The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-04
The Washington and New York Route


We had occasion during the last autumn and
summer To discuss In our columns the deen-
tons, delays, and Inconvenience, to which the
public We're exposed on the line of travel be-
tween this city and New York-the political and
the commercial metropolis of the country. II
seemed unaccouniable that the travelling COM
munty should tolerate the existing grievances
on that line, without making a serious effort to
remove them. Various expedients were sug-
gested, and, among others, the power of Con-
gress was invoked for the establishment of an
air-line railroad, under the constitutional provi-
slons for establishing post-routes. This PROPOSE
ton met with very general favor in the press,
and numerous communications were received
from parties interested in the improvement Of
this route, commencing it, and expressing the
hope that it would command the early attention
Of Congress. Individuals stood ready to advance
all the capital necessary to complete such a
road, in the event Of a charter being obtained
and there is no doubt that the funds could now
be raised for that purpose within twenty four
hours. Such a company would readily CON
tract, in consideration of the privileges confer
red by such charter, to carry the mail for
nothing during its continuance.
Under this pressure from without, certain
reforms were undertaken on the line, which, for
a time, seemed to melorate, 10 some extent, the
evils Of which the public complained. We learn
from friend, however, that these improvements
are merely nominal and that the impositlons
practised on the public are as fragrant and
enormous as ever The scandalOus detentions
in Baltimore and Philadelphia, devised for no
better purpose than TO levy tax on passen-
gers, still continue; while the poor victims are
amused with vain hopes of accomplishing in
reasonable time journey which frequently oc-
cupies from two 10 three times the number Of
hours that is necessary. He informs us, for
instance, that he left New York on Sunday
evening last, at hslfpast five O'Clock, under
a contract with the managers Of the line TO
deliver him ia Washington on Monday morn
ing. at seven o'clock, or tlIereabouts in CON
sderstion Of which engagement, he purchased
through ticket for the sum Of 81 60
The amount he did not object To. though it
was tro dollars and eighty ee,ts more than is
charged on the New York and Boston rail
road for rou,euf Some ten mites greater length
He soon found that the engine had double or
treble the work to do that it was competent for,
and the consequence was that, instead Of being
put through" according to contract. he was
delivered in Philadelphia at eleven o'clock, sf.
ter having accomplished eighty five miles Of
travel in the space OF fee hours and a-haX 1t
was hour or so too late for the cUnnexion
with the Baltimore train, and our friend went
to the Girard House, where he found very com
Portable accommodations for the night. Th.
was plessanter than passing the night in the
cars; but it WAS not the entertainment TO which
he was invited.
! The next morning he took the early train at
halfpastel O'Clock for Baltimore He though,
he might now safely calculate on reaching his
journeys end at six o'clock-just twenty.
five hours. lie was not so familiar as he ought
to have been, by long experience, with the
multfarious incidents and accidents Of New
York and Washington travel. lie had beer
out something more than four hours, and wa,
| WlaHlH oOhlt hNp anu tNfhtJ ihlits VI Dhil
more, OF thereabouts, when the cars came to
stand still What was the matter7 A men
trifs. An engine Of an up coming train smashed
two or three cars doubled up and twisted
pictuTesqnely, and the rest Of the trail
hanging at various angles over ditch
and of the rails. Anybody killed. Fortu
naiely no lives were lost. switch wa