New-York tribune., 1878-03-01
THE REPORT.

The Committee on Railroad Transportation
of the Chamber Of Commerce of the State Of NewY0rk
beg leave respectfully report that the Investigation
OF the subject which they have gwen much patient
cons deratOu, impressed your committee al the outset
thnt bad city government, enormous taxation
miserably-pavcd and dirty streets. insufficient and
expensive terminal facilities, and recent
", oppressive railroad determinations, all com
bincd. have made New-YOrk the most expensive
city the world in which 10 DO business. As result
we are mpccd to face the fact that competing points
with less natural and acquired advantage, are grad
uay securing the business which naturally and right
fully belongs to NrwYOrk.
Tue iobb ng trade years past in this city has been
less rcIuuncratvc than at other points II has already
left the cy alarming extent, yearly decreasing
and the large IN heavy and bulky articles such as
metals sat chemicals cOrdagc aud the Ike Is suffer
ing a ruinous competition, because OF discriminating
freights to ihe West against New-Yor The mhnatou
known the Poo" lines, winch includes the NewNok
Central and Erie Railroads. has, by common consent.
established a schedule Of rates, on Wesern-bound
freight which uniformly discriminates against New
York in avoro of Phladephi and Baltimore to extent
OF 20 10 per the ain rent casshcatious OF
freight while Boston conceded the same rates to
the West as from New-Yoik, over the Erie and New
York Central Lines II is also true, that our Trunk lines
have conceived it he for hcr interest at times, to
allow determinations against commerce. and for
longer OF shorter periods 30 10 90 per
cent thus riying merchants valued aud estab-
shed business connections, ana dNelunS the same 10
Other and competing points.
Our trade has a~o, at times %rievously suffered III
this city most oppressive determination, by means OF
combination between the fore gn lines of steamships
arriving at TINS port aud oar frank lines OF railroads
Hcavy articles of freight such as metals aud the hke
have been forwarded 70 points 1000 miles or more West
at actually lower rates than the same freight could he
brou.ni b. the and landed in warehouse
iu New-York. 4 similar discrimination against New
York nas existed in The matter OF shipments from the
other ,cabosri cites to Liverpool.
The committee are also III possession OF facts regarding
determinations, by means OF under weights ana
fro>s determinations in the matter OF classification
Your commit ee have abundant testimony that tie rail-
ioads ccGtrug in competing cities, have greatly favored
the merchants Of their cities by egadng the classid
cation An important discrimination, also. against the
obb.ng trade particularly of TINS city, is in the form
known as special contract system, by which whole
sale houses the interior given rates from 90 to 20
per cent cheaper than the general public.
POSITION OF TIE RAILWAY MANAGERS.
The determinations complained Of are probably some
times without the specific knowledge OF the lead
ing officers of the railroads. and sometimes are caused
by the dishonesty shippers. They are generally de-
signed 10 and confidential aud is difficult to
brug them 10 light. Your committee however have At
t. in the schedules annexed. They believe enough has
been produced herein to show me need ot radical re-
form. TO rnd an adequate remedy, is serou pi0heih
adiSinistration Of toe powers granted the
railroads ny our state. aud the eorrespondm.
oblisatious on the part Of such roads to The
commerce Of city and State, as the most important
factor deciding what snail he the uure OF ne com.
