The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-27
CUTTING RATES.

RuINous RIVALRY BETWEEN COMPETING LINES
TARItF-A PROSPECTIVE REDUCTION OF
TWENTY-FIVE PER CENT.
BosroN, Mass, Jan %, 1878.
The war of the freight agents is just now its
height There is such thing as u tariff Every
shipper knows that he can, by little shrewdness gee
a good reduction on the .cut rates." which now
average twenty-five per cent of the old tariff. How
the light began Is something that is hard for an
outsider to ind out. The Boston aud Albany people
say that the Gra Trunk Central Vermont began
It, anu the latter combination as firmly assert that
the Boston ana Albany first rroke the rates They all
agree, however. that the rates are broken. aud SO
hope cssy broken that nobody knows just where to
STAND. The tariff that was agreed October 8, 1877
into effect 22i OF that month. Taking Chi.
caeo point within the general plan or arrange
men,. the tar established was class
freight, s1 second Class, eighty cents; third class,
cents fourth class forty live c-uts This GOV.
cred Nil points ~ New England and New York as well
us on tue 1ranu Trunk Tor equal INSTANCES the rates
~ Canaaa 10 DC payable IN gold There was no deva-
ton so lar Az known from these Rates within
month, when II was discovered that tho
National Despatch Line was "sna ing"
cer,nn classes OF freight There are about
eight independent transportation lines winch run
over he Boston aud Albany roud aud these received
oraeis from Mr. Hayden the geno,ai freight agent
that road about Two weeks go, TO nd ut II pvssi
Bile. wat rates The National Despatch, which em races
the Central Vermont and q. anu trunk, were giving,
and 10 meet them January II the first muue
ny these lines cut freish opened
hereby Shippers soon found out just what the trouble
was ahd they set about taking advantage uf They
would 90 to one agent aud get his lowest figures
car load and tnen call on another aua outan still
lower quotation. Freight has been shipped IRON here
10 Chicago as low as sixty cents tor first GLASS; with
corresponding rc.uc,ion On the other Glasses. New
YORK freight has been loaded on boats III New York,
landed Boston Portland aud shl ppcd 10 ,cago
and other western points, with saving OF Zen per
cent over what would bs PAID had the same goods
been shipped by way oil Albany over the New
YORK Central. What litlc mas b en- sent in this way
Is. however, the only addition to the busI.
ness done at New England agencies, Tor n,crcnauts
Shippers are ncliued 10 hold back ~ ASA hoy
eau, Ia the hope tuat cue cut uown viii go sl
WITHIN The ucxt Tow weeks. The Baltimore anl OHIO
road which ssnas It's Hciguts by outsiAe
line 10 Baltimore, can anord to cafry ures
Than the all ra Routes, and has sighty Increased
business i caleu at several freight Offices to-day,
10 the question What your ,ates Tor Wes ,ern
bound freigut to.da, Y" received Dut one answer
ave have nom; We take what get"
The smaller towns on tho roads that iced
tho trunk ues have, OF course, taken advantage OF
the dsoiganizatloL in Inc transportation business,
and have demanded TO get the u benefit OF tue "cut
rates " saw telegram To-Day from shipper
bud r ade contract week ago tue bass OF sew.
entynve cents Tor rst class freight Chicago asking
10 cancel the contract could do i've cents per
side OF Boston, even us tar away Bridgeport Conn.,,
have written hero to transportation agents asking
TO be let IN on the re action. There be-
licl among the agents that the tariff Will liked al
seveniynve csns TO Chicago Tor first class freight
instead OF ST. with corresponding reduction
other classes and corresponding changes to other
points They would be wiilug To accept a settlement
on this ba,i aud will cheeriuily meet the New York
lues Tor this purpose AS ut present constituted
system OF dong business Is SIMPLY rulnous ana any
equabe compromise would be galiy received.