The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-02

The special committee Of the Board of
Aldermen who, since March last, have had
this matter under consideration, Ncrc at
the last meeting Of the board directed 10
make report for or against the PROPOSE
ton at TIE next stated meeting. Tho prOpo-
sltion cmanatcs not from the railroad com
panics. hut from conference Of com
mcrcial bodies in this city At a meeting of
the conference held in March last at the
rooms Of the Cheap Transportation Asso-
citation, the Secretary submitted the follow
ing draft ordinance, which was approved.
and subsequently, addressed TO the Presi-
dent of the foard OF Aldermen. with com
munication signed by the Chairman and
Secretary Of the conference, asking him to
introduce the bill:
R,-ie. That permission he and hereby is granted TO
the several railways terminating at the port OF New
York to draw be drawn, their hy
Of dummy engines furnished by the said railways or By
the Belt Line Railroad Company as may lie agreed upon
between the hours o nine O'Clock IN the evening and
O'Clock in the mnrnns the track of the Belt Line
Railroad with the trnisson III said rlroad company
10 aud from such points tho Hudson and East rivers
ma, be- spccded In the applications ct the several rail
road companies aud approved 10y this hoard. subject
the terms. privileges. and restrictions now established los
Law and ordinance Tor the OF and dummy en-.
gncs b, the New York Central and Hudson River i,nl
road Company. provided always that the said Bct Lin.
Railroad Company shall extend equal privileges track
aud motive pOwcr To all railroads runauup al the mort
Of New York upon equal conditions and terms THIS per
mission shall not be- construed to allow loaded or I'm
loaded cars Ia stand on the sd track between the places
specinel IN the privileges which may be granted
The following was also adopted:
Ruio That IN the opinion o ti. conference the Prop
ihc White star Line steamship Company to lay
tracks their Canal street tor ic purpose OF
r ct.n- direct iramer of merchandise between their
sir. ari Gle cars OF the Sew iork Central Railroad and
other raroul- that may be- made to connect With their
tracks .houd De promptly approved BY the proper au
tho.iucs
Tie use of the Belt Railroad for frcighting
purposes seems the only practical mode of
Immediately improving our terminal facili-
ties, and thus chcapening the handling OF
freight at this centre. A. matters now stand
NcY York j. daily losing trade because Of
the want of direct communication between
her railroad tcrmini and her water front
Tho New York merchant finds himself
heavily Handicapped in the race for trade
10y cnormou- carriage charges for short dis
tauccs. Thc-r charges do not exist in rival
scaboard cities Baltimore. for instance.
whore terminal facilities have been brought
to q high degree Of perfection
II Is certainly an anomalous condition Of
Affairs that New York, one OF the great COM
mcrcial centres Of the world should continue
the suicidal system Of carting merchandise
from ships to railroad dcpots at an average
expense OF eighty cents per ton per mile
when she hu- at hand every facility for
bringing the railroads in direct cOmmunica-
ton with the cast and west side water fronts.
The commercial interests Of New York ask
from our muni,ipa, authorities the permits
sion 10 utilize these facilities AT their own
expense they ask that New York. in the
matter Of rccr!, Ing, delivering, and handling
goods, be placed on par with other sea-
board cities Chief among the ohjectors to
the proposed application appears the re-
coivor Of the Erie Railroad. Mr.. JEwErr. who
holds that tn" accommodations furnished
10y the Central and Hudson River Railroad
Company should he no better than those
furnished by the Erie. In no manner can
this proposed accommodation to New York
trade incommodc tho Eric or any other line.
The resolution woull permit cars to run
only during such hours OF the night a. bust
ness is entirely stopped along the line of
West street The Eric and all other rail-
road, terminating AT the port of New York
mny avail themselves OF the permission ON
equal conditions and terms. Tho question
now before the Aldermen is whether the
merchants Of this city shall be permitted to
take long step toward regaining its traffic
or whether through a continuance of the
present obsolete methods Of receiving, de
livcrng, and handling freight here, the COM
mercial prosperity OF rival cities shall hcs till
further increased at New York 5 expense.
OF course, the railroad companies must Lc
required to pay annually into the city treas
ury a proper sum for the special street
privileges they desire to secure.
The Tuppcrian Element IN Politics il
with Hayes.