Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-16
80 ReyoIurion---CIly Railroads.


As tbe introduction of system Of local city
passenger railways is now engaging the atten-
ton of a portion of ourcitizens and is exciting
public remark, we quote some paragraphs in
reference to the system adopted IN Philadelphia
from the american and Ga=ens of that city, of
July sth. According to that influential jour
nal the introduction of local city passenger
RAILWAYS. 10 supersede the use of cmnibuses'
met with strong opposition at first, which has
not only been overcome, but the innovation is
firmly established, and rapidly extending its
sphere of operations in every direction. The
early movement for the introduction of gas en-
countered the same determined opposition as
the city passenger railways were doomed to
struggle with, says the Gazette, yet time ex-
plcded the objections. Those objections were
not whit more ludicrous than the opposition
to city passenger railways must soon become.
The Gazette adds
Every two minutes 4 car passes on the Fifth
and Sixth streets railway. 1t runs without IN
tsrrupiion. People crowd into 1t at each cross
ing, or get out 10 90 about their business. The
LllOuSalus u pcIsoAs eAAC AOAe1 NAAS 80
beforehand so much alarmed at the prospect Of
having railway going by their doors, have sub
sided into unTesisting liberation, and become
fast friends of the work, though probably some
inveterate prejudices viii hold out for many a
year to come in the minds of persons determin-
ed not to be persuaded of their erroneous Opin-
ions Property IS not deprecated; children are
not run over there any more than by omnibus
es aud carts elsewhere indeed, the course OF
the cars is 50 sure, and they can be seen and
heard so far of. that there is no excuse for
cidents. When the thing was new, people used
% stop and look at the ears pass in wonder
Children delighted to place pebbles on the rails
TO hear the wheels smash them. But now no
one notices them any more than the passage of
hack or a dray. Fire engines and all manner
of other vehicles find the tracks great con-
venience for running upon, and use them con-
stantly SO that if the vote Of all the drivers in
the city were to be now taken, they would
unanimously 90 for the railroad Nor do the
cars obstruct the free passsge Of the street
Each car takes up only the room it stands upon,
which is not much greater than that occupied
by an omnibus, and it passes so quickly as to
be soon out of the way.
All these thoughts pass daily through the
minds of persons who witness the operations Of
the Fifth and Sixth streets railway, so that the
universal opinion seems to be that the improve
ment is a great one, and cannot be dispensed
with, no matter how many objections against it
NAV be urged. As it is admitted on all sides TO
be Of so much benefit and convenience to the
people, the conviction is general that, SO far
from the railway company being obliged to
combat the individual obstTpctiOns thrown in
their way, the o5jectors must adapt themselves
to the new system. They are in the midst of a
revolution, and it is useless to resist IT, for the
street IS the property Of the whole community,
and not Of few property owners fronting on
it, it is not the community which must give
way, but the privileged few whose property
opens on the highway. This Is the substance
Of the decision in the case of the Second and
Third streets railroad in the Supreme Court,
and it is good sound sense, beyond the mere
question of law.
We have had serious doubts respecting the
propriety of some of the new lines, in view Of
their crossing others, or running along densely
crowded thOrOughfsres where business might
be incommoded. But all doubt Of their con
structiOn Is now at end. They will all be
built without delay, and in some manner the
will manage to overcome the Obiee- |
tiOns to their operations. The West Philadel- |
phia line fully satisfies us of this, as that work
had TO encounter greater obstacles than can |
possibly he in the way of any other. The long |
and steep inclined plane west of the Schuylkiil /
has been successfully overcome the Market /
street bridge is used without being obstructed |
the passage of the market sheds has been man
aged well the preliminary measures have been
obtained towards the removal of the sheds /
themselves, as well as the eurbstone market, \
and al the numerous turnouts have been cross 1
ID, and through these the road Is worked regu-
arly and profitably evsry DAY. This settles the
question respecting all the passenger railways. /
~ V1--s-5---S-I5. u m operation by the Ist
II August Another company viii at once
the construction of line along Race
nd Vine streets to Faimount, and several 9TH
T lines are to be conslruc'e ed this season.
-ines have been planned between Southwark
nd KensingtOn, and the Gassns expresses con
dence that all the lines already chartered by
he Legislature will be built