The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-05
CHANGED CONDITIONS
This Is Why New York is Losing Her Grain
Export Trade Now.
AND NORFOLK is GETTING HER SHARE.
The Norfolk aud westcrn ana Chcsu.
pcukc and Ohio Arc SIranr Com.
pctitnrs for Freiehts TO the AtInri.
tic Resides Grnin Can
Ec shipped Cheaper From Norfolk.

The Grain Committee of the New
YORK Produce Exchange Is investigating
the causes for the exceedingly scanty
supply Of grain which is now coming TO
that city for export.
Three published charges have been
brought to the attention OF the com.
mittec. directly affecting TIE whole SUBJ
1ect: One OF these charges. which Ia in
tended by those who make II account FOR
the decline in New York city's export
grain trade. Is as follows:
i. The New York Central, Erie. Lee
hiEh valley. West Shore. and other
railroads are in a traffic agreement
which discriminates against New yorIt
by giving differential rate of two
cents per hundred pounds in favor Of
Philadelphia, and three cents per hun
ored pounds in favor OF all ports south
Oh Philadelphia, thereby divcrttnr the
export grain trade to the Southern
ports.
~ wcll-krown New York gentleman
thoroughly acquainted with The grain
trade and railroad business. when n OH :
ed what effect the dIffcrentials Il, favor
ol southern ports had on the grain OK
port trade of New Yoris said: .'rbc.c
uiierehtini rates probably have sumo
thing To do-how much do moi Ieno,
iork Tor EXPORT, but there arn other
causes which have contributed IN tbo
low state OF the export grain trade tbrrn
at the present time
fhese difcrcntial rates are no new
'hihE. They have existed lust ms they
Teen years
considerable grain IL now being SOW
ported at New Orleans being taken
Ihere by the Illinois Central raiIrond
IEat roads normal business is turrvjny
i"ahcd cars North ana empty cars South
~ w. i"Hu oi'icers. SUPPOSE. Thought
'hey might as wei carry grain SOUTH
hen. again. within the Inst f,v
years. wo competing lines or railrnnds
10 me Atlantic seaboard have hncn built
south OF the Baltimore and Ohio rniI
fcad. nanely: The Chesapeake and
OHIO and the Norfolk and Western
ihey are active competitors for carry
nS gram TO the seAboa'd for export.
ana II is not to be expected they womb
MOI cause some diffcrencs in the amount.
81 grain sent East for EXPORT by ihe
Northern trunk lines. hut the uues-
tloh OF the performance of these no,v
competing elements has vet to he cs-
,hn'ished There is no question. though
but lhat considerable grain and provI-
sions are now reaching seaboard at New
port News and Norfolk
AS 10 whCthtr the diffcrcntial rates
III favor OF the Southern norris are too
large. that Is Il subject for arbitration
ana agreement. ] do not think the time
mas come for that. The statistics and
arguments OF shippers should he heard
ana consideCed first before much can
be said ahou, changing the differen-
tialS. In justice to the Southern norris
II should be said they complain tina, In
| the open season on the lakes ana canals
the southern ports are Disseminated
against
New lines TO the Gulf ports have
| had an effect On the grain export trade
, OF New York. Galveston. Tex, for in
stance, has become a port of export, and
the roads running there drain the corn
producing States. such as Kansas and
Nebraska Tha; country Is rapidly set
Ting. ana is fast producing.
so il Is plain that the present de-
crease In the grain export trade Of New
York is not due alone to the d!feren-
iials in favor of the Southern ports
Changed commercial conditions have
come into play.
ut would not be practical to make
an export rate on corn. and on corn
alone. To do so. and not apply the rate
! to all the rest Of the COMMODITIES which
arc now rated in accordance with the
corn rate. would work great injustice
however desirable a new rate on corn
alone might be.
1T is n. question If it does not cost
! more 10 handle corn in the port of New
York than in Norfolk or Newport News"