, 1876-02-06
A RA1LRoAp coNF1pENcE.eAME.

new state. II uSeu 70 DC tnat LIS oPe1aIoio
of this guileful amusement merely used the
rai1-oad cars for drumming up their busi-
ness, but of late the railroad d-managers have
gone into it themselves on q much larger
scale. They intended originally that Chicago
was to be the victim, but they have become
SO greedy now that they are beginning to
pluck one another. From present indica-
tions it would appear that shrewd and distin-
guishcd gentlemen Like Messrs. jog and VAN
DEEnnT, who had been supposed to have cut
their eye-teeth, have been caught by the
wiles of their associates, Messrs. ToN SCOTT
and GARRETT. We apprehend that, like most
sufferers from confdence-g games, they were
betrayed into their losses by an inorlinate
greed of their own They consented to have
d fixed and inelastic rate from Chicago with
the expectation that their ownreyenues would
be increased in proportion, aud without
counting upon the decline Of business that
would cnsue as fur as their roads are con-
cerned. So, while the Michigan Southern
and Michigan Central Roads have been los
ing business at Chicago by refusing to pro-ratc
with the Western through lines at competing
rates With the cross lines, the Pittsburg j.
Fort Wayne and the Baltimore s. Ohio have
been picking up their trade around and about
them But the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne and
the Baltimore j. Ohio have insisted ell along
that they were not cutting rates in connection
with these cross-lines when charged with this
breach of fifth. Now, however, it is alleged
&1,o&& Ho~ {n {ho FbSooee T.
Alton aad the Illinois Central Roads to pro-
rate with them at the competing points to
bring freight through Chicago, instead Of
taking it from the CROSSINGS around Chicago,
which is ut once in violation Of the spool
contract, and pretty conclusive evidence that
the people under the direction Of Messrs.
Scorr and GARRETT have been cutting at the
interior points in connection with the Cross
lines. Tho evidence of this seems to be
established with considerable certainty, as q
reporter OF TIE TRIBUNE saw kilograms from
these roads offering to pro-rate with the Chi
cago roads mentioned. Now, it is to be hoped
TINT Messrs. Jor and VANDERBILT will open
their eyes to the real state Of affairs, aclnowl-
edge that they have been bamboozled, and do
what they may to atone for their folly.
As the hope Of anything like genuine re-
pentance and future good faith on the part
of these people is somewhat uncertain, the
people of Chicago will do well to turn their
minds to an Independent connection with
the Grand Trunk Railway, which has kept
out of these combinations, but which is not
able to reach Chicago in the winter except
By way OF the Michigan Central. It only re-
mains, however, to complete the connections
of road between Chicago and Sarnia to
the seaboard. The Grand Trunk will then
have terminus at Chicago instead Of on the
chores of Lake Huron. This connection can
be made, Independently Of the Michigan
Central Road, at a comparatively small cost,
as We understand, and the people Of Chicago
should give the matter their attention. There
ought not to be another winter without such
connection, and when it shall be made it
ought to receive the uniform support and
patronage Of Chicago people in preference to
competing lines, so that it may be kept ont
Of nn combinations against this city. Such
combinations will be powerleEs without its
cooperation
The treatment which Chicago has received
at the hands of the Baltimore & Ohio and the
Pittsburg l. Fort Wayne Railroads should
not be permitted to pass out Of the minds Of
Chicago people. When the Pittsburg & Fort
Wayne Road came into Chicago some years
ago it was received with every encourage
ment. 1t was given right Of way without
charge, and permitted to penetrate into the
very centre Of the city, where it has had con-
slant advantages over all railroads seeking an
entrance into. Chicago. It acquired bust
ness Of great magnitude, which it would
never have had without Chicago as its West
ern terminus. So with the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad. It also was received with open
arms, welcomed as friend by the mercantile
community, hera]ded as blessing by the
newspapers, and putfed aud cajoled into more
importance than it really deserved When the
project Of the Baltimore e. Ohio's forming q
connection with Chicago YVES first announced,
the e1uberance Of our merchants received
warning from their Eastern friends that they
were overestimating the boon, and that
they would find these Baltimore & Ohio
people about as selfish, and stingy, and
grasping as any one could possibly be. The
warning was not needed, but experience has
proved that it was well founded. These two
roads, the recipients Of SO many favors, and
the hope Of commercial Chicago, each in its
own time have taken the opportunity which
Mr. VAxpKnBn1's weakness afforded to enter
into a conspiracy against Chicago. The peo-
pie of this city should never forget it.
TAX-PAYERS, AND THEIR DUTY.
The decision made by Judges FARwE1L,
WILLIAMS, and MOORE On the local tax cases
was practically decision that the city and
county were in need of money, and would
be seriously embarrassed if the COLLECTION Of
taxes were restrained by injunction; and
that, while the proceedings Of assessment
and valuation were irregular and not in COM
plinnce with law, and grossly unjust, it was
better for public interests that the private
citizen should be mulcted than that the Gov
ernment should be without the means of pre-