, 1876-09-04

have disagreed, rates hre cut down cents per
ion, whereby tho hitter firm gain m advantage
hare secured to tlln former. The ono (s thus
enabled to unllcrscl tho othar
Now, II tho result Is not all un1nlrc1 good TO
the shippers, It tatnly Is not to tho railroads,
tive. That fnct answers the Inquiry, Why dues
1t cost more to ship from, rny, Aurora, 10 Chca
go-iD or 10 mllcs-tlan from, this city to New
York, 900 or LOCO milcsl Tho rate for Tho short
thc rates to New York are unpioi'tahie. Why,
then, sflould the roatls do business Mt 1csA thnn
costl Simply bccnnse they hare no con!!tcncc.n
ccach other' Tho situAtlon Is thus described by
tteady confidence IN cael, other, that cnty good
faith, that esprit dp CORPS, npon which alohn
tile leading Idea In tic mind Of tho active rai-
soad ngcnt Is, TINT some uno is always cheating
something. II he enters into MI ugrccmcnt, his
lifu Is passed IN watching tho otllcr parties 10
y, lest " Eono cunning device they keep
II form mai and , Hfcnk si. + y H. sprth
Of the description. Conferences: are. held,
aolcmn compaets made, nnd broken at once.
Some Of tl,cse;yeFo n the Eight directions and,
llad they been honestly carried ont, would hnyo
benefited tsms VI parties Notably % as tbs ssra 3;
ea'd> Of tho famous "pooi" Of tho trunk
lines laat winter. Both movements vera
M5i'a9prrfsssn,hs n anl dsnouncfa assorlngy
eocIatlol.'' ll,la done excellent service.
Arbitrary powers werc tlcvolvcd upon The Cntn-
mtsstoncr to adjust differences, prescribe rates
Inc its respective territory. Te Tcsult has been
nit equitable division Of tho business at living
rates. Gp complete has been the success Of thu
union, that a. n recent conference OF Southern
a. asy s aS sf'e ess orssn s sv'
= permanent association. In England
the C!cnr!ng- House association. chartcrtd
py r'rlla,nIent raarIs TN smb5asee nles s
a!sc, tho leading railways hayq for years main:
tainctl successful confederation. But In thia
section, wncro tho grcntcst need for such union
Is nianlfcas, mono exists. Besides, the Disagree
mcnts nre such that nothing short Of tho abso-
seems likely to- suspend hostilitlcs THUS, the
Baltimore & Ohio say to tho New York Cen!
tra1, oura Is the shortest limo to the scaboarl.
It costs Us less to do the business, therefore we
Tho Grand Trunk, on the other side, eay:
Ours is the longest line to tic Atlantic.
bur freight Is longer in transit, therefore, to In
duce business, wo must do 1t at less rates than
you Do or 80 without" Between the two, Van
ing the longer purse, be prefers, to fight. A
truce may be patehed up, but they cnn never
agree. Some Impartial authority must event.
NAlly settle the differences. A competent COM
missioner would render tnestimublc services. II
clothed with sufficient power, hc could ADJUST
differences when they arise, instead Of waiting
until the colnbatants are exhausted. Such hns
bcSn tue casc IN England, Is shown by tho so:
which tho GRIND Trunk Md Great Western, af-
tor months ot useless war, have rcccntly con-
clnded peace
/. It would seem most advisable for our man
ayers to form federation that would result ia
the restoration OF equitable yotcg, fair dlvs-
ion Of business, and the abandonment Of COM
missions for influencing business. Tho great
lncnt.. No onc In tho profession would, per
laps, inspire perfect confidence, either nmong
his associates or tho public; but nm Of opinion
that Mr:C. F. Adams, Jr., Is emlncntly fitted to
assume control OF such federation. With fair
prospect of restoring confidence ip,. harmony
among, and profit to, our dtsorganize1 and dc.
plctel railways. ]. W. MlD0LEr.