The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-16
ATTEMPTING 4 GREAT COMBINATION
Railroad and steamship Companies Fixing n
TrnnaniInntIc Frelahl Pool.

A conference between representatives OF
the trunk line railroads and agents Of the ocean
steamship lines running from this port was
held ut the rooms OF tho Northern Atlantic
Steamship Company at 20 Broadway yesterday
afternoon. Tho object was to make some ar
rangement for sustaining uniform rates upon
freight shipped for export from the West. At
the meeting OF the trunk lines and their West
orn connections Mt the Windsor Hotel last week
the general cutting OF rates upon this class Of
freight. and the desirablity OF stopping IL, were
admitted. 1t was. after much discussion. con-
tinued during two days. resolved to maintain
uniform rate. 1t was agreed to fix q certain
rate on the basis Of the distance between New
York and Chicago. This rate was 70 be the
same to all Atlantic ports-BOstOn, Philadel-
phia. and Baltimore Every day representa-
Commissioner Finks Office in this city and as
certain tho market rate Of ocean freights for
the day. which they were TO telegraph to ell
points OF importance on their connectio1s
This figure. plus the unvarying figure fixed by
tho railroads. was TO be the rate for the day
ports were to be made II has been the custom
Of the ronds to make through contracts for de-
livery Mt Liverpool. and by so doing il was i'm
possible to tell which was doing the cutling-the
railroad or the steamship men. IL was Thought
that the plan accepted would obvute all dihicul,
ties But the steamship companies asserted
their rights hence yesterdays meeting, Tho
representatives Of the steamship lines werc
JO0n ". Dulf OF -lUt- lnUlhns -NnllIUlUu
Of the meeting; j., i. Smnlll also OF
wIliams 4 ,Gqiop. +. " II. Hurst
Messrs. Covery and Henderson Of tho Anchor
line. and Radcliffe Baldwin OF the state line,
II. Blanchard. Vice President Of the Erie, and
f. T. Hopkins. the foreign freight agent Of that
company. represented II. and the following
named foreign freight agents represented their
respective companies: Q. j. Gcer Of tho
Pennsylvania Railroad. W. II. Mcllkanney Of
tho New York Central and Hudson River.
Thomas II. Sanford Of the Baltimore and ohio.
and Commissioner Albert Fink Of tho west
bound freight pool OF tho trunk roads.
Tho railroad people submitted the
result Of their conference at the Wind.
sor Hotel rs stated above. II provoked
prompt opposition from the steamship repre-
sentatives. The steamboat men were then re-
quosted by the railroad people TO appoint n COM
mittec TO confer and agree upon some basis OF
cooperation which they would submit to the
railroads. Tho steamship agents expressed
Willingness TO- cooperate with the railroads II
tho latter would agree TO ship all their export
freight by the vessels OF tho lines composing the
Northern Atlantic conference The railroad
representatives were not empowered TO make
any such promise. so they withdrew from the
meeting. and the steamship people appointed
committe OF four for the purpose suggested by
the railroad agents. The proposition OF the
the alleged Vanderbilt Unicorn line Of steam
ships. II Is also said that the railroad COM
panies want To force upon the fast passenger
and mail steamers the same rates for freight that
the New York Central will secure by its Unicorn
line