, 1876-05-13
RAILROADS,

CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.
A Ameeting Of the Cheap Transportation Asso-
citation Of New York WIS held last Thursday, at
which the following interesting report regard
Ing the present war among the trunk lines was
submitted by the Committee on Railroad Trans
portation:
The Committee On Railway Transportation re-
spectfuly report TINT the managers Of the trunk
lines leading from this city have at last taken the
position that rates to New York from the West
shall be as low those to any other seaboard city.
This is concession which the Cheap Transports
adopted for the that the cost OF transporta-
tion decreases very rapidly in proportion to the
no West bound traf1c, tee immense 1uasa Of mis-
ce1aneous productions Of the Nest which ara
shipped to this market would entitle her to even
the producing centres. The cost of hanling train
Of cars 100 to 200 miles further, whcn once started
on their journey to the seaboard Id very small:
for by the quantities Of beef, pork, lard, butter,
cheese, eggs, -four and live stock, besides the
large miscellaneous class Of goods for which there
The most forcibe reason. however, why New
York is entitled 10 lower rate than other sea-
pes,a pessnass ss' l. IT that e S
ssey ses sipsf ss3 e 'at m sst ss
New York has an advantage in this respect over
either Baltimore, Philadelphia, or Boston in the
proportion Of than two to one; yet this feat
sssrs W in IN msking up theil tars. and Sew York has
been the goose which has always furnished an in
definite supply OF golden eggs. At last, however,
the fact hasbecome apparent to everybody that hn5
long been noted b. close Observers, viz. TINT tue
great trunk s;which naturally work in the in
terest Of Baltimore and Philadelphia, have 20 far
this city that trunk lines Of railroad begin
to feel it seriously and hence have taken the posi-.
tion above mentioned. Their action has had an
ing character, and, If continued, cannot fail to
permanently benefit the commerce and real
estate interests Of our city. 1t IL claimed
that the present rates arc not remnnerat!ye to
the roads. anu that the customary dividends will
be lacking II these rates are continued 1t should
be remembered, however, that the capital stocks
Of all 0ur trunk lines have been watered from time
to time until it has long been marvel to our bust
ness men how they could manage to pay dividends
Central Railroad earned per cent upon its present
outstanding obgationstt will still be earning ut the
rate Of to Oper cent on the amount actually paid
into its treasury by its stock and bondholuers and
it wonid, therefore, seem to be less OF 0 hardship
for these gentlemen to accept reduced rate Of
dividends than it would be for the entire business
continue to suffer as they have in the past, IN
deed, in the opinion Of you1 Committee, the wi.est
possible course tor our railroad managers @ to take
ests which for number Of years have been so de-
pressed.
This brings US to the consideration OF another
most important feature in the situation, viz:
THE RATES on WEsT-BouND FREIGHT.
The policy Of the roads in the past has been to
give very low special contracts to Wholesale mer-
chants in the interior, but to charge the retail mer-
chant there their regular tariff rates, which, in
some instances, have been two and three times as
high as the special rates before mentioned. The
effect Of this policy has been, during the last ten
years, to build up in all the interior cities, and
even towns Of any size, an immense humber of
wholesale houses, whose chief source Of profit has
been the determinations which they were able to
obtain in their rate Of freight This has resulted
In the fact that not one retail merchant now visits
th.s market to bgy Goods Is where ten formerly came
branch, many houses Of which have been driven
out Of business and it has only been tho stronger
ones that have been able to sustain this, and even
they have been driven into importing and absorb
ing in variety Of ways other branches which for
mery had distinctive existence Of thcir own. In
passenger @ ger M traftic; have INC neatly bankfupted our
hotel interest and all they have gained has been
the exchange OF large number Of small customers
ber Of large customers that now pay unremunesa-
tive rates This Association has already taken
measures to bring these facts to the notice of the
our trunk lines, the executive officers Of
which have for long time recognized these
facts; but those higher in authority do not
chants who are their best customers and are there,
fore slow to recognize the fact which would be OF
the greatest mutual advantage It is to be hoped.
bound freight matters, that better understanding
nay be arrived ut in regard to our West bound in
teresta. Your Committee are In favor OF making
every proper advance looking toward this end and
would therefore respectfully submit the following
resolution:
ResoIred, That the thanks OF the merchants Of
this city due to the managers Of trunk lines
for their recognition Of their interests in rates on
East bound freight and that We respectfully solicit
at their hands Consideration Of the facts herein
before outlined in regard to the rates on Vest
bound freight and the policy which in the past has
resulted so disastrously to tie iobbng trade Of this
city.
RATES TO THE SOUTH.
The Illinois Central Railroad has issued new
freight tariff to points in the Sonth which reduces
the rates slightly. The new rates, which 60 into