The Hillsdale Standard

MICHIGAN'S SOUTHERN RAILROAD,

As an illustration of the partiality shown by this company in the transportation of property giving preference to through freight over that of the citizens of this State. We call attention to the following, or the truth of which, (incredible as it may appear,) we undertake to vouch, having our information from a most reliable source.

A merchant at Jonesville having made his full purchase of goods, and having been delayed in the receipt of them, went to Toledo for the purpose of getting them forwarded— by dint of great exertion and some little persuasive influence brought to bear on the subs at the warehouses, he was enabled to get a car loaded with some winter articles which he stood most in need of, and to make assurance doubly sure he remained until he saw the car containing his goods, actually put in the train and marked Jonesville. Leaving them in full confidence that the west freight train would bring on his long delayed goods—judge his disappointment, when upon his inquiry of the agent at Jonesville, he was told that they had not arrived, and know nothing about them further than that the train which should have left them had gone through to Chicago—day after day no tidings could be got of his goods, further than that the car marked "Jonesville" with his goods on board had been seen at White Pigeon on its way east, and had actually passed Jonesville a second time, and after its arrival at Adrian or Toledo it was dispatched the second time for its place of destination. after a lapse of ten days from the time the owner of the goods started them from Toledo.

Mr. Jas. Moore says he alone is to blame for any irregularity in the transportation of freight, and he alone is the person to whom the complaint is to be made. Will he condescend to explain how it becomes necessary that goods intended for an intermediate point, must take their starting point from Chicago,—perhaps it is upon a principle analogous to that of a voyage to the East Indies, being considered absolutely necessary to impart a palatable flavor and softness to Madeira wine—or has it aught to do with the increased freight. Whatever be the cause, an explanation would be very acceptable to our business men.

As an illustration of the way the Company do their collecting of freights, we have known of a case where a merchant received a box of goods having forty dollars freight charges on it. these charges included freight that had not been received, and they refused to deliver one box to him unless he would pay the advance charges on freight which he had not, nor did not receive for six or seven weeks after the arrival of the one box, which was undoubtedly forwarded for the purpose of drawing the full charges of freight. but unfortunately for the Company, and to the disadvantage of the owner it lay in possession of the Company until the balance arrived. They have endeavored to take the advantage of business men in this and other similar ways. Some are compelled to submit for the want of their goods, others will not under any circumstances. The use of money for the space of a month or six weeks is of as much importance to a merchant as it is to the Company.