The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-05-25
FRIDAY, MAY rs, 1877.
Local Freight Tariff ON the Bal.
tiniOfe g. Ohio Road.

In some remarks which we made in
this paper on May 18th, in regard to a
recent adyante on TIE local freight tariff
on tue b, so. h. r., we copied from the
Raiitay World some tables, insLitutlng a
comparison between the New York Cen.
trail and the Baltimore roads in the mat.
ter Of local charges, which were calcu.
lated 10 place the latter in an uniayorable
position. Our attention has been direct
cd by some Of the representatives Of the
B.& o. road TO what they deem the ialla.
Cies Of the article copied from the Rail.
Gay World, and they also have given some
explanation Of the recent advance in
local rates. Our remarks were made in
no eaptiUus spirit nor in any uniriendly
feeling toward the B. & 0. r: r., and we
gladly take the opportunity to correct
any Misrepresentation or mistake into
which we may have been led.
II appears that the stations on the New
York Central, selected by the Raihray
World for its comparison, are what are
called competing points, generally cities
and towns where large freight business
isbsins done, while the stations instanced
on The Baltimore & Ohio are insignificant.
Apropor comparison would have shown
such competitive points as Martinsbdrg,
Cumberland, Parkersburg, etc, where the
special rate has been II! cents per
hundred pounds on heavy iroights for
two yeara past. In fact tho tariff
under which the Baltimore & Ohio
road has been really working (but which
has not been published), for the past
three years, shows a lower rate than the
New York Central, rs appears in the ia.
bic referred to. For instance, by the
Central from New York to Batavia, 4O4
miles, -four 4s Cents per barrel; fourth
class, 81 cents per hundred pounds.
Wheeling to Baltimore, $40 miles, flour
80 to 40 cents per barrel; fourth class
III cents.
A very considerable variation is also
shown in the rates to the, different sta.
tions on ths Central, as for instance from
Rochester to New York, S72 miles, flour
15cents per barrel, while from Batavia.
a distance Of but SO miles greater, 4S cents
per barrel is charged, which clearly illus.
trates the policy Of all the lines in regard
to competitive points. The cause Of the
present irregulaEity in local tariffs as we
understand is, that while nomiually the
tariff Of 1864 remains in force, it has
been SO frequently modified by circulars
and orders from The general freight Of.
fec thst Il ia scarcely recognized in its
original features, which were adopted
when the transportation by rail was
aomewhat experimental, and does not
conform, either in rates or classification,
to the advanced methods of to-day, and
should have been thoroughly changed
long ago.
We are aware that the business OF rail-
roads, like ali branches of trade, has not
been profitable for several years past,
and arc not surprised that the officers Of
the road are making every effort to in.
crease their revenue, nor that ship.
pers ure frequently 80 clamorous for
lower rates. Most business men are not
ignorant Of the fact that the through bus.
iness Of the great lines has not been pay.
ing an adequate profit, and in view of
thegenersl interest Of the country would
be glad TO see the business Of the roads
placed upon a healthy basis. We submit,
however, that the local rates along the
line Of the b. & o. r. r. have not hereto.
fore been too low, and are confident that
amodcrato renewal Of trade, which must
come 10 the near future, will yield the
company good income from lis local
trade, even at former rates.
The action Of the company in reducing
the local tariff from this point in
1874 was gratefully recognized by our
merchants, and We believe very largely
contributed 10 the establishment of more
cordial relations than had existed before.
Thisfricadly spirit We hope to see main.
tanned. a great railway line, like the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, should be
our pride, as it eau be made the instru.
ment Of our commercial prosperity when
aspifit Of harmony prevails between the
community and the road, which should
slways be the case as the interests OF the
two are clearly identical.
The Recent Observation-Disclosures
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