New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-02
INJURIES TO ERIE CANAL TRAFFIC.

CHICAGO MERCHANTS COMPLAINING OF EXohBr
rAxr CHARGES AT BUFFALo-EXCEssIYE FEES
OF ELEVATOR MEN, FoRwARDERs AND SCALP
ERsD
Letters have been received by merchants IN
this city recently from Chicago merchants, in whch
complaints OF excessive charges IMPOSED at BuHo unu
YewYork for elevang grain, insurance, wharfage eo'
are revived. and threats are made that unless '"eo
exacrons are abated they will seek farer terms
the Canadian water routes when the Weilano Oanai "
opened 1t is asserted that have boat-load OF grain
moved and insured from Buffalo TO New orh' oo"'
owners obliged to submit TO the payment OF ices
a class of Intermediates whe termed &" scalpers'
Prominent members OF the Produce Exchange stated
yesterday that the time had come when others VINO
were more deeply Interested in the future welfare Vi tno
canals than the boatmen must step to the 'front.' Inc
adoption OF the Belgian steam caole towing sys'e"
which vas In Buffalo Rochester last season.
and which will be in complete operation tne euure
length of the canal by June 1, offers. they assert
quicker and cheaper towage for the boamen besides
removing OF the most unpleasant features oi INC
canal namely, the suffering animals and thelr trouDie
some drivers The capacity Of the canals VIII DC greatly
increased and they viii be able TO compete more sue
cessfuy with the improved Weiand Canal ana the fhii
roads The elevator will DO among the first 10
feel the loss OF the canal traffic. which will ineyaoy
follow unless this tax on the grain trade Ia removed
The greatest complaint TO be against the Bunalo
Oh for handling grain against which tine Ne"-iorA
merchants have than once protested EXfrcslueb
Edson Of the Produce Exchange, In communication 10
the Rufo Canal Forwarders Association, calls atten-
ton 10 the fact that 1t IL nearly four years since
delegations of Buffalo and NewYork merchants agreed
10 reduce their charges handing Of grain; ana
vhe the agreement was carried out at this port tue
charges last year increased nj Buffalo Tue New
York Produce Exchange protested against the increase
but 10 no purpose and this action turned from tue Erie
Canal millions bushels OF grain. and was m injury to
IN. commerce OF tie State 20 the amount OF hundreds OF
thrusnpds ~ dollars BUtfO elevators charge Tor trans
ferriug ana weighing cram from lake vessels 20 canal
!oafs cent buhel e Of which Is charged TO the YES
oi ana z, ~ the gram There 3. also 4 OF cent
busll demanded ;Or each ten days storage ana extra
CHARGES are made lake vessels for shOvring and 10
canal boats for trimming, also charge for blowing aDd
scresnlna this business Is all ~ tue hands 81 ele
yator comp q, u yitds 10 them an income o. 70 per
cen, on ;ne inv smeu with less than nall The elevators
There Is also class Of men, says Mr. Elson In Bun 10
i,non os scalprrs" whose bus " - ems to be 10
io.k after the financial welfare % the poor boatmen
on tneIr arrival al the port OF Buffalo and Tor coneid
rtion to protect them from In" rdpacity Of The ner
chants who have grain 70 be carried. ana from the
imposition 81 the Insurance companies VINO insure theif
car 20 for them, and from the rguciy OF elevator eu
who n "a alleged would otherwise cheat them as To the
quantity OF gran Delivered. for a,t o. tn Nh eve
cargo for nsurng The same for account 81 the
boifmen. DO pockets the rebate oil 10 10 ~ per reu
allowed by Insurance companies; third, ne OBTAINS
rebate from the elevator men for guarding me boameh
against temptation. So that the compensation OF the
-ca'per at Bualo amounts To not less ihan an aver
ago II S25 each canal boat cargo WINE nm eqlt
service performed IN NewNork by canal boat agents
for - a boat.
cbangr the usefulness OF the re Cana Tor purposes OF
commerce depends largely upon the Willingness oi the
BuiIao 81 vaior owners, iorwardefs ana -'"prIs 10
,ent reasonable compensation for services rendered
Cuic 20 has always asserted It's ndepeuGence ~ New
Vrf and moi manifested the public spirit which other
Wesfrrn points have. Scw-NOr6 has ben 0bh&rd 10
make every effort io prevent Chicago from lbiromIht
tho Canadian routes Tue PRINCIPAL compliant aE'
New-Yark Is the excessive Wharfage dur- WINCH IT -
fclt must reduced, rather Than increased as the
schroeder bill " now pending proposes.