Blue hen's chicken. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1848-1854, 1852-04-23

Mr.. f., Vincent - n on VIII CONFER 'aNo'l
on me by publishing The following;
NEW BRIDGE ACROSS THE HARLEM
RIVER
The Philadelphia. Wilmington and Baltimore
R,jIroad Co., have memoralzed the Maryland
LEGISLATURE Tor permission 10 bridge the Sus-
n,sbauna river al Havre-de-Ga The follow
iag, relating 10 that bridge, may apply with
,onal force 10 that proposed over the Harlem. |
aThe steam engines on the rivers and on the
roads Of The U. States ara involving in laby-l
rInth Of difficulties all interests that are TO bel
affected By bridging navigable waters
sThe interests Of navigation, whether by steam
or the older modes, and those Of railroads, are
antagonisical.
To the navigator and others interested, any
bridge Is more or less Objectionable "a viola ion
Of public as we'll as private rights-and may
lead 10 the ruin Of parties
On the other hand, the utility AMI success Of
railroad may be dependent upon bridge
particularly air-lines and conn citing roads.
in some cases, bridges may be and are loler-
ated by those most interested ia the navigation
-,he convenience Of crossing equally or over
balancing the injuries to the navigation. This
however, does not apply to the Railroad bridge.
The larger portion Of the public who resort lo
railroads for travelling or transportation, possess
no local interest in the waters afieced-ihell
interest is a general one--about as remote. indi
vjdually, as in lighthouse on The coast, which
they neTer see.
bridges that would not Otherwise have been re-
CURED these have rendered inventive though
active, which has led TO the improved lurn-ta
BILE draw now being placed in bridges crossing
navigable waters. This draw can be made te
span an opening Of more tina 100 ieei-may be
turned off and on with the utmost facility-and,
when wind and tide are favorable, cause very
little obstruction to the navigation.
.But winds and tides are changeabe; or, il
The wind be favorable 10 sail in one direction,
il follows that il must be unfavorable in the OPP
uesite So with the tide and current-ihe fair
up stream must necessarily be ahead down.
Bridges are the terror Of the stranger. IL l,
hard 10 induce the master Of a sailing vessel who
has 10 personal knowledge Of any pariicnla
bridge. 10 contract to deliver or receive fregh
at or from any point beyond il. None viii
contract without enhanced rates Of freight, Il
recover delay, damage, or, may be, expense o
siesm-lowing,
1t the Legislature Of Maryland authorize
bridge to be constructed across he Susquehan
ma, and should require draw with span o
100 feet or OVERTIME railroad company 10 keel
NJ all uthts III iohoihooo N ffe"H"T - Wv
freq Of expense 10 the navigator, TO and from
required distance above and below the bridge
all vessels not navigaied by steam--woul'
not the most serious objection Of parties direct
ly Interested 10 the navigation be cbvialed J.
The railroad company should not object TO thi
In fact. if il was required Of all railroad com
papies whose roads cross streams navigable a
all ftimes of tides, it would be more just an
equitable
1t is the railroad that has rendered the ex
pense Of towing necessary. If there were n
bridges. the masior Of a sailing vessel coul
enjoy his paramount rights to the waters. with
out requiring The aid Of tow-boat. II is III
railroad company who are most materially ben
Gifted by the violations Of the rights OF The nav
igaior, aud injury ofthe navigation, Who the
should provide for this expense-the party ben
+ Gifted or the party injured by the bridget
IL is well known to railroad managers tina
steam ferries, in addiiisn to the delays. are ia
more expensive than bridges. such ferries re
qure boats Of larger class the ,ranshpmeu
and frequent handling o. freigh, not only rende
goods liable 10 damage, but are attended wit
considerable cost the saving in this item alon
would more than compensate for the expense
the steam tug.
Should the foregoing be received favorabl
by the public, ether sugges,iens may be oiiere
III PROGRESS