Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-17
NEW YORK TRADE
CONFERENCE OF MERCHANTS I'M
X. r. HlGS1TES.
Urgent Demands of the Former upon the
Latter to Save the Commerce of the Civ
Now Beins Diverted--Chanses Desired
to Avert the Impending Calamity.

| NEW York. Feb 16.-The committees of
| Tue chamber OF commerce, of importers and
grocers board of trade, and of the board of
trade and transportation, had a conference
to-day with president Vanderbilt, of the
New York Central railroad. and receiver
Jewett, of the Erie railway. The conference
was opened by the reading of the statement
on which 1t was claimed that inasmuch as
three-quarters of western bound freight over
the New York Central and Erie is furnished
by this city. equity demands:
flrst-Ihat the New York shippers to the
West shall have at all times, either by sched
ule or contract, equally low rates with sea-
board competing cities.
Second-1hat foreign freight arriving at
this port shall not be forwarded to the West
over the New York Central or Erie railroads
from here to destination, at lower rates than
the same can be shipped from warehouses in
New York City.
Ihlrd-Ihat the classification made by
the New York Central or Erie railroads shall
be IN all respects as favorable for New York
shippers as for any other seaboard CITY. or
Fourth-That the present classifcations
should be to some extent modified in the in
terest of both railroads and commerce. and
that special contracts should only be made
under uniform and impartial rule available
alike to all, carloads being the maximum
quantity required to secure the lowest rates.
The commissioners believe that unless the
regulations above proposed can be conceded
and vigorously adhered to, the prominence of
New York, as the distributing depot of the
country cannot much longer be maintained,
Notwithstanding its unparalleled financial and
geographical advantages. The commission
| ers also say that with this possible calamity
IN the future, the railroads in their manage
ments, and merchants in their efforts. can
have but one aim, if they would save the
commerce OF the city which is gradually
! slipping from our grasp.
An informal and interesting talk followed
, the merchants stating their grievances,
r mainly the present classification Of freiphts
and discrimination in rates.
; Mr.. Vanderbilt said that he and Mr..
! Jewett had often discussed the points, and
would bear their share of the burdens, but
they could not bear them all. 1t was not
Tor the interest of any one that railroads
should enter into war of determination.
Mr. Jewett said agreement had been
: made by the New York roads TO,
r the purpose of placing New Yorl
merchants III position of absolute equality
SO far as possible as to the merchants OF
other Cities and added that if the merchants
n wished to help the Erie road, and reduce the
: cost OF transportation over it, they would
: labor for the improvement of dock facilities
The question of classification was a yer,
difficult and important one, which the rail
ways had endeavored to settle in the mos,
equitable way possible The conference
g closed with an assurance of the railway mag
}, mates that the railroads would do everything
J. possible for the merchants.