The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-20

Park would be Obliged TO conlne their travei anu
the whole street DC taken for the railway, upon
the mere approval Of the Street Commissioner.
The mere statement of this fact is sufficient 10
show why the owners oppose this project. Ne srgr-
ment can be require to convince any person who
has seen Broadway in motion, that nothing short OF
space at least seventeen feet in width on each side
Of the outer track would be required to allow tive
vehicles to pass while the cars are In motion
nothing less would be sufficient to meet the wants
Of those vehicles necessarily obliged to that por-
ton OF the street below the Park.
Ii may be borne IN MUD by those who have given
attention to this subject, and the arguments ad-
duced In favor OF IT before the committee, that the
petitioners in the outset, proceeded with the asser
ton that Broadway sixty feet in width and AZ
forded plenty OF room for the laying down Of rail
way
portion of that committee and certainly the pub
lie must have been astoDisbed upon bein gnformes
that Broadway only, in truth, averaged forty-onS
and which is that part situated below the Park
scarcely averages thrtyfve feet in width, while al
Rector street it is but thirty two feet nine inches
wide, as nscertaned by actual admeasurement.
This important fact would, in ordinary cases. be
sufficient in itself to create suspicion in the mind
Of any person to the spirit actuating the sppli-
cants for gigantic monopoly which. thus early,
has not only swallowed up all the omnibus lines In
this city, but has likewise produced such IN accele.
rated movement on the part Of this committee and
Common Council, as to cause In the minds Of the
community doubt Of the truth of the old preverb,
- wise bodies move slowly"
But it would seem to be matter Of no impor-
lance that these petitioners have been obliged to
abandon all their previous plans 80 carefully ma
tured, for the relief of Broadway. No matter that
the main fact-and which must have been with
in their knowledge, as to Broadway not averaging
thirty FIVE feet in width, from curb to curb, below
the Park-was carefully concealed Yet, it APP
pears majority of this committee conceive such
mistakes or conceaments to be perfectly inmate.
rial; and the parties who made them are deemed
sufficiently public spirited to be entitled to this
immense monopoly, amounting substantially to
frn.u hn nit W IN
and this, too while the committee and the Com
mon Council have before them petitions from such
responsible persons as Alexander I. Stewart, Ste
phen Storms, d. Henry Haight, Thomas A. Davies,
and Others offering TO give the city bonus, rang
ing from 800 600 to 100000 per annum, for the
privilege Of laying these rails, and running cars
thereon.
There can be no question as to the responsibility
Of these gentlemen, of their good faith in making
the application, because they frankly tell you that
they expect to realize from this monopoly sum
sufficient to indemnify them for the losses their
property the street will sustain in the sonstrxc-
ten Of such railway.
Then why hos give to them the privilege? Why
give it to those petitioners who possess no property
on the street? Why give it to individuals who
have not only shown themselves entirely imprae-
ticable, but have based their application upon q
false statement IS to the width Of Broadway!
1t may be said, in answer to this, that the Law
officer of tho city advises US We cannot exact any
bonus for this privilege" (p. l432
Well, admitting that such is tho law Is there any
exacton here! Was this argument ever heard in
times when our ferries have been leased to the
highest bidderl or when our wharves had been ini4
larly let! or when many other franchises have been
similarly disposed Of in former days!
Is it possible that the people Of this community
the tax payers-w will fail to perceive the aimsness
Of this answer? No. And II any member Of this
committee expects a tax payer to perceive the
difference between letting ferry and letting the
privilege to railway street, no will be sisnany
mistaken.
There is no difference between tho two cases; and
il is no exaction when psrtie, Voluntarily come for
ward and offer to give us this large sum per annum
But admitting. for the sake of the argument,
that the taking Of this voluntary offer would bs an
exaction, let us where stand, and let us see
whether, in giving this privilege to these petition
ers and merely getting IN return the ordinary
license fee for each car, not making gifts OF
the rights Of constituents to the tune OF about
$175, COO per nnnum!
1t was shown, upon the argument before the eon-
mittse that the partle, having snis monopoly ooS,d
then realize enormous profits. Indeed, this ssn
has been offered to u.s.
Now, tho right Of the Common Council TO tx the
sum to be paid for any loer certainly viii not be
! questioned; and no one can deny that II they can
fix that license at $40, which 1t is clearly shown
should be fixed at 81 900, they are giving away
i valuable rights without receiving an equivalent.
Orr corporation is called great and rich. and
should be 30, in fact, before We can be warrante
| in making gifts ofth magnitude.
It is stated, and considerably commented upon,
That these owners last the faus grounl
with the applicants In bearing substantial tsstimon
Ing applicants for that which they At the outset 90 ve
hementy resisted. (P. 1409)
To show how unfair and heterogeneous this state
ment is in all its parts, it is only necessary TO refer
to their numerous circumstances and petitions pre-
sented and on file in this Board
From an examination Of them, it will distinctly
appear that the owners have never "borne testi-
mony in favor of . railroad in Broadway they,
the contrary, have objected, and still do object
to 1t, but are convinced that great monopoly,
such as this railroad promises to be-whicA ct i.s
birth has sufficient strength to nearly stfe all ep-
position to it, even in the Common Council chan
ber-must award to those engaged in it large
profits.
Therefore it is, the owners Say
flour property must be injured by a railroad running
through Broad way II This Common Council detsrmines
to place railroad in that trest against rsnon-
strances then give the privilege Of realizing the
pro which must inevitably result from the possession
Of such y.'uabe monopoly, the losses which We wll
beyond doubt SUSTAIN II the depreciation Of
our property.
One other point, and one that .~aems 70 nave re-
ceiyed not the attention its Importance 4"saas.
Broadway has just been laid with . Russ pave
ment, at an expense of nearly half . million Of dol
lars, making the street, in fact, . railway from
curb to curb, aud which, for beauty and dura-
bility, commands the admiration Of all. Tho
tenants on the line Of the street have moi
to their business necessarily attendant upon thu
laying of this pavement; the cement is yet wei
on which this pavement rests; the bills Of expense
have not yet been paid; when, with . shrill cry d
Improvement" and progress" which for csnturei
has been the "stalkiDg horse" for all kinds Of
nopolies, this pavement has to be torn up and do
stroyed for the purpose Of testing experiments in
railroad traction"
In conclusion, and in accordance with the views
above expressed, the adoption Of the following rose
buttons is recommended
Resolved. That it is inexpedent to lay railway in
Broadway
II, however, the Common Council conclude that q
railway in Broadway is necessary, then the follow
ing resolution is recommended for adoption -
Resolved That the Comptroller advertise fer two
weeks in the Corporation newspapers for the proposals
Of laying railway in Broadway such proposals to spss
the kind Of railway intended the kind Of ears prepesa
to be thereon. the fare for each passenger The
moneys bonus which viii be paid into the treasury per
for the privilege Of laying such rails in Neu u
cense fees and tho amount which win b paid for
license Zach xifhaut naYino bo~x,a a.A