New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-10-19
cENY NATLRoADS.

The lack Of a cheap, convenient and rapid means
Of communication between the various exremites Of
this widely extended metropolis has long been felt,
and numerous arc the modes that have been proposed
to remedy a evil universally complained Of, As yet
none III The projects submitted have metWith general
favor, while the grievance is continually charging in
magnitude. Some years ago the lamented H. R. w.
Hill laid before the public plan for street railroads.
but although it had warm advocates it met such op.
position from the press and the people that it was
finally abandoned and up to the last meeting Of the
| Common Council, all schemes to create system of
city street railroads seem to have slept profoundly
The cities Of New York and Philadelphia have
been benefited immensely by their railroads. OF
this there is no doubt Experience, the surest of all
tests, has demonstrated the fact conclusiyely The
New Workers could hardly get along without their
street railroads. which enable them to reach any part
Of Gotham within a few moments. 1t is true the
thoroughtares of that city are wider, as general
thing than those of our own but does it follow from
this, that onr streets are absolutely insuscepbe Of
like improvements leading to like advantages? We
ask the question: not with the view of taking sides
Or Of expressing decided opinion either way for we
have not examined the subject all its bearings with
sufficient deliberaton and scrutiny but for the pur
pose Of inducing an expression of public sentiment
AT the regular session Of the Board Of Aldermen
held On Tuesday evening last, Alderman Howell of,
fered preamble and resolution relative to city rail
ways which were read The first time and laid over.
They will probably come up for consideration if not
for final action SO far as the Upper Board is con-
cerned, this evening. Before proceeding to a synop
sis of the matter presented by Alderman H. we must
be permitted to express the hope that the project will
not be hastily acted upon for it is one Of much mo-
L HI I y
in all its details and present and prospective work
ings. The members Of the Common Council should
bear in mind that they are legslatng for the future
as well as for the present. and that what will answer
very welfor to-day or forfye years hence may prove
an insupportable burthen twenty years hence The
preamble sets out by stating that communication by
railway between the upper and lower limits Of the
city is desirable, and that considerable expense to
the city and the public will be saved by the compile
ton Of such an enterprise The resolution instructs
the City Surveyor to advertise in the newspapers that
the Common Council will receive applications from
citizens wishing to constitute themselves an associa.
ton for the purpose Of building railway on Camp
street, commencing at the upper line of Toedano
street he boundary between the city and the parish
ofJeerson) and continuing the same to Canal street
thence the south side of Canal to Rampant street
along the west side of Rampant to Esplanade and to
be continued in the Third District in accordance with
the recommendations Of the Surveyor with the con.
curfence of the members of the Council from that
District. Another track on Magazine street, from
Toledano down to Canal on the north side of Canal
to Rampant, the east side of Rampant to Es.
planade, etc, is also provided for with the stipua
lions above named Would it not be better to run
the track out to Claiborne, and then down One
line should suffice for Rampartl
The following are the conditions which applicants
must comply with before they can obtain the grant
proposed in the preamble and resolutions referred to
To lay the same kind of rails and to adopt the
same style of cars in in the city of Pliladel
phia to lay the track in the middle Of Camp and
Magazine streets, along the north and south portion
of Canal and east and west portion of Rampant as
near the middle ground Of both streets as praeti-
cable, and in the Third District as the convenience
OF the streets Will admit; the applicants also to
pave within the track with round stones and to keep
the paved aud unpaVed streets through which the |
track passes in perfect order during the continuance
OF their privilege. 1t being well understood that one
track snail be used for cars passing up aud the other
track for cars passing down. The fare from the
upper or lower limit Of the city to Canal street shall
not exceed five cents for each person.
Each car shall be drawn by two horses or miles, |
and drawn abreast They shall run every thirty |
nlnutest or oitener il desired The cars shall be |
subject to an annual tax by the corporation but in
no case shall the tax on each car exceed one hundred
dollars per annum.
The present grade Of the streets to be observed
and the work done under the supervision of the City
Surveyor according to the specifications published in
the official journal.
While we are endeayoring to connect the upper
and lower limits of the city by railroads. would it not
be good idea to consider whether the establishment
Of lines running from the river back would not be
advisable The city, in our deliberate opinion is