New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-02
HIGH FREIGHT RATES.
COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE CHARGES OF
TRANSCONTINENTAL LINES

ING-wHAT RAILROAD MEN SAY.


ING-wHNT RAILROAD MEN SAY.
Complaints have been made for time by Western
fIt and wine growers OF the excessive charges made
BY the tranconnontal railroads for tho transportation
Of California products 10 the EastefE markets.. and
SAID that the industries In tho canned goods, vino,
and dried fruit trades OF that State In danger Of
being unable to compete with foreign producers owing
b the difficulty In transporting their products, not
only to the Eastern states but, IN the Of Wines
to the European markets. which now consume a great
quantity of California wines
firm Of California wine growers in San Francisco
lately received letter from customer In France OBJ
echng TO the freight rate Of l2 IL cents gallon
S8 IS per barrel charged by the ransconnental hnes
between the Pacific coast and this port Tho letter
asked II the charges missated and said that
II they were correct the rates would cause boycots
on American w1noS In the European markets. II In
voiced ninety days credit as is tho custom.
Western freight agent said that such complaints ves
constantly being made owing to tho present rate Of
81 25 per 100 pounds, which he admitted
was practically prohbihve against California Wines
Wine is now being shipped almost exclusively By sail
ing vessels from the Pacific coss: to this port and
consgnments from Omaha and Kansas City are shipped
by that route the freight being cheaper than overland.
Tho average rate BY sailing vessels Is so cents per
100 pounds and It Is estimated that during the last
three months over 100000 gallons have been shipped
by water. Before tho passage OF tho Interstate
Commerce bill tho overland alraII rate was 81 or
25 cents less than the present tariff.
The same railroad Official said that tho reduction
from 81 40 10 al 20 per 100 pounds IN the rail rates
on dried fruits, which was made early this month,
would enable producers To market their fruits In the
East, and as tho output OF prunes alone during the
present year IS estimated to be 1900 900 pounds,
this is an important concession the growers 1t Is
estimated mat II proper announcement Is given By
the railroad companies, by means Of CHEAP and rapid
transportation, the prune crop Of California in four
years time will amount to 34,0oo,ooo pounds,
half the consumption Of the United Statos.
General Manager Towne, OF the Southern Pacific
Company in speaking OF the tTanscont inental rates.
said that In his opinion the reduction In freight
on canned goods and many other products did nos
beneht the consumer. lie said that the railrusd
companies have reached the lowest rates at which
they do business without rushing into bankruptcy
He also said that his company had favored 90oeni
rate TO Eastern points from California canned fruits,
not because tho reduction would increase the con-
sumption Of tho products but encourage Californian
industries. He added:
There is margin OF profit over and above the fixed
charges and the cost Of operating lines and has
not teen since the Of 1885, which harmed many
and did no one any good The was then
force canned goods and everybody seemed happy and
prosperous We told that the railroad the
way OF marketing the products OF California This Ia
while the other hand railroads
have made only market, but have made possible
profitable cultivation Of orchards and vineyards all
An official OF the southern Pacific Company IN nls
city. when questioned the subject Of anscontinen.
tai rates said:
The fact is this that there has always been keen compe-
uon between the railroads and shipping freight from
the Pacific slope At the since the re-
ducton oil products except wne 81 per 100 pounds
made by the railroads, through freight trac the trans.
continental lines does pay axIegrease on the srsns
and - far company concerned lowest possible
figures have been reached.
At the offices Of the Union Pacific Railroad In th,s
city an Official OF that company said that Il was per
fecty trIc the transportation Of wine TO the Eastern
markets had practically ceased. He said:
IL is only occasionally that carload is shipped at tia
current rate 81 IS por 100 pounds and In eases
where immediate delivery TO all an order IL REQUIRED
Our company OF course only gets It's proportion of the
through business and have now In force tsrt6 os
rates OF 81 100 pounds canned goods dried fruits
and other California products but the tarln
reduced early this month"; reduction made IN IA
rates on wine II reduction made IN ell pfoosbliS
the shipping interest would Introduce rate below what
the railroads would at and then things would %
In no better condition than present. from credncsFs
point OF view. tEAtAf
President Charles Francis Adams of ne -
Pacific Railway is reported TO have SAID thss nr ,r
much opposition 10 tho lnsterstse peu ss..J,v !.
among California shippers. but ralrosa me- sr
do not admit that tho blu Is TO blame, sn ts.,
nora IN California say that the hns A", 80 -. A.
clause which prohbits the mahng o. n ~ cssss
ianyer distance than Tor ssos.sr ~ tsssht satsa
., ~ nsszeat Nigh tariff Of lhroass1 49,
SeipS Maintained 81 the uarssoo'a's