The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-13
MERRYWAR IN TOVBolTLAND
JOHN ARBUCKLE, HAS GONE INTO
THE HUDSON RIVER TRADE.

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The Cornell Towing Company Has Had II
Ali and Has Cut Rates TO Keep Him Out
Towing for Canal Boats Down TO %
and Everybody but the Boatmen Losing
There is rejoicing In the canal boat basin
In the East River over the battle OF the
Cornell Steamboat Company and John Ar
buckle to secure the towing trade m the
Hudson between this city, Albany and the
Intervening towns.
About elk weeks ago the Cornell line,
which has had monopoly Of tho Hudson
River business for many years, was some.
what put out to find that Mr. Arbuckle had
decided to Use sorne Of his feet light draught
boats to tow the happy 'oanallers' TO and
from Albany.
There was no official notification or pub
lic announcement by the Arbuokle COM
bination that IL intended to 90 into Hud-
son River towing. The Cornell company
had successfully kept ONT competition by
individual towboat men OF limited rneans,
but IL had never tackled millionaire.
Naturally, the only way the Arbuckle
fleet Of about seven tugs tnengaged else
where could hope to win trade was by
owners In the shape OF lower rates. The
cost of bringing a canalboat from Albany
and berthihg her here was, until six weeks
ago, s2s; for taking her back, light or with
only small cargo, the charge was s22,
Or $50 for the round trip.
The canallers were surprised when they
learned that Mr.. Afbuckle had become q
solicitor for their patronage. They had
been in the habit, as one Of them said yes
terday, OF begging the Cornell Company
to take them to New York on its own terms
which they regarded sometimes as not
altogether fair AZ The wife q a canal boat It
was mighty Independent
Now, the shippers and their wives are
inclined TO look upon. themselves some
what IN the nature OF patrons Of great
rival capitalists, one Of the delighted women
They Win Be giving US trading stamps
The result Of the hsht Is that boats and
barges are being brought down from Albany
and other points along the Hudson for IS.
The chs' for tsshns them Sv. back xhs the the
out on the decks yesterday enjoying the
sunshine and the air OF the river with their
! children and friends who had dropped in on
them, looked as II the canalers' millennium
were close by. They were glad that some
lane Of travel and hoped the good work
would go on.
A representative of the Arbuokles said
II was true that Mr.. Arbuckle had gone into
the business OF towing in the Hudson River
and that he did not see that anybody had a
right to prevent him. He bad many boats
idle in this dull season and he had decided
to employ them. He looked on canalboat
towing as profitable field; but he was free
to confess that it hadn't been since the
Cornell company had CIT rates with the
OF course, that was a ridiculous figure, but
Mr.. Arbuckle intended to keep on charging
1t to the canalboat men until the Cornell
company decided to make 1t lower.
An old towboat owner who knows MI:
Arbuckle we'll said that he had declared
to spend million, and that no man or
company could drive him out Of business
in the Hudson River without stiff and
expensive fight
Light drought boats are necessary in
BEEN sbie to CHARTER n only " seS 81 th aa
hereab bouts. II Is the talk Of towboat men
on South street that Mr.. Arbuokle is send
ing all over the country for powerful light
draugh 1 s tugs to compete 60 With the large
ho expects to have in commission on the
-uoson, enough boats to do the towing
for all canal and barge owners who may
apply.
Meanwhile, the Cornell company de-
clares that 1t Is doing business as usual at
the five-dollar rate and that it has received
no proposition looking toward q COM
promise. The Arbuckle representative says
likewise, and the two concerns, according
to a towboatmsn who has had experience
in Hudson River work, are losing 81 200
day each.
One of the CHEEKY women whose husband 4
boat was put into dock at Pier 4, East River,
yesterday morning. said:
"A Cornell boat towed US down. We
! would have come down with the other
folks. but we were offered inducements by
the Cornell people. They. paid us for bring
ing load Of sand down
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