New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-21
TIE PROCEEDINGS.


SARATOGA, n. Y, Aug. 20-The Legisla-
lures Investigating Committee Railroads met in the
Supreme Court room, the Town Hall, at 1880 this
morning From the Erie Road there were present for
examination President II. J. Jewett, Vlce-President
George Il. Blanchard, Auditor stephen Little, with
Judge william D. shpman "a counsel William II.
Vanderbilt, OF the NeE-YOrk Central and Hud-
son River Road present. with John T.
Burial and Chauncey Depew counsel The
Chamber OF Commerce and Board OF Trade
was represented by Simon serne Thos. p Fowler and
John s. Myer, who conducted the examination.
Mr. sterne called for Information IN relation TO the
working OF the Transfer Company and Stand
ard Oh Company 20 rates pao for through and local
traffic Mr. Depew stated that all the information OBJ
tanabe had been gven that Mr. Ruter on previous ex-
aminatons had furni neda Information called for by
questions at time. Mr.. Sterne then furnished In
evidence large number OF documents referring TO the
Ere, Pennsylvania, ana Hudson River Railroads
Mr. Vanderbilt was then sworn and examined by Mr..
Simon sterne. IFS testified that President Of the
New-York Central and Hudson River Railroad Com
PAM had been connected with railroads about fifteen
years. his first connection being vita the Harlem Road
identified lease Of the Harlem the Hudson River
Road The capital stock OF the Harlem was originally
S9.OOOOOO Another million subsequently, issued,
which, under the terms of the lease was TO be ex-
pended in improving that road Could not say as to
what part OF 1t expended; think the dividend ON
stock about per cent Have been connected with
to the Eew-York Central From that time to 1873,
AT the time OF the lease was vcepresdent OF the Har
lem my duties that tme were 10 look into the inter
nal affairs road did not have much railroad ex-
perence and had to learn kneS more about the Hud-
son River at that than the Harlem after the
sondation Fl ON 1869 70 1873, director on both
roads had nothing do with the lease Of the Harlem
10 the New-York Central the officers knew about
IT. than I did a director bu' had not much ex-
the other people were experienced ana II was
companies profitable to bOthto the stockholders Of the
Harlem and 10 e Centra-rom the Increased facilities
Mr. steIue's questions here sought TO show that
through traffic 70 lbany via Harlem was entirely
Mr. Vanderbilt stated that some business was done By
the connection with the Boston and Albany Road that
the receipts from milk aud local traffic equal 10
the payments under the lease that the facilities OBJ
tanned 6y the lease az the Fortysecond-st. depot
y8IuabIe-. the lease o. the Harlem was part
OF the scheme to heneht al traffic gong
into New-York. Ny father was the controlling
spirit that time / merely secondary tue lease
intended TO benefit both roads can't tell the value
lease; We Oue-iOurth OF the stock individually
hold probably Oneeguth Mr. Vanderbilt cOuld give no
operations lease. When Questioned 10 the cost
OF maintenance etc, he SAID prices OF labor lower
now paid Ia 1873 from 10 70 II shings per day for
truckmen, and pay II We build our own
locomotives don't know the value Of locomotives in
1873 perhaps ihty were % per cent ueafef IMAM now
ears perhaps 30 per cent lower now rails have
gone doW ,"r-5ly 'h9 nEnesS W Pat to 'aDoI ia
1873 was II snIllnss nave p9a y IN freight houses
but never the track pay Il now and % some 30
what platform cars bring; should think $3.50 never
bought any milk ears and cannot tell what they are
worth they made in our own shops can't esu-
mate have TO depend on the estimates made By the
master car-builGer.
made statement IN regard 20 milk cars saying they
cost twice and Onhalf what ordinary freight cost
Mr. VauderDiIi, IN reply TO a question TO the milk
traffic on the Harlem Road said tue amount costs
The milk has been Fixed for years We try 20 con-
suit the feelings OF milk producers shippers and CON
Tlera few %
road. have met committees OF mikdealers Tor
oEHas or mas not the milk been fixed az 10 cents
Der years Alt was controlled by the price Of
Q-From 1865 down to 1879 did or did not the rate
milk remain uniformly az so cents per can A-Yes
Q-From 1878 10 1873 did 1t cost less 70 transport
milk Ayes, and We carried less milk our revenue
has decreased.
decreas NJ our rates Ave thought OF tnat.
Q-DIrlng these wears what consult atlOhs were hhd
with the milk people IN relation 10 hxng the rae ON
mlkl A.-They would come and ask FOR a reductions
We took up request and showed them that the
uues OF the road would not permit II.
O-Do YOU know what the earnings OF the milk traffic |
we're A.-They We're sometimes Sl'4OO or $1,000 a |
DO you know of any passenger train running from
earning that amount OF MONEY A-No.
In reply To questions Mr. Vanderbilt stated that the
lease or the Harlem Road That the competition OF the
Hudson River Road would eventually brake the Har-
lem That the Harlem out OF the on account |
of its heavy grades " Ny father" he saId found he
could not do what be wanted TO do, SO he bought the
Q.-Are there no trains on the Harlem Road, as
through trans, 20 Albany Al don't know probably
not A man might 20 tlat way aud stop on The way, /
Our trains connect with the Boston and Albany and
run through IN that way.
O.-What makes you conclude that the lease was |
iudlciOus and Wise thing for the Hudson River Rail
road Al II every day IN the facilities offered IN
our favor and against rivaIs
MIR sterne here questioned Mr.. Vanderbilt as to .
whether the New-Haven Road did not offer facilities /
with very httlc success. Mr. Vanderbilt cOu not state
tine value OF the property OF she Harlem Road at the
time OF the lease, DIT stated Iha the Harlem STOCK hAd
new
OF the time Of the lease OF the Harlem, did your
family or your fatherown controlling interest IN the
New YorE Centrai Al think not Father, when he /
died didn't the majority Of the bonds OF the road
nor OF The Harlem.
THE sPUYTEN DUYvGL RAILROAD.
Mr. serue here questioned the witness as TO the spuy
ten Duyv and Port Morris Railroad. which developed |
the facts that Mr. NandeID wa tne oNHei, anu tISS
the capital stock Is 993HOOO the aeinaI cost OF the
road, wnicn and oLe-nalf miles long.
Mr. DepeW stated that tue cost OF the lana was enor
Sir vanderbBt-It cost my father that amount OF
money Mr.. Decker was the contractor ana he stated
tnat that what It cost nm-consideraDy over the
contract price, uOre than was ante pated Ny Ialnet
down the iron ] cannot ell what he dldi know una
the road cost him that amount OF money My iaiher
offered 10 10 the Hudson River Road at cost 90
not reeulect OF d meeting " the directors al /
which its capital stock was Increased S4OO,OOO /
dId with it, The property belonged 10 HIM Eight per
cent was paid Tor rent 10y ths hudson l,ea ~ 56 @
cent higher now. Land Il about The same theIe,
aud in some cases even higher. When railroad wants
To Mr. Depe1-Tley charge twice rs much for water
fronts on the Harlem River IN view OF the proposed
Mr.. Vanderbili-I don't think the labor Of
masonry ana grading could be done the price
now some labor could be got cheaper. The material
for ballast brought from The Harlem ROAD Efr4'
distance; bridging j. some cheaper There Is iiie
difference Ia the Fencing steel rails tail imported are
very much cheaper now, less nau nall what tHey were
TIE POOLING ARRANGEMENTS.
M. sterue questioned Mr. vander1ntat some length
in regard to she pooling arrangements between the