The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-05
BOSTON AND THE WEST.
EXPORTS TO SECURE RAILWAY LINE THAT
CAN CARRY FREIGHT TO COMPETE WITH NEW
YORK.

EFFoRrs TO SECURE RAILWAY LINE THAT
CAN CARRY FREIGHT TO COMPETE WITH NEW
YORK.
Boston. Feb. 4, 1873
The latest movement by Boston merchants to utilize
the Hoosac Tunnel as q connecting link between the
Eastern and Western systems of railroads Is madc
manifest to-day in tho circulation among the largest
shippers and receivers OF Western products OF Pc
ton for signatures praying tho Boston and Albany
road to mako direct connection with the big hole in
the Hoosac Mountain and then connect al.
rectly With the Mohawk Valley and tho roads
running west through New York ana Pennsylvania
TO Chicago and other commercial centres that are IN
close mercantile relations with New York and Bos-
ton Tho rst request Of these gentlemen Is that tho
headquarters OF the road should be removed from
springfield TO Boston. This Is reasonable that II
has been a wonder for q number OF years why the
change has not been made long ago. Two reasons
given for tho request made to utilize tho tunnel Tho
1rst Is that the road would save some forty miles
in distance and would gain largely In the matter OF
grade The petitioners claim the grades wost OF
tho Connecticut River for eastern bound trains
very heavy. and that therefore tho through carrying
business Of the line Is at a disadvantage as compared
with other trunk lines. Tho second reason IL that
Massachusetts has already spent SIS 0Oo 900 in con.
strucng the tunnel and that to maintain THIS aud pay
tho vast expense In interest and principal Of tho debt
the Boston and Albany corporation ono OF the heaviest
Taxpayers OF the state, Is annually compelled 10 OK
pend q large sum Of money from which Il derives no
benefit whatever but, tho contrary. aids In main-
tanning rival line. About seventy miles OF this
city, according a survey the Boston Al
bany could branch of toward tine north and by
short piece OF road connect directly with the
system OF roads running into tho tunnel and
through line direct 10 the West
forty miles shorter than that by Springfield
distance from Boston to Schenectady by the present
route 200 miles, and by would DO just leo
al tho same time to make tho competition with New
York on through carrying business sharper.
PREIGHT FACILITIES AT SOUTH BOSTON.
There Is another scheme At tho bottom OF tho
ment which Is deserving OF notice, and that Is tho
development Of the south Boston fats, something
sndeavored TO promote. Large OUTLAWS have been
already made 1ng up vast area OF land along The
coast Of south Boston for the purpose Of
udewntcr depot ior the shipment oil grain aud other
Western products TO Europe The properly owned BY
the Boslo and Albany road In East Boston adjacent
10 the wharves Of the GUARD line considered by
chants too much out OF the way tor rapid loading and
dschargng OF freight besides being inadequate to tho
present elevators OF tho line sort OF union railroad,
open to all roads thIt have their depots In Boston, has
70 oe USED. ~ out Of tns regular RACK o. the main
Is experienced In landing freight at the wharvcs.
THIS could be avoided If tho south Boston depot
built, direct line could DO established without any
serious trouble or expense
DISAPPEARING COMMERCE..
Tho shipping business OF Boston has been falling
chants have seen the Cunard ships slowly surely
diverted 10 New YorF. How to check this downward
tendency has beon vexcd question. few years ago
effort was made TO interest Boston capital in New
and Independent line to the West compete with tho
Boston aud Albany. The plan was to open the Bos.
ton, Hartford and Erie, In which the State had sunk
$2.o0O00o and by building short spur
Of about twenty-six miles from q point
near the New York state limo to Poughkeepsic thero
to connect with the bridge to DO erected under char
ter OF the New York Legislature But The
movement lacked any worry promising sup
port. partly owing to the Influence OF
the Boston and Albany and the corporators OF the
Hoosac Tunnel Failing 10 succeed In competing with
the Albany line the same men now want TO use that
road The furtherance OF their schemes against the
New York and Baltimore connections with the Western
producing sections Massachusetts mas spent over
$25 600 900 TO promote tho business OF Boston, but
STILL owing 10 the multiplicity Of Interests the ship
ping trado ut this port has steadily decreased The
present movement Is n hnal clutch at the receding
traffic Of our shipping merchants, and whether II VIII
succeed or Collapse like previous enterprises remains
TO be seem Tho Boston and Albany has chance 10
max itself to Boston what Garrett has made the BAL
timore aud Ohio to Baltimore. IL may DO the last
cuance Mr.. Chaplin will have offered him, Tor the
Boston business men nre thoroughly aroused, and
must have some limo TO tho West that will DO more
Tree from other combinations than the Boston and
Albany.