New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-14
RAILROAD INTELLIGENCE.
MILK RATES AND ELEVATOR CHARGES.
COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MILK TARIFF, AND THE
RULES THE NEW YORK ROADS ADOPTED TO
PREVENT WAR.

|
RULES THE NEW YORK ROADS ADOPTED TO
PREVENT A WAR
| The State Railroad Commissioners resumed
the hearing yesterday in regard to the extortonate
rates which 1t is alleged the Eew.York Central and the
Harlem roads charge in their milk traffic.
On behalf OF the railroads III. j. Hayden
submitted statement Of the operations OF the Harlem
road last year. showing loss to the NewYork Central
the lessee, OF 464596 He said that with all the efforts
made to develop business the net earnings OF the road
after paying interest the bonds equal to only
34 per cent the So 450, 900 stock The tonnage
light, and more than one-haf OF 1t feed
and coal, moved at low rates In the interest
OF tho dairymen, and ice and ORE moved
at low rates short distances. The passenger
rates averaged lower than any other railroad
in the country, except the New-York Central 1t
practically carried ut loss The milk traffic SO
per cent of the freight earnings and "a per cent Of the
total transportation earnings. Mr. Hayden denied that
the milk rates unreasonable, account OF tho
special character Of the service rendered They were
the result Of reduction OF 20 per cent on
the rates In force for years before 1879. which
had in no way brought compensation by increase of
OF shipments. but had been followed by
q loss In both. II the price OF milk controlled
In New-York but kept down by competition, the
benefit OF reduction in would go the
who had not complained II the price controlled in
NcwYork, II should be increased SO that the Harlem
u
ssock, which only fair return capital invested
Under cross-examination Mr. Hayden admitted that
he had not Included in his estimates the per cent
earned the Harlem stock by the street car line.
Further testimony was taken without developing any
new facts OF lmporta Chairman Herman said that
one OF the Commissioners would make a personal In
specton OF the methods OF doing the milk business
the Harlem road.
In the afternoon the complaint of the grain merchants
against the charge OF one cent bushel upon grain
passed directly into ship from the elevators OF the rail-
road companies conside red. James Thompson. of
Foster Thompson, appeared counsel for the mer-
chants. George G. Martin, f. X. Liyermore and W. s.
Wallace present for the committee or the Produce
Exchange Mr.. Thompson said that the New-York Cen
tal the first road 10 establish elevators aud by
making the delivery OF grain FREQ into vessels brought
alongside IT saved in charges 2 cents 6nshel
10 the grain interests OF New York. Under
this system the number OF vessels tnat loaded AZ the
elevators Increased until one-third OF the grain trans
1851 the charge Of one cent for loading and weighing
suddenly announced The result was that ships
PEELED TO pay the railroad tue charges the hoat
ing elevators exae'ei tney msnt as well
compel the railroads to lighter tho grain
down to the ships. The charge was made because
Of the tureat OF the Philadelphia and Baltimore rail-
roads to abolish tho elevator charges &c those port,
less IL was imposed here Mr. Thompson Denounced tho
tercss Of NewYofk woch yielded no benefit 10 the rail-
roads but ratGer compelled them 10 pay Il cents per
Sir. Martin at great length pointed out
the burden imposed upon the grain
trade by the charge Of cent for railroad eya
ing lie said that the elevators were owned by private
indiylduals. who should be allowed 10 Tx TIER
charges for their O tie shippers lie cont nded
that IN the OF time practically all the grain trans
shipped here would have been handled directly from the
railroad elevators into the ships, lie thought that New
York, with the new charge abolished. could compete
vita Philadelphia aud Baltimore, should the latter
abolish tEcir elevator charges.
Ar. Hayden stated thar tne New York roads would be
glad return the old sys,em OF free eicyBting The
removal OF the charge would bring back the vessels
tho elevators. Tho roads, IN looking tue whole
field aud considering their relations with the other
roads. have done what they thought best Tor New |
York and Ito roads. III they had abolished !
charge. only 20 per cent OF the gram handed
would receive the benefit II the Philadelphia and Bal
morc roads bad abolished their elevator charges, so
cent OF New Iorks gram which was lighiered down
aud had to cent charges 10 the floating
elevators loading board vessels would have been
left at dsadyantage compared with tEe grain han
died Ia the other cities.
Chairman Kernan-Did you consent to make this |
charge because yOu feared OF rates you mad not
done 80
Mr Hayden-There a possibility OF such n thing
Inc Commissioners adj jOurned TO meet on June 20.