, Charles Wall, Charles C.
| Dodge, and few other prominent merchants or rail-
way men there were present W. H. Vanderbilt J. H.
Ruter general freight agent OF the New-York Central.
and Chauncey NJ. Depew.
w. f. Dodge addressed Mr.. Vanderbilt substantially az
| follows
Allow ne, Mr. Vanderbilt IN introducing TO you
this delegation OF New-York merchants, say that,
| representatives. OF the mercantile community OF
position we have occupied for obtaining the adyant
| ages OF cheap freight rates as compared with more
ducton Of rates by the trunk lines few days ago. and
@ we wee dse wh to- S 40 & on that hOr We a not
sympathy with railroad compeon ruinons TO the corn
could agree and adhere to rates which would insure TO
| them fair profit and to MS greater carrying flcii-
crirnnate against New-York but that they .hall 10
reasonable and just as between our city, Boston, Balti-
been proper sympathy manifested between the mer-
chants ot New York and the great trunk lines centerins
here 1'he Of nh ARE aefiN n
the interests of the PENNSYLVANIA line, aud the
chants OF Baltimore In the Baltimore and Ohio line Tho
authorities Of NewYork have not shown proper spirit
when roads have sought terminal facilities here, and, "a
the bargain, have rather looked 10 how much could
he gotten out OF the road different -pr has always
been manifested in the other cities have mentioned
thus while thank you for the present reduction,
not in sympathy with the of such reduc-
ton 1t is not low rates that we merchants desire.
greater carrying facilities aud place the mercantile
erests Of this city par with those OF other cities OF
| the Atlantic seaboard.
| vicc-Presdent Vanderbilt said in reply:
am much gratihed, gentlemen, at the interest New
re ,Sa thnk s thew are m IN the thew a
Freight rates from NcwYork should not exceed those
Trunk and Vermont Central lines from boston.
for the that their facilities for carrying
slightly inferior, and they could not get freight at equal
rates Tue difference amounted TO 10 rstcla.s
eghts, and i've cents on special rates In March last
the Presidents OF the Grand Trunk Boston aud Albany,
and Vermont Central lines were informed that their
carrying advantages were equal to those Of the roads In
competition with them, and tna the difference IN favor of
Boston was no longer admissible. Matters ran along
until September, when the trunk lines terminating IN ths
ciy concluded to raise the rates, which had been 25
cents, to 90 cents The most OF our business has been
done at special rates, which have been about az low
as lelghis tIon boston ihse contracts eNpis W Jan-
gary aud suppose u s this fact that has troubled YOU
did not intend to place Nea-fork merchants at dis
advantage with Boston ON Nov rats were raised to
rs cents which did not seriously affect Of
Ncw-York, nasmuch as they were protected by their ox-
G es pI gs.aa np banS II s
roads WIS held with view to their accepting cor
! responding basis but the Grand Trunk Line
Central Boston and Albany roads. In the negotia-
tious the past days the Grand Trunk Line aceeded
10 the 70 cent basis ana Monday Mr.. Blanchard Mr..
Scott and self received Telegram stating that that
Company willing rates pro rGta but
would still maintain difference OF 10 cent? IN favor Of
Boston. The Pennsylvania, Erie, and New York Central
offered to refer the matter III dispute to Charles Frames
| Adams, Thomas A. Scott, and Jo1n King OF the Bdu-
| more and ONO for settlement This the Grand Trunk
Line refused do and then followed the present rcduc
30 cents which, you well undsI stand 10 fur bo
There seems to be an Impression II and news
paper rumors to be believed that the Cen
lra protecting the interests Of New York
mnr ssainsv @ Dstrnst such sistements Thep,, H. no
difference attitude OF the three trunk lines toward
city, and il there IL is the result OF bad faith. We
pey but ike the merchants Of SeSYos we are Try
ing to do the best with our property For the
ont the State toward the NewYok Genital We have
cated people with special rates. and no more heard of
the usual and frequent appeals to the legislature Tor
| pro rata laws Tue Pennsyvania and BALTIMORE and
ONO Roads in the Interests Of Philadelphia and
Baltimore The authorities have taken interest in
They hfstcdss roads, managed by
rates and 300 miles shorter distance to the Nest il
question il the Now-York Central can carry cheaply
they. 1he time may come wen We can. AT present
demand that all grain ron the West snail be brought
| Ia New-York cLeapy as to Baltimore and Phlla-
other trunk lines, and carry to uiao cheaply
they Pittsburgh and Wheeling, but by our connecting
roads IL is greater distance to Chcago and have 10
share this disadvantage OF distance with our connec-
| tOus. The Grand trunk and Vermont Cntral are 100
miles longer than line, and OF course ought not 10
carry oneapy the lower trunk lines, but when
sons declare tuat tonnage their object y,
they become hard competitors. We may be driven out
| Boston. AS far Boston and New-loik are cou-
cerned. have been inclined to carry at the rates,
but Grand Trunk should carry cent two less,
that line might be dong all The business, and yirtu-
! ally n0thluS
Charles Dodge then spoke the question Of through
England TO the West, and suggested that the
Baltimore Ohio and Penusy roads With their
steamship connections have been able to give Ia
yorable rates to CdcgO and 1t is said have thereby
diverted grea; deal OF trade from New York" Mr..
Vanderbilt in reply said that 1.-THE New-York Central
| has no steamship interests, and does contemplate
purchasing them. Our business s rilroadiug, but
Will glad to make through with any steamship
line running to NowYork and thereby compete with any
other combination outside OF NewYork." Mr.. Wander
bit then read letter from Thomas A. Scott in which be
stated that tho Pennsylvania Company would lat all
times act u perfect harmony with the New York lines In
deciding what may be found necessary meet the
! mercia interests"
Jackson s. schultz said that the city damaging It's
interests In not encouraging railroad and steamship
| companies, by furnishing them with better terminal
facilities, and reasonable charge. lie also al Ocated
pro rata freight rates. B. Smith tncp spoke Of the
necessity OF improved terminal facilities Mr. Wander
| bilt said that the New-York Central bad invested
IS, 100000 in terminal facilities, ana spending
50 900 900 at North River Sixty .hftlsI He said
that the interests OF NewYorl merchants inter-
OF the Company, which would guard them to tho
best OF It's ability. Mr. ". t. Dodge thought the meeting
would prove beneficial to all concerned aud hoped the
merchants aud the railroads might cooperate III tae