Evening star., 1896-08-25
DlFFERENTlAL GRAIN RATES
New York Produce Exchange Appeals to the
Interstate Commission.
The Government Asked to Prevent
FrciRht Determination Favor
ing Baltimore and Philadelphia.

The interstate commerce commission has
been advised that the New York produce
exchange Is having prepared a statement,
and will file with i: complaint against the
Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsylvania rail-
road companies, that the differential on
grain rates which has prevailed for num-
ber of years has resulted In the almost
complete destruction of the grain trade of
the port of New York, and the commission
will be asked to extend such relief as is in
its power to grant.
The statistics, as gathered by a special
committee appointed by the exchange to
collect them. show that for the first four
months Of the present years traffic, May
to August inclusive, the receipts of wheat
were nearly 525,0O0OOO bushels less than
for the corresponding period Of last year;
OF corn the decrease was more than 33,-
OooO00 bushels, and of oats over 1900, 600
bushels.
The paper states that the rate for wheat
from the western basic points, that is
points from which rates are calculated, is
cents per buShel to New York. while it is
but cents to Philadelphia and 3 cents to
Baltimore, and that the reason for the
higher tariff to New York Is not 80 much
because it is a longer haul, but because the
Joint Traffic Association so wills it.
Result of the DinerentinI.
The figures prepared by the committee
show that on account of this differential
New York shippers are having the grain
bought in the west sent to Philadelphia and
baltimore to fill export orders. and 1t is
stated that one New York merchant has re-
Gently engaged nine full cargoes of grain
for export by way of Baltimore on account
of the lower rate to that port from the
west.
The paper Also it is understood contains
a statement of sales of future deliveries,
showing the business on the New York
produce exchange for the months of May
June, July and August each year since
1856. The figures, as stated above. not
Only show marked falling off this year.
nut are regarded as significant III showing
a falling off In New York's business, due,
1t Is claimed, to rate discrimination
When grain is shipped to New York
from the west, so it is stated options are
sold against it, and while it is not claimed
that all the option sales are of this charac-
ter. a considerable part of the option busi-
ness is The figures submitted show that
the sales of wheat futures for the four
months mentioned are this year only 313-
Wn'nn bushels. compared with S34OOO,OO1
bushels for the corresponding month of
last year, while the sales Of corn futures
aggregate only 200O,OOO against 81 OtOOOO
bushels. and of oats futures only 14OOOOO
bushels against 2600O.0oO bushels.
The Shipping Season.
The figures are confined to the business
or the months of May. June, July and
August, because those are the months in
which navigation is open, and constitute
the natural season of active shipments to
the Atlantic seaboard
The paper further states that the rate
by canal from Buffalo. to which port much
grain is sent from Chicago by lake steam
erS. 10 New York Is but 5-S cents but as
shippers can send their grain to Philadel-
phia and Baltimore so much cheaper, the
canal boatmen of New York are also Sc
riously affected by the differential.
1t Is stated that the grain merchants Of
Baltimore will probably take up the fight
in order to defend the differertai, which
has been warmly cherished by them for
many years. 1t was originated by Mr..
John w. Garrett when he was president
of the B. and o., and although during
his lifetime the New York merchants tried
repeatedly to get him to modify the regu-
lation they were never able to do SO.
On one occasion the New Workers ap-
pealed to Congress. and We're able to get
the appointment of a special committee to
investigate the subject, but after a long
and exheu ustive examination they declined
position Mr.. Garrett had taken in the
matter
Since Mr.. CARROTS death there has been
a great deal of complaint by the same
parties in New York that the grain ira lie
of that city was constantly decreasing on
account of the differential, and threats
have been made number OF times that
appeal would be made to the interstate
commerce commission in regard to the
subject but this is the first time that the
threats have been carried into effect