New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-23
FOREIGN FREIGHTs FROM THE WEST.
FURTHER TESTIMONY by Mr.. BLANCHARD DEFoRl

FURTHER TESTIMONY BY Mr.. BLANCHARD BLFoRE
THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE.
c.. X. Blanchard testified yesterday before
fhe Railroad Investigating Committee I'm regard to
foreign freights East-bouud When the trunk lines
were first opened the Western lands, he said. they
ouly carried reights 10 rhe seaboard They then
taken by the local iobbers and shipped abroad Inspec
ton yards were established where the goods were
stored. When the Grand Trunk Railroad was COM
pcted between 1850 and 1850, had terminal stations
at Detroit Montreal Quebec while the ST. Lawrence
River was open. and at Portland III the Winter The
managers requested the merchants OF Montreal to huy
grain in tue West. guaranteeing Its delivery in Liver
pool at fixed price BY this means the Grand Trunk
was able 10 OF much OF the Western trade
AS II mad contracts TO carry goods from the Western
markets directly Europe, II became necessity for
the American trunk lines to do the OF lose the en-
tire business.
III 1864 the Baltimore aud ONO Road purchased four
steamships and established ncatlon with Liver
pool The Pennsylvania company became jealous OF the
Baltimore and ONO and took similar steps IL Duilt the
first large grain elevator. In PM adcplia the steam
given free dOekage and fuel conyenences by the
Railroad In consideration OF which rates
10 Liverpool were determined upon. Those railroads
enabled to take tue freight I'm the West and
with "a certainty TO time. rate aud connection with
the ocean steamers, carry LiN In this
the system through bills OF lading established
and is carried Oh altogether.
a
The railroads ending the metropolis had many diff
cultIcs to contend WITH It was well known that the
steamers out OF New-IOrK harbOr pentiiully
supplied with aud freight that they were III
dependent of the railroads. The companies would not
send their steamers To the piers of the railroads. aud
this fact made additional burden of carriage and de-
livery. Some " wild " steamers would go to the rail-
depos they had regular date OF sailing
glad to pick NJ business In all other instances
the railroads had 10 del ver the freight IN lighters canal
boats and floating elevators 1t addition charge
keep up he commerce of the CITY of New-lork. The
steamssp s going ou of New-lOrk would never g1araD
tee 10 tue Railroads my rates IN advance. sometimes
there wore five different rates on the same steamer
going the day 10 the point. Prices nuc-
mated much that the raironds often lost money on
account of rise IN prices after the contracts had been
made IN the West. The advance In price was always
met by the railroads TIE Erie mad foreign freight
acen; in the West but he always charged tue regular
nconvcniencc iue rairo.ds suffered IN New was
the uncertainty about getting ship to carry the goo9s
abroad. Sometimes the vessels were full MT BlancI-
ard knew Of eases wnere export hour had lain many
WEEKS waiting trIn~porIatiun Sailing vessels some
tunes the railroad depOts Tor the freight One
oi the great disturbing causes IN the system was the
possibility rates being lower at particular
] unort Merchant. often cornpmlicd that sometimes
freight ior Europe was taken TO for lees than
! domestic freight. This owing 10 the difference In
Tncsc constant changes" said Mr. Blanchard "com-
manded the attention of the Tor
three years. OF all tno rsOns winch have been
for discussion since nv connecon with the railroad
magnitude. Iii m ult Ia understand ard IT Is
difficult to xpain. b. e Eays cOnlcnd'd, and do
vet that the merchants ~nOyld rate to the
port and then the railroads Should let the take
| OF itself"
| Mr.. Blanchard said further that M ls7l, when the
ButimOre ana OHIO Road made It complete connection
with eXen.iNe grain fields OF the West, hard light
Pres dent Garrett Dud-tcd mat, ike another
Samson. he would pail dom the rates over the heads
roads. UncUntitiOnal surrender of portion
the New York trade demanded OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad. Mr.. Blanchard said thdt no hundred gentle
men IN Newlok much interested In the settle
OF THIS question Mr.. vanderbilt and MIR. Jewett.
lhey were not unnndiul OF the large gain receipts AT
Baltimore last sept. mDer But every he trunk
lines ull to-day the receipts at Ncw-Yurk could
not be Increased tO-aay un,i more were built.
The following tables among others were submitted by
Mr. Blanchard
Receipts gram in bushels az NewlOrk for the last
seven ycars both Dy canal an. ran;