Year: 1873

quesuon Oh cheap transportauon between the
interior and the seaboard the farmers of the
West and the merchants of New York have
the deepest interest. The farmers, because
they have an enormous surplus of produce
that cannot reach market in consequence Of
the high rates Of freight, and our merchants,
because outlets of trade are being developed
in other directions that may affect the pros
perity and progress of this commercial me-
tropolis. In this matter the interests OF the
farmers and our merchants should be identi-
Cal, but if the farmers can hnd cheaper out
let for their produce, and, consequently,
reader and better market by Canada or any
other route, they are not likely to come to
New York to sell, and would buy most of their
merchandise, probably, where they might find
the best market for their produce. New York,
through its capital and established trade,
has great advantages which cannot easily be
overcome. but in the end the cheapest and
most favorable routes of commerce will be
| adopted. 1t will not do, then, to be idle and
Indifferent, or to depend either upon the
prestige of the past or present commercial
supremacy, while rivalry, with decided local
advantages, Is springing up.


| The meeting at the Cooper Institute on
Wednesday evening showed that the merchants
of this city have got some idea of the import
ance of the subject and q necessity for action.
| Still, it was evident the commercial classes
and wealthy citizens are not aroused as they
ought to be. There was great parade OF
| respectable names and large business firms to
the call for the meeting, and it was said five
hundred millions of capital was represented,
yet the assemblage was not remarkable one,
the hall was not full, nothing practical was
devised. few tame speeches were made upon
sglittering generailies, and the whole
affair seems to have been engineered
by few old fogy politicians. This is
not the way to meet the issue that is
looming up all over the country or to
secure the commercial supremacy of New
York in the future. Let us hope, however,
that this was only the commencement of
greater movement, and that the business men
and capitalists generally Of this city will yet
show more earnestness The farmers oranges,
which have risen up rapidly and are increas-
ing in number and influence daily, have forced
this question Of transportation upon Congress
and the politicians, and the latter, seeing the
power of these organizations, are on the alert
to make political capital out of the movement.
A committee of the United States Senate was
appointed to investigate and report upon the
subject, and this committee was at the Cooper
institute meeting on Wednesday night, and
has since been taking testimony in this city.
So far the evidence, as published is from the
freighting companies and agents and those in
terested in the railroads, and is one-sided The
gentlemen examined frankly acknowledged
that the screws were put on the farmers and
country merchants whenever there was pres
sure for forwarding produce. In other words


the freighting companies and railroads impose
the highest rates they can when there is
chance. This is the very state Of things the
farmers and merchants justly complain Of, and
for which they are seeking remedy.


The whole country, as was remarked, is in
terested in this question of cheap transporta-
tion; for whatever promotes trade. stimulates
exports and increases production adds to the
national wealth and well-being. We have
always, particularly in the West and South,
superabundance Of products of the soil, and
the more of these we can send abroad the less
gold will be exported, the more will the
balance of trade be in our favor and the better
every way will be our financial condition.
As the farmers prosper through finding q
market for their produce, which implies cheap
transportation to the seaboard, more mer-
chandise will be imported, and thus the trade
of New York and other cities will be improved
and the revenue Of the government be in
creased. Commercial movements, as we'll as
the good condition of the national finances,
depend greatly upon the prosperity of the
farming interest. If the farmers ore cut off
from market by insufficient means Of trans
portation, by exorbitant railroad charges to
pay interest on fictitious capital by forestallers
or combinations to realize enormous profits,
or by other causes, the whole commercial and
financial interests of the country are injuri-
ously affected, and those Of New York partic-
ularly because this city is the centre of COM
merce and finance


We do not suppose that Montreal, Portland,
DOStOu, Iulldecipu1ti, ouitiuOIe VI any OLQeT
place is going to supersede New YORK as the
great commercial emporium of the American
Continent However much trade may be in
creased in any Of these cities, or their direct
trade with the West be promoted through
opening or extending lines of railroad and
canal communication with that section, the
result would be beneficial to this city. The
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad or Canal may
be extended so as to tap the vast trade of the
Ohio and Mississippi valleys; the Pennsyl-
vania Central, with Tom Scott at its head and
with all the stupendous railroad combination
under him to assist, may make connections to
the Mississippi and beyond, to the Gulf of
Mexico or even to the Pacific, and lines of