The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-12
THE BROADWAY RAILROAD.
Mr.. Fields Argument.
Tpcporfed NV A w Harcomha


The committee Of the Common Council. to whom
this project has been REFERRED met Saturday last,
in the chamber of the Board of Aldermen, Alderman
STUETEvANT in the chair.
Mr. WHITING concluded his argument on behalf
OF bis clients, Of the against the
seheme.
Mr. DAVID DUDLEY FIELD, counsel for the appli-
cants, then rose and replied at length the whole
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen ofthe Committee
1t devolves on me to reply to the objections Of the
romensirants, and to assert the practicability
and expediency OF the proposed railway. In doing
so, tbal leave unnoticed the personalities of GONE
cftbe Temonstrants. and the threats OF others, as
well as the insinuatons against the committee. 1t
is rev to that it should be thought proper for
tbose who ere debating public question, before a
committee of public body to assail the motives Of
its members, while it seems strange method OF
convincing their understandings to utter suspicious
respecting their intentions But these are topics
into which shall rot follow the remoDstrants. Nor
shall dwell on the Inconsistencies into which they
have tsllen though 1t is flesh in your recolleot On
how they at one time denounced tae rail way rs nj
together impractcabe, and at another pronounced
1t 80 certain Of success as to be of inner value,
too gre at 10 be granted to private company
Ore reucnstfant maintained that the pressure Of
vehicles into BroldIay owing TO the excellence
OF its pavement, while another maintained the op-
poite, insisting that the pressure existed before the
pavement was improved. One gentleman lde p
strong point, that the railway could not compete
with the omnibuses, and in the same argument,
another point equally strong, that the omnibuscs
scheme rs IN outage upon the citizens, and an
sbuse Of power, and before they sat down nplored
the committee to make the grant to them. One Of
the counsel objected that the change from car to
omnibus at the streets would be nvenient,
but The next insisted that system Of transfer tick
cts was indispensable, whether the railway were
built or not
Some declared that the interest Of property own
ere on Broadway would be disastrously affected by
the railway, and while they admitted the overcrowd
ing OF the streets proposed as remedy the opening
OF side streets, but at the time conceded that
the eide streets would not take Off the travel I'M
less they took of the foot passengers and il the
foot passengers went the business would 20 with
them. Others were strenuous that Broadway was
not overcrorded, and equally strenuous that the
overcrowding was good thing, and ought not to
be relieved, because iswoud force business up town.
But will not weary you with repetition OF these
Inconsistencies.
The applicants for this grant have an active inter-
est and strong prejudices to overcome. They have
against them the proprie.ors OF the omnbuses, who
suppose that their Interests will be iDjued
by the railway. Then there are owners of property
tho street, who conceive, erroncously. az think
that their property will be deprecated by the road
THESE are ndefatigabe and vehement in their oppo-
sion, and their zeal has carried them sometimes TO
the length of asserting that majority of persons
interested in the street are opposed to the road
This my clients believe to be n mistake They
tell me that n majority Of merchants and others
doing business in Broadway have pettioned for t.
We know that some Of the largest lend owners in
the city bavo done go, among whom ] may mention
Mr.. Whitney, Judge Roosevelt, and 40 Wand & A.
pinvall More than thirty thoussnd persons, in.
GLIDING seven hundred aud ninety. six licensed cart
men, and ninetytwo licensed porters have petition
cd that the grant be ide There ia also % .ition
signed by sixty physicians. The Importance of the
road, and the number and respectabiity OF the pe-
titopers for it, have led TO tho appointment Of this
special committee on the subject. before which the
fulleet discussion has been Invited
There are rrejudices TO be overcome. Some una
CINE that the general beauty and a.tractiyenoss of
Broadway will be impaired. For my own part,
ance Of that fine street. do net believe that this
will Certainly it win not be contendod that the
removal of the omnbuses will taGe away any Of the
beauties. The may be made at least as pleasant
10 look upon.
Pr,iudices against ilways ia cities know OK.
ist, but 90 MOI believe them 10 bs well founded