eroe OF th. Metropolis Ingy no dTg rsqsd 9nsi
and dcimed by wise and appropriate legislation
botn 10y state Legislature and pYIhe U,n=r'Ss ol
the United Your committee have had prolonged
interviews WITH NJ Aer fn manager s f Of Ine Bo1
and Groccre Board If Trade ana the Board OF Trade ana
Transportation. and many oi our PomiHt9I Weiehahi
they have bad "A long OueTcucc with Mr. Vanderbilt
president Of the NewYOrk Central, and Mr. Jeweit re-
celyer OF the Erie Railroad. Your Comlnlttee
are uuder obg cations 20 MeSsis. Vanderbilt and Je"ett
for very courteous sud patient attehLi"h oSt hH3uu
enco was without umedaie result, other than pion
ise on tIr part Nj Vanderbilt to consider The recas,
NcatOns asked for aud 10 remedy tLe cNasIons 0. o
tanG complained OF by tAe merchants on me part Vi 'ho
matter Of abstract right your committee are fully
convinced that NevYOrk merchants are entitisd not
only low but even 10 lower rates, on Weslein-
bound freight, than auy other SeaboTd CITY The
distance afguNcLt Is Tar Oui weighed by tAc immense
other considerations wei known 10 railroad experts,
such as easier grades ana me earciy TO % Ir%T % NOR
as compared with their competitors in tbe pool II IS
act adaitted suOng railroad men, that II costs tue
New-Ycrk Contra Railroad distance notwitls3nuh&,
considerably less 10 sc goods from me 10 e
West il does ctne the Baltimore and Oao or the
Pennsy ylvaua Central Railroad aGd the same IS true OF
the Erie, only in lesser dcsree because OF It's broad
gauge, aud consequent higher cOst VI Working
TERMINAL FACILITIES.
In the matter OF terminal facihucs FOR this city, your
committee ready to admit that the railroads center
fng in our city nave pot received from city author
S;es nor from merchants generally that assistance
60 winch they are justly entitled aud which regard
for our own commerce impcriously demands We have
been far behind sister cities ln this Important re-
gard, and we cannot too strongly impress upon the
Chainhtr the duty Of urging this upon the Mayor
authorities Of our city Your committee are
Of the decided opinion that the railroads centenG N
our cy, ana t-e sttduslp NM I'nn1S D , 80 ~
this port should he most generously treated III the mat
ter OF dock facilities; and unless ths policy adopted
We cannot retain our present Hcrcanllle supremacy
The InaiG OF Aldermen Of New-Yore city should grant
the application made 10 that OJdy on ihe lh Oi Juy,
1877. hy a body Of merchants relative TO the use OF
steam or R1Giug ficisht eais Over the Bet kaiit9ad
during cert hours Of tie night; ana lhai luther
lay freight track connecting with their docks III order
tat We NAV be enabled in tns city 10 handle ueight as
oheapy can br done by competing points
A COMMISSION PROPOSED.
Regarding the subject ot Congressional or State legs
iatiou In the matter railroad management com
tnlttce have to cay, that they should dcprecate the
passage Of laws which would deprive the railroad c0rpo
rsnous the control OF their Own property they do moi
desire extreme legislation. such nas prevailed in some
The latest device secure harmony and 10 stop r-
rcgiautes is the " pool conDsaiio' rms eo,',a Ia
tl0u, however II NAV have helped the revenue 0t INC
railroads has not been successful a. recent events
demonstrate. iu securing equai JnsiIce u New, OK
part % of the Poo lines and want Oi harmony
Your committee are Of the opinion that wise lensla
ton will De equally IN the interest of the rd0doS ahu
The cen, raj pblc auG they arc happy to this Opu
ION confirmed such distinguished railroad authorities
ys Prr~utuL scott OF the P,nnsy yRnia Railroad, ANA
Dir Albert Fink. Eastern cOmmissoner al the pool
lines also OF Mr q. T. shinu, wnO is recognized as
railroad expert of Tie hrs, order. $1,000
IN CONCLUSION. your comiu'ee oVg ie%'e ~ oHcr INC
following resolutions:
Firsi--Resoired That the Chamber OF Commerce OF
the state YORK. do earnestly request our LeSsla
turs 70 appoint ltDmedlaelya cOlhlnlss'Oh, WIN an
necessary powers, wnose duty II thali be 10 INQUIRE
what, any, legislation Is necessary 10 pioeec' anu ca
tend tue Of our state also 10 nlaiGe ho anu
report concerning the P0ggs and oIhga.on & iS o. @ c
mittee instructed TO take testimony In the cry OF
NewYork snd to report by OIL or otheF"'e' during inc
Seeond-Res6iped. That the Committee on Railroad