The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-17
VOL. NO. no.
MERCHANTS TO THE RESCUE.
EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE LEOPARD
lied TRIDE or NEW YORk.
Commerce Gradually Be'ng Trnnsfcrred 90
Other senbomrd Citics- Manufacturers
Driven weuwsrd-Whnt Messr~. Jewe't
md Vanderbilt Sny that they will DO.


Otb,r senbonrd CITIES Manufacturers
Driven we.tward-W what Messrs. Jewest
and Vanderbilt say that they vii, DO.
The committees Of the New York mer-
chants met yesterday forenoon in the Offices OF
tho New York Central Railroad Company.i in con-
ference with the Presidents OF the Erie and Now
York Central roads. There we're present OF the
Chamber OF Commerce committee. Messrs.
Charles g. Smith. G. c. Dodge. Jackson s.
Schultz. +. b. Thurbcr. and b. G.. Arnold Of
the Board OF Trade and Transportation.
Messrs. Charles watrous.J J. 8. Barron. W. II.
Libby. and L. +. Browning; OF the Importers
and Grocers Board OF Trade Messrs. Geo. W.
Lane. A. NJ Turnure. Bowie Dash. Henry Far
rinston. and Henry f. Hawley. number OF
other prominent merchants entered later.
President William II. Vanderbilt greeted his
visitors cordially and Mr.. G. S. Smith. after
expressing his regret at the absence OF Receiver
Jewett OF the Erie Railway. began reading the
address Of the Chamber OF Commerce. When
he had about one-third completed the reading.
Mr. Jewett came In and fresh start was taken
The document presented by Mr.. Smith was as
follows:
The committee. OF the Chamber " Commerce Of New
York and the Importers and Grccts Board OF Trade
believe that The snd a. eafers Sds ., our ey ue
We feel authorized 20 pledge the Influence and Co
ing for the lines cenierns In ,h, city such terminal Ia
itcs and other aid rom our city or state as they may
We believe that our railroads should have all the faei
ties granted which will enable them 70 reduce the cost Of
handling merchandise IN our city ~ the lowest atnabe
These committees recognize the fact thst the sstisac
tory adjustment OF ne teauons ptwsen tny gI.at ~
manuiac turing and agricultural pursuit, ot country
savss problem, reaching beyond the boundaries o our
hs,slrc.ay assumed the PROPORTIONS Q, an mpSr'sp,
In The country and may cry long demand the s
,sn, Sn The v' SOsfsss COM sS Of the United sse.
These committees do not propo,e a. preent TO orer
;ue.on rhcy propcse with your leave only to discuss
ne question a. Il relates 70 the eommeres Of M. city
spirit recosnizns the difcute. with which you arr en-
sironed, and We knew that these are nciheriew nor
You, gentlemen are perfectly tina, the commerc.
OF New York has been Tor weeks past greatly disturbed
BY reason OF freight determinations against this city and
SS n" 20 Wish to ocSpy youn aS ms S da s
lar you but sre ready II YOU wish II, to show
upon sdr trade In ere the tact mat no lsrs sas IF
he rs OF freight and ie mode VI .hpnc NJ are ar.
ryed and the Of freight Is the controlling element
bound freight over the New York Central and the Erie
Railroad Is furnished by this city We think that equity
fi:i.Ins, New York 'pipgsr: 70 sns We. oyer The
schedule or contract equally low rai.s Min other sea.
fument which has established opposite ,'ocy viz.
that the distance IN the " one o the citc. auoye
and In the others somewhat shorter.
not be Orwarea the Wet over e New w Yos central
Or the Ere road IRON here 10 de,nauon AZ lower rates
tan the same class can be shipped IRON warehouse IN
Third-That the elassnca aions made by the New York
Central the Erie Railroad shall be IN all respects
s.oraSlc Tor New iors siprers a. or any other sea
fourth-Ihat present clas.itcatons should he TO
commerce. and that special conuscts should only he
made under uniform and nnpartia rule available alike
secure the lowest rates
These committees believe that unles. the regulation.
20, the prominence Of New York ciiy. the dislihut.
tainod nqtwi,hstsndis our unparalleled nnanea' and
Win this possible calamity in the future. The railroads
in their man.sement ami the merchants IN their efforts
OF city, which gradually slipping from our grHsp
An uneasy silence following the reading was
broken by MT. Vanderbilt. who said: " We
would be pleased to hear anything you may be
pleased TO offer In regard to the business which
has been done. and any grievances you may
have against the companies. We think we can
at least show you a disposition 10 treat respect
fully any complaint you may have to make
against u.s."
Mr.. F. D. Thurber said: " In regard to the
equality OF rates between the principal seaboard
6 cnerally recognized consideration in the ad-
justment OF freight tariffs has been the rcgula.
ton Of rates according to distances. But there
is another consideration. in which thnt one Of
distance Is practically ignored. Mr.. Cornelius
Vanderbilt. when he attempted an approN,mate
equalization OF the rates between New York.
Boston. Philadelphia. and the West, recognized
it, importance. He managed 10 reduce the diff
and ! TO 0 on fourth-clnss goods But there
should be no difference. New York should have
a. favorable rates rs Baltimore or Philadelphia.
The, principle is practically admitted by tho
establishment OF an equality OF rates on grain
Tor export between Cnicngo and Boston, and
Chicago and this city. The difference IN dis
portAtion between the seaboard ana the West
should be the sline 20 and from each port II
vnntages In shorter distance, the magnitude Of
New Yorks business is at least "A counterbal-
ancine consideration
Mr. Vanderbilt replied: AT the first blush II
strikes me that would at once lead IN railroad
war You take il for granted that the Eric and
New York Central control the P-nn-ylyania
Central and Baltimore and Ohio. which is not
the TACT by any, means; The latter ronds are
ccompetitors with the Erie and the New York
Central Tor New York business and receive n
large share of the patronage Of New York
merchants. II New York merchants would ex-
what those companies would do, but now that is
something We must look to. As | said. the
measure proposed might inaugurate ruinous
:, Mr., Smith asked If the New York Central and
Erle Iroads would carry goods ns cheaply from
New YORK 10 Chleagous the Prnns ylVanH Central
you'd from PhadeIphin, or the baltimore and
ONO from Baltimore 10 Chicago. Mr.. Vanderbilt
answered; That is n matter that is i nj ault TO
tll. " course cannot speak for the Erie. The
New YORK Central might. under certain emer-
yencles. be willing 10 try It, but mlgnt have to
draw very largely on her other revenues in the
attempt. We might claim that We could run
our cars as cheAply 10 Chicago rs those com
petng roads could run theirs from the cities
named, Dut they might think differently. and
We can't tell where Il conflict of that sort would
end.
Mr.. Smith complained that by tho pool rates
me companies have made from Philadelphia
ahI Baltimore the trade lcgitimately belonging
10 New ork il divided to those cities, n consId-
Grafton that must ultimately affect the roads
Sntripg in New York quite as seriously Us
New York merchants.
Mr.; Vanderbilt replied that he did not under
shnd that Il was charged that any freight could
De sh pped from New York 10 Philadelphia or
baltimore and thence West, AT rates as low or
lover than from New York direct
Mr. smith reloined that even that had been
done and since Feb. |.
Mr.. Vanderbilt said that. II so. il had been in
VOCATION OF tho agreement and If brought To
Me Showledge OF the proper parties. would be
corrected At once.
Mr.. F. Baker called attention to the vast
amount Of freight shipupd direct npyc from