The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-05
TRANSPORTING OUR FOOD.
rs NEW YORK LOSING HER CONNER
CIAL PRESTIGE?
what the CITY has Lost by Ncslcctins 10 Im-
prove her Facilities Very Valuable Hints
from the Transportntlon Association.

prove her Facilities Very Valuable Hints
from the TransportntIon Association.
The minutes Of the third annual meeting
Of the New York Cheap Transportation Com
pany have recently been published In book form,
and the suggestions offered therein are deserv-
ing Of attention.
The association, formed less than three years
ago. now represents the larger part Of the active
busIness interests OF the city, and its list OF
members includes the names OF nearly all OF our
prominent merchants. IL has advocated In
creased appropriations for the He'll Gate I'm
provements the reduction OF tolls on the
canals. end amendments to the Constitution OF
the State tending to secure better administra-
tlon thereof the grading OF grain and reduc-
tion OF weighing and elevating charges to
reasonable point the construction OF elevators
at the termin Of the trunk lines OF railway,
together with other improvements In our termi-
nal facilities for the economical handling OF
ercbandse and last. though not least OF their
abors, the puhlic-spiritod members Of the asso-
citation have persistently advocated the provld-
ing OF proper facilities for rapid transit In the
city,
One Of the most important subj jects considered
tv the association was the construction of an
Independent freight railroad between the Mis-
sisspp valley and the Atlantic seaboard. After
| considering certain inequalities and discrimina
tions, with the causes thereof, the Committee on
Claims aud Grievances thus refer to the subject
"rhese constantly-reourrlne Determinations
| adverse to New York are. therefore, but the
natural result Of the very nature Of things and
so long as are dependent upon our present
railway facilities your committee do not see
| how they can DO avoided"
| And In commenting upon their report the
| President, II. +. Baker, said:
| lit is by no means certain that we shall not
| yet have to 20 back to the old common law OF
| highways-that Of the public owning part Of
| iubt fn xrh IN
| inevitably to accompany corporate monopoly.
FRoM THE WEST TO THE EAST.
Tho committee delegated to attend the Con-
s,on and % e rom he,d Tar1 az chc.ro IN Der
| Cember, reported that the subject that occupied
the time Of the Conyention was that OF CHEAP
| transportation. There seemed to be an almost
unanimous public sentiment, especially in the
West. demanding cheap transportation to At,
worla a toI the products % e The % county, wss, Q,
ment Of our canals and the completion Of i'm
Improvements already begun, thus greatly In
parent that there was great unaDimity OF opin-
lon As to the pressing need aud urgent demand
for the contraction OF double-track railroad
mainly for freighting purposes, extending from
the seaboard to the commercial centres OF the
West built under such restrictions as shall
| prevent any speculation In Its construction, or
any comoina alton or consolidation with other
roads when built; With charter so framed that
IL can never become an instrument IN the hands
OF hold spec cuators to serve their interests, and
giving the people, through the government. a
voice 10 its management, and providing for
hxed and uniform rates OF transportatlon."
The committee called especial attention TO
the following words OF warning uttered by the
| .rpor Of Illinois In a speech before the Con
vention:
| the hand OF sympathy and ENTERPRISE TO the
| great West, proposing cooperation in these great
works no~ de msnded; and unless New York
the day Is not far distant when she must lose
her prestige and position as the leading com
mercia city OF this continent
WARNING.
The Committee on Terminal Facilities In theli
report made a startling exhibit, showing that
through the want OF improvements In her ter
dangers tending to undermine her commercial
foundations. within period OF seventeen
exports Of wheat and -four while her steam
ocean tonnage exceeds that II any other city on
the continent except New York. Philadelphia
has increased l16 per cent. in her receipts OF
cereals; while Boston. Baltimore and Portland
have eAch taken large share OF this commerce
from the Northwest. Baltimore has que drupled
her Warehouse capacity, and Is building al
and OHIO Railroad additional warehouses
snd elevators, where cars and ocean steamers
will exchange freight without expense OF cart
age. Philsdelphia and Boston are both making
improvements, while New YORK, remaining idle
HIS lost nearly one-fourth Of her grain trade
During the first nine months OF 1874 the receipts
Of fiour aud grain at Montreal. Boston, Portland
} PhlIadelphia, Baltimore, and New Orleans wers
63,77l.6e5 bushels, and during the drst three
quarters Of the following year they were 63445,
6}5 bushels, failing OF Of only 5s0,664 bushels
In the same time there was a loss OF 2Oq3i. 81
bushels at New York, OF nearly 2S per cent. o
the receip OF 1874. THIS loss Is to be attributed
to the fact that lighterage and transfer charge
; are at New York about four cents per bushel, o
Sl.83 per ton. while the charges at Philadelphis
Baltimore. and Boston are l.. cents per bushel
| including ten days storage. This difference o
ABOUT "a cents bushel is virtually a premium
/ paid 10 The Western shipper TO send his grain 4
other cities.
: RECOMMENDATIONS.
e The committee strongly urge the improvement n
OF our docks aud water fronts. and the construc
| tion OF substantial warehouses on permanen
wharyes or piers. The experience OF the pas
D Ave years has plainly demonstrated the fact tha
unless some general improvements OF thi
character are at once undertaken, within fey
years the business OF this port will be transacted
In the matter OF storage and handling OF mer
c cnandise, almost entirely in Brooklyn, Jerse
!. | City, or on Staten Island.
. They also recommend the erection OF larg
elevators to brlng ship and car together, simila
:. | to that which Commodore Vanderbilt Is abou
9 TO build at the Hudson river terminus Of tn
a Central road.
A Sister Found Amer Twenty-seycn Years.
Capt. George Bell, a wellkuown resident o