New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-30
The lager beer per drink is half cent, ana on al
coIiOlic liquors 2I2 cents.
THE RAILWAY WAR RENEWED.
CASTING ASIDE THE COMPACT.

CASTING ASIDE THE COMPACT.
THE TRUNK LINES NOW TAKING FREiGiIs AT SUCH
RATES AS THEY CAN GET-CHARGEs OF BAD
FAII1I-HISTORY OF THE TROUBLES.
The trunk lines are again virtually at war,
although no declaration OF hostites has issued.
There has been rupture in tho compact between the
companies and agreement OF Dec. 10 Is longer
considered to be binding IT has been known for several
days that great Dissatisfaction existed account OF
alleged bad faith by one of Southern lines IN
taking Western freight below schedule rates. There
never has been time since the compact was signed
when the schedule maintained for "a hours
freight westward bound. Occasional shippers who did
not know how to a reduction may have paid the
full rate but shipments OF importance have always been
made at the oil figures, and tho contracts between
the merchants and the railroads have expired they have
been renewed again at the rates On freight from
the West, however, effort was made for time to
obtain the advanced charges and while the snow block
AIDES made shipments slow and difficult these advances
maintained IN most When the time arrived
that tho railroads could bring freight eastward
than offered trouble began again. II has finally Gull
minated IN another open railroad war. The represent
atveS Of the different lines closing all the contracts
possible yesterday at the best figures obtanabe, and
without any regard to schedule rates Great Efforts were
made contracts for much business "A pos
sible before the matter should become public and offers
put forward for freight low 30 cents per 100
low rates from Chicago to the seaboard.
An agreement reached between the presidents OF
the NewYork Central, Erie-PenDsylyania, and Bati-
more and Ohio railroads in March, 1876, by which fixed
differences on freight between tho principal Western
cities aud NewYork, Philadelphia and Baltimore were
established, but the compact in force only few
days when the New-York Central announced that 1t
would longer hold itself bound by the agreement, as
had then been broken by the agents of the other roads
railroad at once opened which continued I'M
Ill late December During this controversy over the
question Of freight rates. Mr.. Vanderbilt strcnu0usy in
sisted that the rates from ali competitive pOnts ia inc
West should be the to Baltimore, Philadelphia,
New York. and Boston. Several conferences were held
during the latter part OF last year between the presidents
of tho different lines which finally resulted in the slgt-
ing Of "a compact Dec. l6 ny Mr.. Vanderbilt MI
follows:
Frsi That the trunk lines shall fix the rates on all
stbound i and that the Western connections OF
the tr,, lines shall Tx the rates on all isgOud tdfhc
from competitive points ia tho West, Norl-N est and
IIiid That on freichts from all competitive points in
the Wet, NORTHWEST and Southwest to Baltimore,
Philadeipha NewYnrk intended for local use ana
CONSUMPTION, rates shall be ~ cent less Ia Baltl
and o Per cent less 10 PniadepinH than to New
York from Chicago or any ponC east thereof
Secehh: Thai the general ieSLt asehis OF lhe roas
herein named shall adopt rules and regulations 10 carr
into effect the foregoing agreement, suiGeet 10 the
approval OF the executive officers Oi the respective com
On fhs basis rates from the scaboqrd were easily
putod, the rate fourth class freight from NeS-1ork 10
Chicago bcmg 30 cents AGAINST 20 cents from Baltimore
other points varied according distance 1Ec settle
ne ~ tbe orsion of rates between Western cities and
Europe WIS n more difficult matter After protraeted
sessions held III ths city for fJnr days, the general
fro ght agents agreed refer the question back % the
officers several roads for further Instructions, as
they could not settle it themselves. II was never
settled The presidents referred the matter back TO the
general FegGI agents and Jhey hrld numerous meet
ngs, OF which ghey agreed that the rate 10 Liver
pool should be as follows: From Chicago, 1Ol2
cents; Cincinnati, 69l2 cents; East ST. Louis, y
cents; Louisville, Is cents ii these figures
were ever observed, IL only Tor a short
time. several conferences between the presidents
were held in this city during the early part OF The cur-
rent month"; but without any conclusive result since
that time tie matter been allowed 10 ult INTO It's
present shape. in ihc mean time several advances III
schedule from the West TO the seaJOald have
been made, rates present from Chicago to New
York being - fOdrth class and 10 cents on gram
aud -four the percentages in favor OF Baltimore and
PAilado M enG KEEP; mp in ali OF late, ~ men
TONED above these rates have been niue more man
nomiul ana wIthIn the last few days they hayc beeu
abandonc i-iltoethe IN view Of the early opening OF
canal NAVIGATION, II not Thought yesterday thaJ
there would any further effort made toward patching
up the old compact.