Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-03-24
FREIGHTS.
New Bates by Railroads Running East
and West-shIppers Indebted TO
MF. Garrett.

| New York Times
The new rates, it is understood, are to
be adhered to by the Saratoga compan-
les with the same firmness as the old
rates are supposed to have been kept,
and the combination is still nominally
in existence. This change has been
brought about by several causes, the
first and most important of which was
the action taken by Mr.. Garrett, the
president Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad company, who not only took
freight at lower rates than those charged
by the Saratoga companies, but refused
to publish tariff, and reserved to him.
self the right to take freights at what.
ever rate he pleased. This course neces-
sarily caused confusion among the
shippers, who naturally sought the
cheapest transportation for their goods,
and many of them, although preferring
all-rail routes, were induced to ship by
the Baltimore and Ohio road
on account of the lowness of the
rates offered. Others, however,
objecting to the water transportation on
the Baltimore and Ohio route, which in
volved an additional handling of the
packages in the unloading from the
steamer and reshipment on the railroad
at Baltimore, forwarded their goods by
rail. This class consisted mostly of
western jobbers who did not want the
boxes and bales defaced or damaged
while in transit. Their reason for this
was, that as the goods were sold in the
original packages, to be again forward
ed further into the interior, it was neces-
sary that they should be in good con-
ditiOn. The Boston rates, too, we're be-
lor - NJ 81 fyL
cago as basis, their rates on first-class
freight were twenty per cent. cheap
er, with the others in proportion. This
also had to be met, as many classes o
goods that could be bought here could
also be bought in Boston at the same
prices, and to keep business in New
York, it was clearly evident that re-
duction would have to be made. Be-
sides, the whole condition of affairs was
unsatisfactory. Exaggerated accounts
of concessions made to shippers
were circulated, which the railroad men
said made business with them difficult,
as they all wanted excessive reductions,
which the roads were not prepared to
give. The vague rumors, too, of a
general war to the knife being about to
take place, in which each road would
strive to cut the throat of the others,
even at the expense Of seriously GRIP
pling itself, had the effect to induce pur.
chasers to put off buying their goods un-
til 1t should have taken place. This,
Of course, caused a certain cessation Of
travel, and a consequent stagnation Of
business, which, combined with the un-
favorable weather, initiated against the
general good, and had its corresponding
effect on the railroad interests. The
following rates, taking Chicago as a
basis, are those which have gone into
operation on the Erie, Pennsylvania
Central and NewYork Central railroads:
First-class, rs cents; second-elsss, 20
cents; third-class, go cents; fourth-class,
4S cents, special, s5 cents; lower class
sugar, coffee and syrup-3O cents per 100
pounds. The rates to the same point
that prevailed under the Saratoga COM
pact were 81, 80 cents, rs cents, so
cents and As cents respectively. The
Baltimore and Ohio company has not
agreed TO keep these rates, still main
tsins its independence, and its agents
here say that they will take freight at
less than the tariff quoted above If they
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