New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-25
THE RAILWAYS AND THEIR RATES.

WORK OF TIE ASSEMBLY COMMITrEE-sPECIAL
RATES OF THE ERIE RAILwAY-THE OIL TRADE.
Before the Assembly Committee on dis
ordinations railway rates yesterday A. f. Orr. OF
the firm Of David Bows Co., testified that his firm had
shipped large quantities of grain from New
York and Baltimore, and had never made a
shipment that not under a special contract
The committee, he said, would be surprised If 1t knew
the effect variation of u or ls Of cent would have In
turning volume OF trade TO or from Ncw-fork David
Dows & Co. had been obliged 10 establish their Chicago
house to enable them to compete with other houses
Mr. Orr sid that the Assembly investigation had
begun he had unable to do anything with the rail
OF NewYork, they all seemed to be afraid to
name rates. Mr.. Depew said that the authorities OF
NewYOrk at every step opposed tho New-York Central
Railroad by unnecessary restrictions and high charges
for city land.
W. A. Cole, OF the firm OF ". J. Wilcox CO.. lard re-
nners then testified that his firm could get better rates
after pool had been formed. HIS firm ported % per
cent of all the lard that went out OF the United
States. He knew OF where man got
through rate from Chicago to Europe at 10
cents less than he paid from Chicago TO New
York. Herman Brook, exporter OF lard, said
that on a contract for the shipment OF $50 tierces
five car-loads) Of lard from Chicago, he got bill for
S24 less than his contract required him TO pay Ar
mour. Pankinton Co aterward sent bl to the W.T.
ness and tried TO collect the difference OF ga 90, claim
ing that the witness had got their rate and that they
had his Their contract was made Oh the same
day. lie refused to pay the bill
James X. Turner, Of the firm or Isaac II. Reed II CO..
flour aud grain commission merchants said that tno
through ocean freight contracts from the West
were detrimental to the commission trade here,
because such goods were not handed Dy the
commission trade Mr.. Depew, interrupting tho
witness SAID that the railroad admitted that certain
lines OF longer profitable In New-Iork,
hut tho com panes could not help IL. Mr. Blanchard
said that the railroad could not fIrd 10 give up
business put t the hands OF exporters IN
the I've great seaport cities IL conceded that there
great profit in handling goods al the seapOrts but
Rufus +. Bush, oil reiner OF the Bush ~ Dens-
low Manufacturing Company, said that his firm
obtained oil from the Bradford district by the Pennsyl
wanna Central the Winter before and by the canal In
Summer year before line to the closed
10 them. The Standard Oil Company had low rates and
had monopoly OF the traffic. All the oil refiners
cept five New-YOrk had been compelled TO abandon
their business He had offered TO line of tank
on Erie Railway II the officers would haul them. at
the same the Standard Oh Company obtained.
Mr. Villas declined to make such contract. AT the
time of oil ut the Erie Railway
lying Idle.
James G. Fargo, president Of the Merchants Despatch
COmpauy testified that the capital stock OF the company
was 30 900 shares, representing $3000000. The fol-
trial Railroad 1900 sharesj Lake Shore and Michigan
Southern, 5000; American Express Company, $500;
the Cleveland Columbus and Cincinnati railroad.
1000; the Cincinnati and Springfield Short Line Road.
300; William H. Vanderbilt, 30; aud William X. VAN
derDt, 100 shares The company had 3,451 cars rum
ming over the New-YOrk Central Railroad. The COM
pany obtained "A commsso for its work.
A sub-c ummittee submitted long tabulated state
ment showing the special rates granted to shippers by
the Erie Railway, and the committee then adjourned
till July o, when lt VIII again meet in this city, Below
extracts from the statement: