The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-05
THE CENTRAL LINES STORY
THE RENEWAL or THE TR UNK RAIL
ROAD FREIGHT VAR.
No Cuttinr OF wcst-Bound Freight at Pres
ent-A Probable Reduction in the Future
Of Passenger Rates on All the Railroads.

No Cutting OF Wcst-Bound Freight at Pres
ent-A Probable Reduction in the Future
Of Passenger Rates on All the Railroads.
There was no overt act Of hostility on the
part OF either Of the corporations engaged In
the great railroad war yesterday, but It was evil
dent that there was an uncertain and unsettled
feeling. The freight market was dull and list
less. and this naturally affected tho bust.
ness Of merchants. Owing to the publications
In the newspapers Yesterday general impress
sion prevailed that freiahts on west bound
goods would be Immediately reduced, and hence
those who had goods to ship held them over to
avail themselves OF the anticipated cheap tariff,
aud others that had designed to buy for ship
ment deferred their purchases for the same rea-
son. This impression as to the west bound
freights Is unfounded, or at least premature
The fight for the present Is to be confined to
east bound business, although It would be bard
TO saw what the fierce competition OF the con-
tending roads may not bring about. There was
no cutting yesterday the schedule
rates for west bound freight, but every
railroad ofncer In the city was ap-
piled to TO make reductions on large ship
ments. On east bound business the competi-
tion Is nercest In grain, which is being carried
by tho Central and Its Western connections for
20 cents per 100 pounds, or about IL cents a
hu.hel, and by the other roads nj from c2k to 25
been IS cents.
officers of tho Central Railroad yesterday, to
ascertain the motives Of the road In preoipitat-
ing the war. One of these said
g do not wish to be quoted as uthofitatiyely
representing the road that Is the province Of
its President. But may say that the Central
Railroad was sctuated 10y a sincere desire to
protect the interests OF the city ana State Of
New YORK, and to do away with that dlscrimina-
tion in favor OF other roads. which was serious
I TAR
ed into tue COMPACT Of March In the
hope that the union Of the great trunk
OF the country and OF the roads themselves. 1t
was forced 10 withdraw because Of the treachery
parties to that compact. You Will rememb Der,
doubtless, that in his letter MIR. Vande erbilt en-
tions the fact that one Of the trunk lines did not
send out instructions as to the change OF rates
to its agents for over month after the
compact had been signed. Naturally the course
OF this line crippled our business materially,
and at the same time gave Other cities an i'm 3.
mense advantage over New YORK. The Central
is tho New York road. and In pure self-defence
interests us OF OF New New Yo1k. Yk In 'i the letter ter
written by. .Messrs. Jewett and Scott to
Mr.. Vanderbilt, IL Is modestly suggested that
the Central ought to make the Grand Trunk
road certain allowances because OF Its greater
length and It's climatic disadvantages. Why did
they not make tue same rropositon to the Bal
timore and Ohio2 That road 10 over one hun
dred miles shorter than the Central, and could
surely allow more liberal difference than we
II was told to.day," said the rcs orter, "that
none OF the roads which Joined In the compuct
were very prompt In issuing their Instructions
to their agents. Is this true2"
"As far as the Central Is concerned I answer
empbaticaliv no. am speaking now OF what
know personally. Our instruci ions were sent
out as quickly as possible, aud we lived up to
our agreement until other parties to the com
pct forced us by their had faith to defend our
selves and the trade of New York. That our
course Is jusuacd by events can he easily proved
10y figures. Under the contract schedule, under
which trade which should have come TO New
York was diverted to other cities, the receipts
OF grain over the Central were 1900 bushels per
week. Since we cut loose from the cont nation
they have run up to 100000. Several heavy grain
Merchants havo written " the President of the
road thanking him for his action and expressing
their approval OF it,"
"will there he any underwriting on we st
Not at present, but In the fierce competition
which Is To come ANYTHING may happen. What
you suggest about the effect OF this Railroad war
upon commerce and trade Is true, AT least tenn
porhily. At the olening OF every freight war
there IL general disposition 10 hold OF until
the bottom ratio Is reached, out this gradually
woars on and business once more assumes its
ordinary tone. II you had to buy gold and had
reason to believe II would decline from twelve
10 nine you would wait for the decline. wouldn't
your Well thats just what merchants 4re do
In regard 10 passenger rates both Of tho offi-
cials were non-committsi, but both admitted
that heavy reduction was likely to take place
The managers CT the fast freight lines con-
neGted with the contendlng roads say that they
have as yet received no Instructions as to new
rates ON Western freiehts, and that until they
do they intend to maintain the compact
schedule. This looks well on paper, but as a
matter OF fact 1t is known that not one Of
these lines has maintained the full compact
rates at any time. hen they could Get no con-
cessiOn5 from the roads they made concession
to shippers OF large lots opt OF Their own com
slider extremely Injurious TO the general fTeieht
trade.
The Baltimore and Ohio road "a not largely
engaged IN the grain contest, a. its managers
believe the prevailing rates are too low TO pay.