New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-29
THE GRAND TRUNKS DEFENCE.

aR HICKS KS VERSION OF TIE RAILROAD
TRoUBLEs-THE AGREEMENT BROKEN by OTHER
CoMPASIEs-CIAnrG THAT TIE GRAND Trunk
has ACTED N GOOD FAITH.
The following letter addressed by Mr.. llick-
son, manag T. TO T. F. Beach, the general agent OF the
Grand Trunk Railway, under date of January %, cor
tls syno,ss OF tie difficulties between the different
railroad, understood by the Grand Trunk manager.
Il il the only statement Of the situation that has been
Iubilshc here recently coming from that source:
Mr.. T. p BEACH, General agent Craid T1nlk RGiiraH
MY DrAE SIR: Ihaye received your several letters
advising to the state Of public feeling IN New
York on he subject ~ railway rates, and at the same
time Enclosing numerous extracts from the Ncw-IOrk
Mr. Elhert Fin, has been here lie spent tie greater
part OF Monday and Tuesday With Mr. Sergeant and
myself. lie went Boston last night TO confer with
Mi. Bliss. Probably before you get tins letter
he viii have made his report to The trunk
lines notice the usual disposition to asieii quarrel
upon the Grand Trunk Railway Company, arising OF
the which have produced like results here
tosore. The Trunk lines are all quarreing among them
selves. The western companies nave biOKen Gown the
rates am afraid ia INSTANCES. not Gully with the
concurrence but al the suggestion Of at least OF the
trunk lines. ana ~ convenient 10 get mp any side Issue
which be started Or the purpose Oi covering over
practices winch would not he tolerated amongst any
other class of the community than railway officials.
With respect 10 our position in New-1Ork, You are
aware that are just doing to-day what we have been
doing for nearly quarter OF century We were never
consulted in respect 10 the NewYOrk business by the
trunk lines, and they made their own arrangements
thinking IT unnecessary to confer win rs m any way
whatever Assertions being made that we have
commenced n new line Of steamers etc, III short,
dong something which we hav9s never done
before, putting forth extra exerons to secure
Then 1t is stated that We ATE DESTROYING rates on bust
Of NcwE England, aud language is made Use Of
which would convey the impression That we have heen
breaking through afrangements previously entered INTO
in respect 10 business out Of New-EDgand There we
stand IN precisely the SAINT position as ID New
YORK We nave no agreement WIN any company
IN respect to MeSi-bOunu business. We have
sssn d %ag h we the ndF sc aea il p %n ,or
years past We have been willing either 10 accept
difference ia the rates. ana take chance OF getting
traffic or 10 divide the business III some equitable man
AS far back August last proposal submitted
tho Boston and Albany ana NewYork Central COnp-
mics for division OF the Wcsi-bOund business. That
proposition remains practically unanswered, and we
have bad To conduct our business III our own way, and
according TO our Own lights.
The next subject winch we are arraigncd II the Eu-
r0pean business coming to through the ports OF Bos
ton, Portland aud Halifax You know that some months
ago TIE trunk lines running iTom NewIOrk Thought II
desirable TO change Their whole system OF dealing with
the business and, instead OF dividing with The steamship
companies the through rates they had previously
doing, to charge arbitrary rates from the seaboad They
10 tbs decision Without any consultation with usand
because arrangements would permit US to adOpt
pany every effort has been made 20 -ecling to-
wards Grand Trunk, and the exaggerated state
business. We had contracts In existence for this
European business and we are moi ID the habit OF throw
ing engagements aside In bad fait at the dictaon
any We have constantly urged an agrecme
respect to rates for the European busness say from
Liverpool and We willing to-day we have been for
months past 10 settle what these rates should be III
nection with our steamship allies.
Whilst there Is ali this fuss about the West-bOund bust
ness, which. compared with the East-bOuDd may be
characterized az insignificant 10 rs notorious that the
rates the latter nave been observed by many Of
the lines since the understanding in regard 10 the bush
ness was TO in October last You Will "cmember
how this company urged 60 become a party 10
rangcmenis which some twenty thirty different West
lines contracted 10 observe Our reluctance to do
experience but for the peace
we joined in the following request to the trunk lines:
"We the undersigned representatives OF Western
railroads, in order to the maintenance such
through Eastbound rates may from time 10 time be
agreed upon, earnestly request that You will require
western connections abrOgdte all existing
tracts aud 10 maintain the regular tariff rates ali
points; aud IN case OF any failure To do that you will
charge full local rates from the Western the Eastern
rcrInini OF your roads"
Tie officers of the Pennsylvania COMPANY the Pitts
burg Cincinnati and ST. Louis, the Baltimore and OHIO,
the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, the Michigan
Central, the Canada Southern numerous other
lines signed this rcguiston aud upon the representa-.
tyes OF trunk lines passed tue following resolution
That the trunk lines so far us they are In the control