The New York herald., 1878-12-31
TRANSATLANTIC FREIGHTS.

WHAT THE AGENT OF rat NEW LINE HAS TO
sAy-coNTRAcTs MADE ON CHANGE.
Mr. John C. Seager shipbroker. of William street,
who is agent for the Unicorn line, said yesterday
that the statement published in the HERALD Of Satur
day in relation to new line OF steamships starting
from this port for the principal ports in the United
Kingdom and the Continent correct. The new
line has been established in connection with tine New
York and Hudson River Railroad Company. and the
vessels will have the sole privilege Of the wharves
and elevators recently built by this road at the foot OF
West Sxty-frst street. until such time Mr. Wander
bit or his representative, the agent Of the
steamship line, fit, after due notice. to abro-
gate the agreement AIr. Seager refused to go into
details but in relation the report that the Uni
line would make only one voyage, lie asserted
that the vessels would return and continue to carry
enosrh 81 Il to make the Investment profitable. IL
rates should ut any time be ruinous the Unicorn
line would certainly discontinue business, as =
company following such . policy for any length OF
time would be thrown into bankruptcy. The Uni
line he said. would nonopolize all through
freight ut Sixty-rst street and he agent OF the
would be needed for the business.
FREIGHT F1soN
It was ascertaned that the following steamships OF
the Unicorn line left for this port the dates set
opposite their names :--Lottie left Malaga Deceni-
ber 5; Cosmopolitan left Malaga December 20; Mel
lie left Malaga December ID Langshau left Paler-
mo December 81 Zanzibar left Liverpool December
IA: Amelia left Catania December ~; Elkenstown
left Liverpool December II. The steamship danoS
was announced to leave England about this time.
Several contracts have been made at the Produce
Exchange by the New York Central Railroad for
through freights by steamers OF the Unicorn line.
The contracts are at current rates. the merchants,
however, having the benefit of three cents per 100
pounds elevator charges and the railroads, saving
the expense of lighterage.
OPINIONS OF MERCHANTS.
Several prominent grain merchants were asked
their opinions concerning the benefits to be rcaped
by this city from the formation of the Unicorn line.
They thought its establishment would not be felt d.
recty by the city, except tar it would give en-
ploynlent many lsborers whose services would be
required at the elevator To shippers it would be
great boom provided the New York Central road
grants all the terminal facilities that required.
The whole problem, they say, is question of facili
ties by the railroads. They believe that un
questionably more through shipments would come
by way Of New York. 1t would be great benefit
to merchants it they could hurry or deter any par
ticular shipment they might wish at the elevator.
The grain merchants did not think the establishment
of the line would end all competition at Boston,
Philadelphia and Baltimore. In their opinion the
railroads would begin to cut rates from two and a
half five per 100 pounds; but as long they
do not go any further grain merchants i'll body
will be willing to pay small advance to get their
goods by way of New York
Shippers thought very fayorably Of the new line,
and promised not only to give it all their business at
once but also to extend to it their earnest support.