American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-04-15


trade of the city to interpose any obstacle.
In further confirmation Of my opinion that
the power should be continued in the city au-
thorities, | might instance the failure to eXer-
else the right which has always existed to re-
move the track now laid by this Company with
in her limits. This authority has been, as the
| Councils are aware, sought to be taken away
| but unsuccessfully; and while it still remains,
as conceive, wholesome check, it has not
been employed in any degree, to the disadvan-
tage of the said Company. The right Of citi-
zens, in their individual capacity, are surely
equally deserving of the same favor and indul-
gence as ought to be extended TO a corporate
tody, and it might fairly be subject of com.
| plant, that when each citizen is made answer
able for his conduct within the proper exercise
Of the Police Regulations of the city, corporate
bodies enjoy greater liberty by the force of
Legislative exemption.
To comprise in few words my objections to
the first section of the bill, am unwilling to
grant permission that the grade Of any street
through which this new track shall pass, be al
tered or interfered with at the pleasure of the
Company, and without being subject to the
contlol of the city authorities, as | apprehend
might be the case unless the phrasoology of
tits section is amended, and in addition to this
objection ] am entirely opposed to the with
drawal from the Mayor and City Council all
future control, or for the length of time grant
ed in this bill, over the use of steam power up
on said t,ac!L,. and still further opposed to the
yielding up of the power now pl,t"nefly logged
i'll the city authorizes as to forbid the use OF
the said track, OF any other, if the public policy
should hereafter justify them in believing that
the interests of the community demanded the
prohibition.
The journal of proceedings OF the Second
Branch of the City Council furnishes me with
an additional reason Way this new track should
be used, subject to the future control of the
moving power by the city authorities, wherein
IL is mar. dest, by the amendments made to the
org nal bill, that they properly sought to place
me eastern section of the city upon an equal
footing to compete with any other section; but
may they not hereafter discover, as think
they will, should this bill 90 into operation,
that such were the greater restrictions placed
upon the use of the railway leading uUTfi
Pratt street to the City Block, as would defeat
the enjoyment of fair share of the emolu-
ments of the anticipated trade. Even a slight
difference might work dsadvantageously to
the favor of one track over another. Ought
not this consideration be entitled to some
weight?
find, in the second section of the Bill sub
rnitted for my approval, that it is proposed to
renqnsh the right of the city to wharfage,
dockage, and every other charge upon the nu-
merous articles enumerated therein, which may
be transported upon the said Branch for the
period of twenty years. If this exemption was
to be extended alone to the track spoken of in
the previous section, as would seem, at par
tial examination of the provision, to be intend
ed, no reasonable objection could be made to it,
inasmuch as within the limits proposed for the
location of the said Branch, OIL the South side
of the Basin, the City holds no property upon
which it could no,o impose any claim for the
Wharfage and dockage, and, of course, the ex
emption would he harmless. 1t may, possibly,
have escaped the notice of the Councils, that,
in the fourth section of the bill, having relation
to that track which now has one of its termini
at the City Block it is provided ''that al other
privileges granted" in sAy previous section are
made to attach to this Branch likewise of said
Rail Road; thereby, as doubt not, full authori-
ty is given to said Company to use the whole or
any portion of the City Block free from the id
position by the City of wharfage, docksg re, &c.
When we remember, and, doubtless, it is we'll
impressed upon the minds of the Council, at
what exceeding great cost to the city this va
liable property has been acquired, and from
which already is yielded large portion Of the
revenue of the city by tho renting Of portions
OF said property and tho exaction Of Wharfage,
they will, probably, be disposed to thn'ik that
some shorter limit, as to the time that this
Company is to enjoy the use Of said property,
and more especially, some particular extent of
the SAID property to be used should be fixed by
the Bill The journals of the Councils in past
years will furni sh evidence that, in the pur-
chase and imp foxement of the said property, 1t
was always contemplated that it would yield in
return i an equivalent in those very charges by
the City which it is proposed by the Bill to be
snrren dered, and, further, it will appear that
The noceipts to be derived from this source
WE 80 TO be specially applied to the payment
81 the debts of the Corporation Being fully con-
, WINGED, however, of the importance Of granting
aid and encouragement to the Company for the
turtherance of the leading objects mentioned
i'll the bill, | am disposed to acquesce in the
exemption from said charges, if made to apply
to portion of the city property only, SO as not
to exclude its beneficial use by others, or pre-
vent the city from dervng advantages from
such use, if the Councils desire to adhere to the
principle now contained in the bill upon this
particular subject.
have thus frankly expressed my objections
TO the bill as it is presented to my consldera-
ton, aud have endeavored to exercise an i'm
partial judgment upon it., ardently desiring to
| promote the true interests of the Whole people
and gladly should 1 unite in any measure free
from serious objections that would accomplish
the chief objects of the bill now before me-
which ! herewith return without my approval
Very respectfully yours, SIC.
| (Signed) JACOB G.. DAVIES, Mayor
FIaE IN PERRysBuRc, ONO. On Sunday
night last, fire broke out in Perrysburg, which
consumed the block of buildings known as
Wheeler's block, together with the residence
and out buildings of b. F. Kirk. The build