New-York tribune., 1875-02-04
RAILWAY RELATIONS.
THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ASSOCI
ATED LINES OF THE COUNTRY IN
CONSTELLATION

suspEsDyD-THE RELATIONS or PACIFIC IISEs.
A meeting Of the representatives or the
Western railroads with the Commissioners residem IN
who have had tho control OF the rates on east
bound freight held yesterday at the 81. NICHOLAS
Hotel officers Of the trunk lines and members OF tho
Eastern Board OF Commissioners were also present.
Among those took part Gen. j. ID. Cox OF the
Toledo Wabash and Western Railroad, who presided al
the meeting; Gen. B. Wright OF Columbus. warren
Colburn Of Toledo. John =. Newberry Of Detroit
Isaac H. Sturgeon OF st. Louis, 4. Il WadS
worth Of Chicago, and l.. N. Andrews OF IR-
dianapOlis, tho six Western Railway Commissioners;
Col Thomas A. Scott, President of the Pennsylvsnia
Central Railroad A. ]. Cassat Tbrdbyice President OF
the Pennsyvans Railroad; Hugh j. Jewott President
OF the Etio Railway Company; W. ii. Vanderbilt, Vice
President OF the NewYOrk Central Railway; Amasa
Stone ir President OF the Michigan Southern Rlilroad
W. R. McKeen President Of the Alton and Terre Haute
Railroad: J. Hurlburt, President Of the Cleveland,
Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis RIilroad j. N
McCuIlough President OF the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne
and Chicago Railroad d. W. Caldwell, President OF the
Pittsburgh. Cincinnati and g. Louis Railway; Jddge
Jewett and Gov. DennsOn, two OF the three Eastern
Commissioners and J. p. Green OF the Pennsylyania
Central Railroad. who acted tho secretary OF tho
meeting
After the meeting had been formally OrRanized
large number OF papers read showing that none OF
the Western railroads had made any money during tho
past six months wardng freight from the West TO
the East and complaining that the present rates. ana
the competition that had lately arisen In consequence OF
the opposition OF several lines to the rigid rules OF tho
Commissioners likely to the ruin OF the car
rying interest unless change should be made T1o
reading OF the papers occupied over two hours ana ex
cited considerable discussion in which Amasa stone Jr
Hugh j. Je wett Col Scott. W. ii. Vanderbilt, j. ~ MO
Culough and others took part The Western represen
tatiyes complained that tho system OF the CominlS'
sionerships was detrimental to the railroad nteres1s'
10 fyhf yll
personal objection to the Commissioners themselves h
was found that az the Commissioners could not control
thoss lines which not IN, or had broken
away from, the compact. they had enleaVoreu
TO exercise rigid and rnlnons ru"ps
over those which had remained firm TO the agrce-
men and the result that these companies lost oss
ness The outside lines had been carrying freight a.
lower rates than that set down by tho COMMISSIONER
and when the combined companies, under the direction
OF the Commissioner had agreed TO lower the raes 10
compete with their opponents, the latter had reduced
their rates still lower until the carrying OF grain TO tue
East was attended with loss instead OF pront Ihe
rates had been reduced by tho Commissioners to Ssf
cents per 100 pounds and every railroad man knew thas
freight could not hauled from Chicago to New-York
for any such amount The representatives OF the Eist
ern roads took the part OF tho Commissioners ana
urged upon tho Western representatives 10 Keep nf W
the agreement far as rates were concerned THIS eh
cited the further opposition Of the Western men, ana
total disruption when Col Thos a. Scott offered the fol
lowing resolution:
Resolved That the powers OF tho Bureau OF Commits
sioners for the Western railways be suspended so far
they relate to freight business, until ageed
by the managers those lines, and that the general
freight agents meet Immediately TO estaOsh rates on
all eastbOund freight business but that the Bureau OF
Western commissioners continue their organization ana
their control OF the passenger Duslnes5'
This resolution, when first offered, excited great
am cunt Of opposition and OF tho Western repre-
adl ne al
to settle their business without being hampered ana
controlled by the rigid rules OF Commissoners but tho
representatives asserted that IL was necessary
that there should be means OF settling dlihcutes
when any arose between companies, and 1t would DO
better that the Commissioners should be retained There
need be no trouble with reslrd to passenger rates. and
It was believed that the recommendations OF the Com
mssioners on that subject would be listened TO- After
some further discussion the resolution was adopted
Tho question Uf the westbOund freights was alluded
to- but az Col Benjamin Blanchard one OF the Eastern
Commissioners absent from the city, and the Com
missoners had held formal meeting no report could
be presented, and the matter laid over II being
understood that the Eastern Commissioners would hold
meeting so soon as whole Of them should be able TO
be present.
ITpon inquiry it was ascertaned tha only two OF tina
general freight agents Of the western railroads were
In the city, and that it was impossible to hold meeting
here 1t was therefore agreed that o meeting OF the
Western cities early day. when was expected that
some definite agreement would be arrived at relative TO
freights stated by those interested IN the question
that tho general freight agents formerly transacted tue
business of the various roads In very satisfactory
manner, aud while doing so the companies earned
larger amount of money than they had earned since the
Commissioners had been appointed. The agents 10
Chicago would meet and fix the rates from that point
and those in Cincinnati would do the same, each city
being tho best judge to the business requirements
OF that special locality Il was believed that It would
be possible to tho rates for grain from Chicago
fixed early day at 40 cents, and give moro salts
faction to shippers present reduced price OF
S2i cents.
The meeting was finally adjourned 10 await call
from the Chair and some of the Western representa-
tiyes told TRIBUNE reporter that although all had not
been accomplished that could have been wished, the
railroads had gained something in being allowed TO
manage their own freight business
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD ENTERPRISES.
The officials OF the Central Pacific Ruroad Company
OF the Injustice Of the charge that they arc
seeking TO control the railroads OF California, more es
pecally Of the California division OF the Texas and Pa
cifc Railroad They state tnat their Company IA en-
tirely disconnected from any OF the new Pacific Ri
road enterprises. The Southern Pacific Railroad, winch
ia California enterprise, is controlled by California
capitalists number Of whom are also interested 10 tne
Central Pacific Railroad These gentlemen IN their IN
dydua capacity appeared before the Senate Committee
on Railroads and argued the matter on beAat Oi lhe
Southern Pacific Railroad
Gen Cotton, one OF those referred to. simply asked
that an amendment be made 10 what Is known as tho
Texas Pacho Dil represented 10 Col Scott, allowing
the present Southern Pacific road which attends fr0m
San Francisco TO Fort Yuma, distance OF some ~
miles receive, under the bill OF Col Scott the al
vantages OF that bill from the southern point OF thor
road Colorado River which Is at Fort Yuma Inc
Southern Pacific road, that portion which is known
as the Los Angeles branch, connecting San Francloo
with Fort Yuma on the Colorado received its land grant
under the same organic law that gave TO the Texas Ia
c1c road It's land grant. From Fort Yuma the Texas
Pacific road runs almost dus west line 10 san
DaRn The SOuthern Paeiic. commanding at this pOnt,