The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-19
New York and Her Trunk Lines.


The World. in u recent article, attempts
to show that Boston is the real seaport of
the New York Central Railroad, and Ell
deavors TO persuade itself-for IL certainly
will not persuade its readers in this city
that n glance ut the map establishes be-
yond all peradventure this somewhat
novel and startling proposition. II the
World Is correct in it's premises, the New
York Central Railway has undoubtedly
for "A long time been managed with ian
obvious disregard of it's own peculiar adj
vantages." The public will be somewhat
surprised to learn that New York must
look TO the Erie Railway as her chief and
only champion against Philadelphia and
Baltimore, her principal rivals for the
traffic OF the West, the New York Central
being hopelessly given over to Boston and
Bos ton trade.
We had credited the World with more
discernment. The New York Central
Railroad owns road from Buffalo to New
York 44G miles long. The distance from
Buffalo TO Albany, where il connects with
the Boston road, is 800 miles. Now II
would, we imagine, take more cleverness
than even the World possesses to make
Commodore Vanderbilt believe 1t to he
the interest OF his "road TO foster traffic
via Boston Us against New York. and lose
the haul of $50 miles from Albany TO New
York over his own road" II the VANDER-
BILTs had transacted their railroad bust
ness on the principle of cutting of one
third OF their own road in order to foster
Boston trafiic, they would not now be in a
situation to cope with the Pennsylvania
Central Baltimore and Ohio, and Erie
Railways combined.
The Boston export trade forms but
slender item in the enormous traffic ex-
changed between the New York Central
and the Boston and Albany Railroads. or
the fifteen millions Of bushels Of grain de-
livered by the New York Central TO the
Boston and Albany Railroad during the
year 1873, less than two millions were ex-
ported. The Boston and Albany road is,
as FAR as the export business is concerned,
in point of fact, n competitor OF the main
line of the New YORK Central, inasmuoh us
the Central loses haul OF $50 miles on
every bushel Of gram or hundred weight
of provisions which goes from Albany to
Boston, instead of seeking an outlet at
New York over the Hudson River division
OF the Central road. Ii was no doubt with
the view of championing the interests OF
New York that the Erie Railway went to
the expense of narrowing their gauge over
a portion of their road, in order TO form "a
connection with unbroken gauge from the
West to Philadelphia, much more dan
gerous rival to New York than Boston.
This Improvement, which affords addi-
tioual facilities to Philadelphia in the great
struggle for Western trade has just been
completed. The distance from Buffalo to
Philadelphia, by the route over which the
Erie actually takes Philadelphia traffic, il
fifteen miles longer than the distance from
Buffalo TO New York over the same road
thus:
pngi,o TO rhadslpha ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. az
!
The rates from the West to Philadelphia
and Baltimore have, under railroad COM
pacts, always been lower than to New
York, and this is the cause of the war upon
the New York Central, which insists that
rates from the West TO all seaboard points
should be the same, irrespective of mile
age.
1t will thus be seen that the Erie, which
has Just made connection to Philadel-
pha, would, If the old compact" rates
were renewed, haul freight 437 miles to n
rival city At a cheaper rate than ii will
haul to New York, AZ miles. That these
rates are not renewed is owing simply 10
the stand taken by the New York Central
Mr.. VANDERBuT found that under the
compact Of March ?, by which the Penn
sylvania Central and Baltimore ana Ohio
roads were permitted TO carry grain
| from the West to Philadelphia aud Balti-
more at Ave cents per 100 pounds less than
the rates from the West TO New York, our
| legitimate traffic was largely diverted to
rival cities, while his road was doing COM
| parativcly little busiless Mr.. WANDER
BGLT Withdrew from the compact and de-
clared that he would make such rates on
grain from the West TO New York as would
turn that trafilo to this city. He has
done so.
We are not aware TINT Mr. VAUDEVILLE
or the New York Central claims any par
ticular sympathy from the New York
public tor their action IN this matter.
They have simply studied their interests,
as they understand them In augmenting
the business of their road they naturally
turn trade and traffic toward New York
and this is 30 well understood by the bust