New-York tribune., 1900-08-20
CANAL IMPROVEMENT.
WHAT 1T WOULD DO TO REGAIN NEW
YORK's TRADE.
THE RAILROADS. RELATION TO THE PROBLEM
COMPETITION FROM CANADA

TO the Editor of The Tribune
Sir; The article published in your valued issue
of Sunday. July s, from the pen Of James Wood.
president Of the New-York State Farmers Con-
sress. upon "canai Improvement" doubtless has
attracted considerable public attention. perhaps
because of the distinguished position which MI
Wood holds I'm the farming community, or for the
reason that the canal question has now become
one of great public interest.
Mr.. Woods paper Is open to criticism He writes;
There is no greater fallaey than the supposed
but for the canal competition the railroad rates
would be much higher That cannot be true: Pc Pc
tween railroads themselves and not between & the dne
is not a very important factor in the problem.
Presumably railroad man is more competent to
deal with the problem OF canal influence upon rail-
road freight rates than Mr.. Wood. We take pleas
ure In introducing George r. Blanchard, man
high in railroad affairs. and styled Railroad Com
missioner In an action brought by the NewYork
Produce Exchange in 1896 against the Joint Traffic
Association before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission for the purpose OF abolishinE discrimina-
tion in railroad freight rates which were Destroy
Ing the commerce of this port. upon being sworn
Mr.. Blanchard testified as follows
The canal has an important bearing on the con-
troversy In 1896 1t brought II per cent OF the New
Even one-haIf Of that proportion would probably
dentaliy from all lake ports TO all seaboard cities.
Evidently Mr. Wood had not read Mr.. Blanchard's
testimony-nor. perhaps. Mr.. Garrett's evidence
before the New-York State Commerce Commis-
sion. which tends eliminate the small matter
OF competition between railroads themselves"
For the benefit OF Mr.. Wood. well the read
ers OF your valuable paper. we will introduce Mr..
Garrett. II be borne In mind that Mr.. Garrett
is vice-presdent of the Lehigh Valley Railroad,
and therefore oredenee must be given to what he
states In his examination before the New-York
State Commerce Commission. Mr.. Garrett made the
following statement:
oninIon h1t U,stn .nS 'nt mere Is ahy aissenGe OF
must be equalized on properly from from producins
words that rates must be so constructed that
business can be done over all competing lines anil
are the means Of equalization Of through rates
regard the difeFentials as absolutely beyond any
York.
This statement does not show any sharp COM
petition for trafhe between railroads themselves"
but rather strengthens the belief that the rail-
roads are in accord upon the basis OF percentage
of movement. so that each seaport shall have such
share OF the Nations commerce as shall best suit
the railroads themselves
Mr.. Garretts further statement would confirm
this belief-"That New-York must be content in
the main with profits on large operations of grain
that may pass through any port-New-York, New
port News Boston, any other port"
That there may be no uncertainty about the
action OF the railroads in this matter, we further
quote Mr Garrett. He kindly explained the man
ner by which the apportionment OF traffic is made
by court OF arbitrat ton. He said:
We all have to acknowledge the fair share that
which Is awarded by disinterested arbitrators :.
would always be to preserve and to claim the per
centage in the class Of business which it has had in
News and Philadelphia would be just the same.
HOW NETWORK Is AFFECTED.
hat