The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-25
The West Round Freight Pool.

Inc Ntst bOuuO FIcieHt HOOts
II has been claimed in some quarters
that the so-callcd pooling arrangement be-
tween the four great trunk lines is practi-
cally driving trade away from New York.
The proportion of freight To each line undor
the arrangement Is as follows New York
Central, 81 per cont. Erie, 80; PenBsylva-
MIA Central, 25; Baltimore and Ohio, Q.
Thus, New York substantially forwards &C
per cent. OF the aggregate West bound
freight shipped over these roads.
But IL is thought New York does not get
her fair share, because OF the cutting OF
rates by othor roads The cutting of rates
il very much exaggerated, but the moment
IL is clearly established that such cutting
seriously initiates against New York inter
ests, the difficulty, in whatever shape 1t
presents itself. will be promptly met by our
trunk lines In this matter the interests Of
the Eric and New York Central are identical
with and inscparable from the business in
terests of this city and port The public
now enjoy uniform, steady, and low rates,
the rate between this city and Chicago be-
ing barely two cents ton per mile for first
class and nine-tcnths OF ono cent per mile
for fourth class freight.
Much stress has been laid on the shipping
OF goods West by the Maine Steamship
Company to Portland, and from thence, via
the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, to
various Western centres. In point Of fact
the amount Of freight going westward, via
Portland by sea, is very small This cir
cutous route involves too much time and
too much handling of freight to find even
temporary favor with Now York shippers.
nOtwit hstanding through rates there are
below our pool rates. Our merchants may
try IL once. or twicc-not more. The same
objections exist against the route from here
to Charleston or Port Royal by sea and
thence TO 81 Louis via Hickman-too much
time and too much handling
These outside routes. acting as regulators,
will make the trunk line combination adj
here to moderate charges, and cause it To bc
satisfied ON low margins of profit. The
New York Central Railroad Company is ac-
cused of rcsortng to underhand practices
to secure Western through freight at rates
lower than pool rates. by shipping goods
| from this city Ia some intermediate station
on the road and then rcshipping them to
| their destination at low local rates; but the
charge il denied. ON the other hand, the
| New York Central is greatly blamed Tor
having ever entered into the pool instead
Of maintaining free competition, from which
ii ought to have nothing 10 fear in fact, it
IL almost held up to derson because II pro-
| claims that whatever other roads are do
ing it is adhering To the pooling arrange
| mcntl
We think it safe % assume that the New
! York Central is DESTROYS Of carrying a.
much freight ~ possible over its road. and
that it went into the pooling arrangement
! because il considered that arrangement the
best means OF accomplishing; the desired
end. The driving uf trade from this centre
TO rival scahoard cities would prove quite
a. disastrous to tine Central road As to the
business interests Of this port. Should the
competition Of rival routes become serious
enough To- force the pool Ia reduce it, rates
We shall congratulate the public. We dc
| not look upon the pooling arrangement as Il
permanent settlement of the difficulties eX-
i-ting between rival trunk lines but it l.
for the present the best practicable arrange
| mont