The Portland daily press., 1880-02-06
PORTLAND CARRYING TRADE.
Meeting Of Portland Merchants at Re-
ception Hall.

In pursuance Of call published in Tuesday
| mornings PRESS, calling meeting OF all
Portland merchants who felt that they were
! overcharged on freight between this place and
Boston by the Boston & Maine, Eastern, Port
land & Rochester, and Portland Steam Packet
Companies, large number OF Portland mer
chants, representing all the varied business
interests, and also representatives of the rail-
roads and steamboats,, gathered in Reception
Hall at 7.30 o'clock last evening.
On motion of Charles E. Jose, ESQ, Charles
Mclaughlin, Esq. called the meeting to order,
and nominated Hon. George W. Woodman as
chairman, and Mr. w. C. Webster as secre
tary
Mr.. Woodman read the published call
Mr.. Mclaughlin said he was in sympathy
with the object of the meeting, but he wished
to bear testimony to the fair dealing heretofore
displayed by the Portland Steam Packet Com
pany III their intercourse with the merchants
OF Portland. They had experienced hard
luck, owing to the times, but they had ALWAYS
acted squarely. He wished it distinctly I'M
derstood that the merchants did not wish any
company TO do their work for nothing, but
they did not desire to pay rates that were ex-
orbitant. Ii the Steam Packet Company has
will have only themselves to blame. He
meant by this q combination that discriminates
as against Portland. He thought il the mer-
chants wished TO accomplish anything they
must do as the Grocers' Association had done,
that is organize as one firm. Ii the combina-
ton was stronger then the combination would
win; if the merchants then they would have
the victory.
Mr.. G. L. Jose thought the railroads and
steamboats, had been working for some time
20. .nI,D IL -. IL.
plant is here made, but throughout the coun-
try. The carrying trade has been demoraized;
so has the general business, but the carrying
trade has suffered most It is not in the inter
est Of trade to have freight and passenger
rates below an average that fair investment
nation should not be made in favor
of ono place, or places, Or against
another, or any one set OF men be
made to bear the brunt OF the burden.
1t is true that it is difficult to arrange local
and through freights. It is popular opinion
that they should stand on equal terms. While
he believed in all proper concessions on ac-
count of the hard times that have existed. he
did not believe there was any possible justii-
cation for so sharp an advance on treights in
favor of Boston against Portland, as 80 per
cent. He spoke of the growth of Portland the
past ten years from the results of the industry
of Portland merchants, making it large dis
tributor OF goods to the east, and this had been
dCCOll Iut cum DStltlOu
ton iii providing goods to the sea-coast and
river towns by the development of the railroad
system-a system which is now being worked
to the disadvantage of Portland as regards
freights. 1t is true that people are better pre-
pared to pay higher freight and passenger rates
now than before, and consumers expect to pay
more, but carriers on that account should not
take an unjust advantage. Ii the principal
business of the City is crippled by such action
the individual and general business is indi
4lxy tod paAG lralrrf Nf ln
Maine Central had said of his road, ''they
should help those who helped them" Mr..
Jose charged the Generalization of ireights in
the past on the Rochester railroad and said
that corporation had injured Portland moro
than any other common carrier. No doubt the
managers thought they were doing right at the
time, but they had compelled the other roads
to purchase an unjust competitor and put up
freights to pay them for the loss they had sus-
tanned by low freights in the past, and the ex-
pense incurred by the purchase.
Mr.. Woodman concurred with the speaker
and thought committee of five or seven
should be appointed to confer with the lines
and see what could be done.
Mr.. Shaw, of Shaw, Cooling & Co., said the
shoe men felt the discrimination against them
TO the east. We want something, said he, of
these carriers. They have always shown q
proper spirit. Talk is cheap. Better find out
what our grievances are, put them in shape,
and present ourselves to the corporations pre-
Then il they won't do well by us &c can try
some other way. Their interests and ours are
one. They can't separate from US, nor We
from them.
? Mr.. Jose moved a committee of five be ap-
pointed to confer with the agents of the lines,
and the following vote was passed:
Toted, That committee of five be appointed by |
the chairman to prepare statement of the grew
ances of Portland merchants by the recent advance
on freights between Boston and Portland and con-
fer with agents of steamers and railroads. and re-
port at an adjourned meeting
Capt J. B. Coyle said there was no sombina- |
ton or pooling arrangement entered into by |
the Portland Steam Packet Co., and no
of any kind but what could be |
broken tomorrow. He said the boats had car |
ried freights at a rate that didn't pay. There |
are only three months in the year that they do |
pay. Dry goods they have to charge 80 cts. |
for, considering the cost of the insurance He |
mentioned the cost of the fire OF '79-to the |
company on dry goods consumed If, said he, |
you get another line OF boats you will find that,
at these freights they will only short |
time. They can't do it.
The chairman appointed the following COM
r1ittee: Chas. Mclaughlin, j. @. Twitchel, |
FL. w. Howes, Chas. j. Walker, and Fred |
Storer.
The meeting ar journed to the call of the
committee.