The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-04
A RAILROAD WAR.
A Conflict for Western Freight and
Passenger Traffic.
Commodore Vanderbilt's Answer TO r. A.
Scott, II. J. Jcwett and John King.

Seott, Il. J. Jswett and John King.
In view ofwhat now is lxcd as business war among
the leading railway lines between the West and the
East HERALD reporter called on Commodore Wander.
biit yesterday afternoon for tho purpose or ssccr.
tainiag from him his position in tho case In.
volved in the fight for tho carrying trade
between the West and tho East are the Grand
Trunk Company, the Michigan Central and the
Vermont Central railways, forming through route
from West to East involving the scaports Of Baltimore
Philadelphia New York, Boston and Portland These
with their accessories form lines for transportation
either side Of what Is the Now York Central
| lnc including. now, the Canada Southern line.
The result Of negotiations entered into between
the rival interests last February, and oven alter
ward, was not satisfactory, the reason being that
while the understanding suited one OF the rivals 70 the
New York Central II satisfactory to tho otnee
| rival line In fact, Is declared, the Interests
desiring to obtain the of the New YORK Gen.
trail faction concession their divergent views
were such as rendered it extremely diicut 70 comply
WITH To tho limo on ono side, which d $50
agreed upon. But no sooner was that dono than
as declared there request for Conversations
such would suit tho line the other side or the
Central which Is 100 miles shorter This last
sion not acted upon promptly by the New York
Central interest," and tho result the following letter
and KING 43 tie
ssa %
aa aS believing that tho existing differences in
the Of traffic ar not
Ss asy should 81 and a
70 all interests have through eIegrsphc
Governor smth Central to meet us In New
"ma s' as Ss
that your shorter line between the West and New England
which embraces that line the Vermont Central and
other causes incidental % II as through 70 ate 80
roads ws tho
public we trust you may ind your interest % agree
scale ma on ems bound t.c 70 eG%psy:
heretofore existing which deem, the cisam
On i've stock seven cents on cut meats and perishsbe
property SIX cents; on mrs; and Of which there
the Grand Trunk % carry third and ouh class which
the he srs a =
from New England to remain As adjusted between line
LOOKING the whole ground Il that we
a M s for 70 s5ss ns Us.
i Easter" trunk lines b. part 1'
ons from time to time on the basis that has pre-
vailed among trunk lines during the past year
large amounts Of property owned in this and
think under the circums tances not warranted and We
believe that the adjustment o this whole matter rests en-
opinion serious that must respectfully
+ YOU WIN address reply . u % tho q Mr.
% The .a s that R aS . a e sd aaS
psted difficulties be reached and destructive comps
'''' = "'c''a 's'' ''u's "TfiiioMAs A. SCOTT,
President IL fe :. JawGTT a"''r'Ad
President H,s Railway Company.
: vice President Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad
In speaking of his response letter given above
the Commodore said to the reporter
"Thc response to the gentlemen who sent the lcttcr
was very ef for they understand the fully and
viii Of hs
dltions which exist and which the of the fail
urc 70 come 70 = an ,a agreement ZEN, . All We have
which shall be common TO both thor lines. All these
men, you Sec have their own views OF tho way to got
Mt the thing required. And may say that have my
own way Of getting at the points which vital the
Here are the Baltimore and Ohio and the Penn.
sylvana Central and own lines. We have already
made concession account of their short Bat
more and Ohio and Philadelphia line; and now, when
| in and asks us TO make a concession 4
that line, which hundred and fifty miles
longer than ours, ask, and think the business pub
lie will ask Where the justice in ts Rather thar
be stricken on both sides Of our line say to them,
and say to them Il you decide to make declaration
OF war why, we can't help it, You shall
seem to you to be wscst and best You see the
climatic differences between their lines and
serious In that regard, at least their condition
not SO advantageous ms ours. They ought to have
known that at the start before they put
say to u.s. in reality, now We want you to Fix
your charges for freight SO that though not SO well
want and really need. think that proposition is plain
and will be easily understood by the business public
snow, here is a large traffic between the western
section OF the country and the castcin But there are
also lines Of transportation for the traffic. includ
ing the way lines than can be maintained successfully
than arc needed, and more capital invested
in the transportation business than can be
tho work performed The business won't sustain the
outlay for It's accommodations Hence Of
moro than their share cart exist or rather can't be
maintained probably The fact is, there too many
fellows IN competition for this business and they want
us to arrange our busness that they may live.
think VIC have done all we can for them in that par
tcular way. Now. in order that may live
which shall offset our natural advantages.
Is just that shoulds Is Il just make these
road should make such concessions to these Other
roadsy say II Is not
The above closed the conversation, and with hearty
good evening, the Commodore turned bed slightly
resumed his cigar, aud the reporter retired.
The following is the
to the letter OF Messrs. Jewctt Scott
New YORK CENTRAL AND HUDSON RIvRR
RAILROAD COMPANY, GRAND CENTRAL DEPor
NEW YoRK. April %, 1876
GxNrLRxEv-Your letter or the 27th addressed 20 G.
Vanderbilt, President and William H. Vanderbilt, vice
President, has been received and duly considered.
This company has arrangements with all the COMPETE
tive roads for West-bound business. which wc un-
destand 70 be satisfactory to all parties interested.
So long as good faith is maintained these arrangements
will enable US all 10 receive fair compensation for
transportation, and VIC not only willing, but anx-
ious, that they shall continue in force
On March ?, 1876 entered into agreement
with the Baltimore and Ohio and the roads you repre-
sent in regard TO the Eastbound traffic. and hoped and
believed that had by 1t satisfactorily settled the DIFF
isrences Of the Western roads and equao distributed
the business OF the country tho great routes to
the scaboard II was in TINS spirit and TO accomplish
these results that the agreement was entered into u
is well known however that Il has not been carried
out and one or the contracting parties did not issue
tho notices TO ts agents requiring them to comply
with its provisions until about month aftcr IL was
signed This company protested through It's Vice
President against this injustice and bad faith. An
almost total loss OF business followed and wo wcro
finally compelled 10 give notice Of withdrawal from
agreement which had been faithfully kept by US and
constantly violated by others This action does
not necessarily AFFECT any other arrange.
ments which aud have been In force
between tho parties. and should greatly
dcporc any action OF the other companies which would
bring upon the railroad interests controversies preju