The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-20
KEEPING TRADE IN NEW YORK.
How the Railroads and Hotel Keepers Can
Lend q Helping HIND.

Mr.. Robert J. Austin, President OF the
Mercantile Bureau, says that the object OF the
association over which he presidcs IA not merely
the aR0randizement Of the merchants OF Ne"
York, but the Increase of the wealth and pros
perity of the whole CITY. "When we ask the
railroad COMPANIES to equallze their freight
rates to all points proportonately," he explains,
I'VE do not demand that they should decrease
their own profits to benefit us. They, OF course,
know their own business best but their Hippo
porioned charges undoubtedly driving trade
from New York. few years ago this city was
to the United States what London is to Eng
land and Paris to France. IL had prestige, and
country merchants were hardly satisfied to pur-
chase their goods elsewhere. But the
days of New YorK's uncontested mercantile
supremacy are past, and she must struggle
to maintain her trade. To do this successfully
we are certainly entitled to be placed on a fair
footing with our competitions. This, however,
II not tho case, for the railroad companies carry
freight from New York to large cities at rates
which they confess to be not only unremuncra-
tive, but which entail upon them heavy loss.
To compensate themselves they charge to small
towns, not half the distance, rates three times
a. high. The consequence OF this. of course, Is
that these large cities become distributing CEN
tres, and being enabled To send the goods pur-
chased In New York back to the smaller places
at about half the rates which would be charged
direct from here, they monopolize the trade OF
this city to a large extent. Now. II the railroads
they7 When the freight rates were proportion
ately equalized, the cars were not only nled
with freight. carried at remuneraive prices, but
the trains were also crowded with PASSENGER
country merchants coming to New YORK to pur-
chase their goods Beyond all doubt they were
In every respect, better on than they are now
Again, by periodically flooding the city with
visitUrs thev largely increased our common wei
fare, and, Of course, a railroad must always be
beneh ed by the increased prosperity OF the city
in which II centres. Hence, YOU see, we do not
ASK the railroad companies to helpus but mere
Nv to unite with us, and all others living IN New
York, In restoring that part OF our commerce
which has been turned away
This, too, IL the nature OF the plea we make to
hotel keepers. IL has been charged that we
have no right TO ask them to reduce their rates
to country merchants for our bcne0t. Well, we
don't do so. but we ask them whether they lind
with men who will come to them. probably, six
times year at moderate rates, or to entertain
half as many guests at higher charges.
New York grew so rapidly, and attained such
marked prosperity, that she hurried past the
period OF small things. Now, II she desires to
retain her commercial prosperity, she must 20
back to them. Formerly visitors wrote to their
fIiends saying that while the goods they had
come to purchase were far cheaper than they
could Obtain them elsewhere, their hotel bills
now2 Why, the country newspapers are hlled
with letters from buyers in Now York com.
planning OF the eItOr tomato charges OF hotel
uroprietors, and advising intending purch isers
not the only ones who suffer from this change,
IF New York hotel propretors desire to Gu.
terrain the country merch lnts they must bid for
them, 8 Is done In other cities. Everywhere ex-
cept here a reduction Is made to persons who
come to buy or sell goods. aud have not the
least doubt that N any landlord should adver-
tise that he would reduce his rales to this class
OF guests, bis house would be hlled At once"