New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-22
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
VANDERBILT AND MICHIGAN CENTRAL.
WHAT TIE PROXY EFFORTS NOW MEAN-TnE
TEEE>Is OF NEW-YogK.

WHAT TIE PROXY ErfOEIS now MEAN-TIE IN
TrREsIs OF NEw-YoRK.
| To the EditOr OF me Tribune.
SR II is very singular that the business men Of
NcW-York, much MS they debate about their inter
ests. rarely make any effort to defend those inter-
csts by an investment Of cash. For all practical
purposes the Baltimore and OHIO road is owned by
the City Of Baltimore. If Philadelphia capitalists
had not sustained with very liberal investments
the schemes of the Pennsylvania Central, the vast
system of railways winch that system has made
tributary to Philadelphia would never have been
brought under one control. The stockholders Of the
Erie live abroad, and in business sense Mr.. Van
dcrbilt might as well live in Europe also NewYorll
merchants have done practically nothing to extend
the connections Of these roads To make them able
TO compete successfully with their rivals. We have
a curious Illustration of this chronic blindness or
selfish Indifference Of New-York capitalists in the
struggle now going on concerning the control Of
the Michigan Central Individuals in Ncw-York
and elsewhere are fighting for that control and
spending money freely t. secure it. But the mcr-
chants of this city, "A class, seem entirely inder-
cnt rs to the result, and apparently do not know
that they have vast interests at stake, do not care
to risk few dollars to protect business worth
many millions yearly
Practically, there arc four roads from the chief
Baltimore and Ohio recently built one, which is
virtually the property Of the merchants of BaIti-
more. The Pennsylvania road has leased another,
the Pttsburg Fort Wayne and Chicago, and en-
ploys il not IN the interest of Nowlork. The Van
dcrbilt interest already controls the Lake Shore,
and, as all know, so employs it that millions OK
bushels of grain have been diverted from this city
TO Boston. Now IT Is coOilN proposed that the con-
trul of lie fourth roa the Michigan Central, shall
also he transferred to tie Vanderbilt interest In
substance 10 is proposed that the entire grain traffic
of this cay during haii o. the year ana the com
mrrcc of Ncw-lurk with the most important West
crn cties, shall depend upon the notions OF one man
and that "a man who lea, shown exceedingly lltdc
disposition to help the business OF tAs CITY at any
cost or risk tu hlm.; I. .
Undoubtedly. 1t would be a good thing for Mr.
Vanderbilt TO b. able 10 shut out the Erlc klll-
way from any effective comp iiIoh II a. 3'u4 ear
up the track from Newly ork 10 llomrl!sYllic lie
would scarcely shut out the Erie more completely
han c may If he gets control 0t the Only nee liiI
way by which grain can now De moved eastward
lrua Chicago. The Lake shore would gam, ,oI
COURSE ID is not strange that It's stockholders are
doing all they To pas an end To the sharp cuihPc-
ttiou and II hcy could gain possession oi me 5lc-
igau Central no doubt they would 50 ran liit ROAD
thai il should divert no traffic from the Lake Nh"ir'
In short urnNi.s given to Mr. Vanderbilt are SUBJ
stant.ay votes that the Michigan Central may mere
after DE u>cd merely as !1ctI iteutl IoI tIt c"-
York Central Bat how would this Affect the DusI-
ness OF Newly OTk 80
II certainly seems clear that this city is likely TO
do better with two good routes TO chicago ann Tie
grain regions than with only ono. As long a. there
! are two, and healthy competition pti"crh th'hi'
there Il, reason To believe tAat Nr. Vanderbilt cannot
cHtlry sacrifice the interests of this city, even II he
Should any time desire 10 do 50. Obviously ~ Is
for the interest OF Ncw1oTk merchants that tie Lue
| road should be protected and strengthened and
fortified IN Western connections as far as possible,
~ that il ma. Dc able 10 serve tins cilN whenever
Mr. Naudrrbls Interests lead him 10 pursue an adj
! verse policy. The business men OF NcW-lork m TINS
point of view ought 20 desire tie success, of any one
Of the other parties now STRIVING for the control on
NirMoan Central rather than the success OF MI
Vanderbilt and the Lake Shore interest IL
Aeg-l OrE, May u, Isl..