New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-04-03
Parallel Railroads.

Parallel Railroads.
An exciting struggle is ia progress at Albany
and Westward based upon application for a
Railroad from Syracuse to Rochester on a more
direct and level route than that by which the two
cities are now connected, through Auburn, Geneva
and Canandagus. During my recent absence IN
Maine, the arguments against the grant Of power
required were fully and iO-cibly presented IN this
paper, in the speech of Mr.. Varnum in the As
semby and in an article in the Money Report Of
the 27th inst. by my Associate in charge of that
department. Although my own view OF the case
differed essentially from this, had not proposed
10 offer any remarks the subject at present
but find the article aforesaid has been quoted IN
other journals and even read in argument IN the
Senate as the view OF The Tribune, while my
own opinions on the general question are known
TO many persons to differ iroin those thus ex-
pressed. To avoid future misapprehension, pro
pose briefly TO pre- sent them.
The Legislature is doubtless vested with large
discretion IN case. OF this nature, and bound to
ercise it an the public good shall dictate, without
partiaty OF pre- JUDGE. II Railroad Is projected
which cannot be constructed without serious inlu-
ry to existing interests, 1t ought 10 be convinced
that decided public benefit is 10 accrue from Us
construction before giving it the requisite sanction
The work should sgnally benefit many If 1t be cal
calated seriously 10 iniure ANY. Yet 1t must not
be forgotten that the right to make an improved
road on particular line IS natural to the people
living on that hne--that the Legislature really
gives nothing in permitting those who are 10 be
benefited to make the road they want. Nor should
it be forgotten that the existing road seriously ~
terfered with and prejOdced existing rights when
II was opened-that it made sad havoc with the
business Of taverns. stage.coaches, canal boats
&c. &c. on various routes from Syracuse to Ro-
chester 1t is and must be SO with every decided
improvement. Can the present Railroad Compa-
MES in that region maintain that improvement
shall march Just up to the line indicated by their
interest, and stop there
The issue ON which this question must be de-
cided is one OF fact rather than OF principle. VIII
the Railroad now asked for pay Its way We
unhesitatingly say It will If economically con.
structed and managed w Ill it benefit the region
through which II is TO run Most certainly can
any one doubt 1T But will 1t injure the existing
parallel roads Yes, IL Will, but to nothing like
the extent now asserted by their advocates. Let
us appeal to facts
Boston and Portland shout as far apart as
Syracuse and Rochester, but the ground in the
former case is far less favorable for The construc
ton of Railroad. The route certainly not
mere than equal TO the other IN the support II
proilers TO Railroads, while the through travel
from Portland 10 Boston bears no comparison to
that from Rochester to Syracuse. And yet the
State of Massachusetts-which is commonly sup
posed to be sufficiently regardlulo OF Vested Ii shs
and the interests of Cspitsl-has chartered TWO
parallel Railroads from Boston through Us tern
tory in the direction OF Portland and those roads
have been constructed and are in operation
through that State a corner Of New Hampshire
and some distance into Maine coming together at
a point where there are not half a dozen houses
TO be seen. Yet these roads, So short aud with
very little beyond them, are each doing fair
business, and the stock OF each Is now about par
in the average little over Boston and Maine
lo3 Eastern 99) ! believe the rival roads
from Syracuse TO Rochester il equally we! man.
aged would do quite as well.
But, says one 'the new road being the
shorter and quicker, would tahe all the through
travel o no, Sir Railroads are seldom SO
green as to run each other. They canuot Afford
it. In the parallel case in my eye, the rval East
ern Railroads from Boston have an amicablc ar
rangement by which the profits on all the through
travel are fairly divided between them, leaving 10
each its own way receipts and its equal portion o
the through travel. And thus, while the passage
of trains on the Boston and Mallc have been sus-
pended for some weeks past by the burning OF a
bridge, it has nevertheless been receiving It's
share of the through passage money-Thus they
manage matters in Massachusetts,, and have not
vet heard OF the construction OF Railroads IN that
State having been brought 10 a dead stand through
the fears engendeced among capitalists 10y the
Jacobnical character OF her legislation
but where is the rule Of principle aud public
policy by which Legislature should IN such
cases be guided Ut is hardly practicable to lay
down an unvarying obvious rule, but apPrehend
this ia very near 1t Whenever an Application IS
palpsbly impelled by mere spite, envy or desiie
10 inore all existing or progressing wor@ It ought
90 he indignantly rejected But whenever II IS
made ia good faith, aud in obvious accordance
with the general wish OF the People through
whose lands it is TO pass. would say, give the
nettioners a right of way, aud let them buhd
their road if they can. 1t is hardly possible that
they should effect it unless there IS real aud
Urgent call for it. The money that railroad
must COST does not grow on every bush, and II can
very rarely be raised without tine hearty cooPerS
tion Of men OF large capital who are already In
,sre.ted in railroads These are not the men 70
tAHfa