New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-22
GAINS FOR NETWORK.

The Merchants Association Of NewYork has
not accomplished all that It hoped for In seek
ing arbitration Of the export differential ques-
ton by the Interstate Commerce Commission,
but it may be well satisfied, on the whole,
with the result Of its efforts to secure for this
port the benefit Of its natural advantages. On
its initiative the commercial bodies of Boston,
Philadelphia and Baltimore were brought to
submit to the commission the old controversy
over the railroad rates made to divert to the
Baltimore and Philadelphia lines freight which,
but for the discrimination, would come to New
York The Interstate Commerce Commission
had no power in the matter. and 1t was only
on agreement Of the parties in interest that it
undertook to decide what was just.
The Commission does not uphold NETWORKS
contention that it should have the same rate
as Baltimore and Philadelphia. Those two
cities are nearer Chicago than New-York, and
have a certain natural advantage over New
York and Boston for the land haul, though the
latter are nearer Europe, and the distance from
Chicago to Liverpool is practically the same by
all four routes. 1t might thus be expected that
the combined land and water rates would be
equal over the different routes, and an ideal
condition would secure to each port the benefit
of its enterprise, shipping facilities and bank
ing and insurance conveniences. These advan-
tages are however. so enormously predomi-
| allow almost all of the traffic to come here.
The result would be q vast loss Of business to
the railroad lines going to Baltimore, Philadel-
| phia and Newport News. The Commission
holds that the interest Of the common carriers
must not be lost sight OF. Their ability to serve
the communities which they touch depends on
their securing a steady traffic, and the general
welfare is promoted by rates which VIII pre-
vent their being left without business. So, as
rio Vp-ly
cede lower rate to the ports less favored by
nature and less highly developed by man,
NETWORKS contention that the dfferential
under which it has long suffered is unreason-
able is however, sustained. For years Boston
and New York have had the same all rail rate
on -four Philadelphia a rate two cents hun
dred pounds lower, and Baltimore, Norfolk and
! Newport News a rate three cents lower. The
! Commission decides that the differential be re-
duced TO two cents for Baltimore and its group
of ports, and TO one cent for Philadelphia 1t
thinks that Boston is at disadvantage when
put on an equal basis with New-York, and that
hereafter some concession may be necessary
for it, The differential on grain traffic by
rail is left where it was placed by the carriers
! in 1899, at one cent and one and half cents,
a reduction of 80 per cent from the old rate.
The grain differendal for the lake and rail
route is radically reduced to three-tenths of
/
ground that they have not the natural claim
to a share Of this traffic that they have to the
ell rail exports; but the differential is not en-
tirely abolished, might perhaps be expected,
because to do so would entirely eliminate COM
petition in this field
1t is clear that the verdict is in a sense
| compromise 1t insures, however, to New-YOrk
exporters better chance than they have had
for years. If the new rates are to be accepted
| as fair then there has long been a heavy burden
upon our trade. No wonder our merchants COM
| planned that the grain and flour business was
| falling off while that of other towns was grow
ing as If under artificial stimulus. The con-
siderable reduction Of differentlals must en-
courage them to new activities, and should
make worth their while attention to the other
obstacles to the largest prosperity of this
| port such as excessive lighterage and elevator
charges They have the promise of an enlarged
! canal, and the actually Of more favora-
bic rates The time is ripe for farseeiDg and
unselish enterprise to make New-York a great
er centre Of commerce than ever before.