The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-13

Yesterday afternoon, tho question of having
railroad in Broadwsy, was again gone into before
thu COMMITTEES Of the Board Of Aldermen. Before
the proceedings commenced, however, . short CON-
versation ensued to the advsabiity.o of going ON
with the case before the arrival Of Alderman Stur-
tevant II was decided to wait ton minutes; but
soon after that decision was como to, the Alderman
entered the room, and
Mr.. DAVIS rose, and said he had been selected by
portion of the oiizensS to address the committee
on the subject Of railroad in Broadway. The par
ties for whom he appeared were large owners OF
property in that great thoroughfare, and other cit
gems Of New York. He would have wished that his
clients had obtained an ADLER advocate, but rs he
had been selected, he would not make any excuses
The arguments brought before the committee on
Saturday in favor of the petitioners for the railway,
time, he lMr Dsvs} would be- able 70 show that that
argument was s0phistieal and snort sighted. b.
fore proceeding, however, he wished to know what
the exact duties of the committee were. Was il in
tended to entertain plan or to hear plans discuss
ed, and then to decide on certain plant
The CHAIRMAN alderman SsHrtevant The
gentlemen Of this committee have read the resolu-
ton of the Common Council and know what there
duty is AL they have to do is, to hear arguments
on both sides, as to allowing railroad in Broad
way You have no right to make any other suppo-
sition.
ON some certain railway in Broadway.
CHAIRMAN-N you have nothing to say pertinent
to the question, our course is plains but ifyOu have
report on the advsabilityof asailway in Broadway,
Mr. DAv1s-fhat is what supposed; but want
to knew in case any plan adopted whether or not
We will be heard again in opposition to that plan
CHAIRMAN-That is an after matter. We will at
present con6ne ourselves TO- the general proposition,
and then afterwards we viii take into confederation
A. - l~~~ I.~.~ IA
We will take those plans separately.
Mr.. DAyIs-We know Of no other plan than the
one now before you.
CHAnxAN-The present proposition, I say again,
sir, is the advisability OF railway In Broadway--
no further.
Mr.. SULLIvAN-ws have only displayed plan In
order to show that such result would be produced
CHAIRMAN-We age here to consider Of allow wing .
railway in Broadway.
Mr. SULLIyAN-That plan referred to was only to
show how q railroad could be advantageously laid
down, leaving open the question OF changing in
whatever way the committee may deem advisable.
The plan / showed meets with my entire approval,
but of my associates disagree with that opinion
That is not the essential point for our only wish
was to show the benefits deriyabio from railway
in Broadway.
Mr.. FIELD--We only propose now to rum o rail-
way from a certain point to another certain point,
and leave out for the present any exact details Of
we will conform to, whether to run near the sidd-
walk.
Mr.. DAvtS-That Is my plan.
CHAIRMAN-DO not interrupt, sir. Let Mr.. Field
address the committee.
Mr. FIELD resumed-The gentleman should have
known all the points of the before this, for
letter was sent to him from my associates long ago
Mr.. DAVIS again interrupted, but was called to
order He, however, went on to say that his object
to gain information, and he did not expect that
the matter would be choked down.
CHAIRMAN-There is no choking, sir. The COM
mittee is here to listen to arguments. Now, don't
use that word in reference TO the committee. We
| want to hear the arguments fairly.
:, Mr. DAyIs-A petition has been presented from
railway from the South ferry to Manhattanvie, and
plan was shown you on Saturday, q mahogany
board, with tin pots and other things.
I CHAIRMAN-The Committee know nothing about
that plan, as to whence it came, and from whom.
! We not to consider that pl an
Mr. DAvIs-Did not Mr.. Sullivan argue on that
! plan, as counsel for the petitioners!
1 CHAIRMAN-We cannot be certain that he was q
reprssen tative of those petitioners, any more than
we can be sure you are what you represent your
self We take it for granted that he was
Mr.. DAvIs-I have always understo that in
all cases where scheme is proposed by any party,
whether here or in the State, that it is usual for
such parties to state the particulars of the plans,
and not to throw any cloak over them, and thus
| The present petitioners have thrown cloak over
their Intentions, so ito give us aad the committee
more trouble. New, wish to understand exactly
from, and where to end
CHAlRMAN-Who do you put your question to
Mr. SULLIVAN rose to say that the railroad was
/ to run from the South ferry to Manhattanville
After some further conversation, Mr.. Davis en-
tered into an argument to shog the impolicy and
the injustice of allowing a railway to traverse
broadway. Regarding the declaration made by che
dered it a subterfuge; for, in answer to letter
which he had addressed to them, they declared ac-
quiescence in. and referred him to, the articles
signed 'sPro Bono Publico."
| II hau poth;r0 m do mi. Dro
i Bono Pnhico"
Mr. DAVIS again resumed but as he spoke at
at Messrs. Field and Sullivan, who sat next
him, the chair called him to order He AGAIN
resumed, and observed that plans for rail ways in
Broadway had been fifteen years before the public.
He could himself detail many plans Of his own, but
he would not trouble the committee. Now, as to
the question Of accommodating the public, he con-
sidered that there was no want Of accommodation.
Any man, for sxpence could travel miles and miles;
and that was the true democratic way of travelling
He (Mr Davs) travelled, and liked it; and so did
every sensible man. 1t was q comfort to sit in an
omnibus; but if the railways were to be all in
vogue, q man would BIO squeezed into one seventh
OF the space no ought to occupy Every one would
dislike that, and particularly aldermen. They
were told that cars on rails would be pulled easier
by horses than omnbuses COULD but he, as an en-
gineer Of twenty-five years. standing, and the
oaoet 81 I'M Inc second railroad in the United States
sented as great facilities for pulling vehicles as
rails; one horse, alone, could pull omnbas on it,
but two horses did it better He (Mr Davis) con-
sidered the whole scheme drumming railroad along
Broadway as money making adventure, and he
could not see on what grounds monopoly
should be granted to a body Of men, to the injury
of those who had made livelihood by the sweat of
their brow, and served the publ, well and faith
fully 1t would have been well if Mr.. Sullivan had
captured Cuba for, in that case the present scheme
would never have been heard Of He made this per-
sonal allusion as he considered it only gnid pro
quo for Mr. Mr.. Sullivan having mentioned CONVEX
sation which be had had with him, and which was
considered as strictly private
Mr.. SULLIVAN explained that the conversation he
had mentioned was not the one referred to by Mr..
| Davis
After some conversation, Mr.. DAVIS resumed and
declared that Broadway not AZ feet wide all
along rs declared by the petitioners for ut the cor
ner Of Rector street he had examined IL twice and