New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-03-28
THE QUESTION or CITY RAILROADS.

Iegi,lnure which they have deserved have been de-
tanned here lorger than anticipated, and nave
oueby hsd leisure to devote to other and have
given the question Of City Railrosds VIII Oh is the
great question of the session far your city con
cerned some little attention. With your permission,
| viii relate my experience for the benefit Of yoar
readers.
WORD FOR THE THIRD HOUSE.
Whatever may be thought Of it, the Lobby Of
every Legislative body is power which Is felt 10
legislation and which whea representing the popular
sentiment, and actirg within the limits of integrity
Veh 10 be felt BIZ those who clothed with the
yereign power Of the State 1t is here that al who
have rights TO demand or wrongs 70 be redresssd,
must come to make known their claims aud submit
their grievances.
Thee ia scarcely an individual Of influence or stand
ing in the State who a, 20 ne time or other does
find his duty TO take bis pc stOo in the Third House
as an adv.s and means Of communication between
the people and their elected rep 'esentstiVes.
If were not for the zeal and active exertiOns 0
these outside representatives many important im
proyements and just claims Tor Leg latys aid, woqt
die uLheard, AID maRy more unjust and Objectionable
schemes would be put through and take their places
on the statute book. For good or for EVIL the Lobby
na power and the position ought not 70 be made 80
odOus in name, 70 exclude good citizens from doing
occasional dUty in this department Of public service.
NEw-YORK CITY RAILROAD LOBBY.
At no time has the Third House had more active,
jealous and powerful representation OF different sec
hnO interests. your lily, DeiDH tue larger
more wealthy field, has at all times had the most pow
erfu Lobby-and the active agitation Of City Railroad
projects during the present session has largely
tine standing army. The City Railroads Interests have
brought here Representatives from almost every csss
Of your citizens the constitutional opponents TO oil
City changes whose opposition TO every mOoted i'm
prOvemeLt is chronic iutrmty thes wealthy, occupy
ing residences the chief streets and avenues desiring
that their dgned repOse msy rot be disturbed by the
passage of Democratic In front OF their sumptu-
residences; numerous active and energetic stage
roppnetOrs who are unwilling that their means OF Nv
ing should be taken away from themi-but OF all who
assa the Legislature in reference TO this subject there
jealous, clamOrOus, adroit, publc-spnited
and liberal Of drink money cigar-money, and travelling
expenses, the agents OF some OF the existing City
Railroad monopoHes aturaly anxious to strangle all
rivalry and continue in the enjoyment OF their present
exclusive privileges
No matter how great the demands OF the public, or
bow insufficient the present accommodations, these
gentlemen are anxious that the dear people shall still
have the privilege Of riding and suffering under the
present regime. Ihese IL is who are most zeaou3 IL
their outcry about the "sacTed chartered rights
of the Cry"-no dctstiOn from Albany-no IN
reference with vested interests, and so forth Afraid
to oppose 20 obvious necessity directly they hope
to accomplish their object by nssting on the exaoion
of mOnsirOus premiums for any new grant, and i'm
posing onerous restrictions aud regulations which
would virtually break down the projects by OyerDur
deLipg them, and rendering the chance OF renunera-
ton too doubtful to justify the expenditure OF the large
capital required.
The value Of such arguments will be considered in
their proper place.
EXISTING CONDITION OF THE RAILROAD STRUGGLE
AT ALBANY.
At the commencement of the session, the Assembly
was fairly flooded with propositions Tor additional CITY
Railroads. Nearly every member hsihng from Man.
haitian introduced one or more prolscts. MANY oil
these were mere chance throws Of political Bohemans,
who without claims in Themselves and without refer
ence to existing Iights, were anxious, through tue
good nature of city representatives. OF having the
honor and glory OF seeing theu nemes heuilng IGf
bio tnan Mi in 9Th
people OF the State OF York represented IN Sen
ste and Assembly, proposed to enact an act, TO be
entitled an act 20 confer upon these gentlemen the
privileges OF laying rails and RAINING cara rom any
where TO nowhere. These bogus projects have mad
their day. The one horse machines have nearly all
run of the track, or been smashed up IN coitlon
with common and common honesty before tue
Committee on Cities and Villages, leaving clear held
to the few live projects which have Just CLAIMS on
legislative consideration.
WHAT * THE PROSPECT FOR CITY RAiLk"Apo
The settled opinion here is that three railroad brsnts
will probably be made.
First The project known as the PsraNeI hNlToaui
designed to reheve Broadway and accommodate Tue
largely increased and increasing travel IN the upper
section OF the city.
Second: The Avenue d. or Intersectional Railroad,
TO accommodate the eastern region winch has no" 40
adequate cross acconmoo stions; and
Third One 10 start from the foot OF Fourteenth
street ard furnish ike relief 20 the western part
of the Island. ~
The enactment of these three projects will il Is be
leyed, meet all present wants, snu luIlrh al tio Ia
cilities and competition demanded by the pubic IN
teTests.
The first Of these proects, having AZ its projectors
Judge Cowles, John A. Kennedy, John hefr ana
Hugh Smith eXcltes the most attention, ana the main
battle tor these Improvements will 30 decided ON US
issue. We therefore select 1t as the representative
case. >,
Tire parties for and against it have been heard be-
foro the Committees of bOth Houses ana their cases
ON both sides have been finally closed and nov only
wait the Judgment OF the Legislature. Before pre-
seutng the question as TO the terms and conditions
non which II is proposed 10 make this grant " may
be well to refer briefly TO tie history OF the present
city railroads And the legislation heretofore had on
the general subject.
HISTORY or CITY RAILROADS.
There are four city railroads proper now running
through your chef avenues the grants for when were
msde directly by the Common Council, m 1872, known
as the Second, Third, Sixth and Eighth avenue rail
roads. m
The grants for these were made without eAaoting
any bonus OF PREMIUM and the Companies now o1ypay
p license charge upon each Car. When irst PROPOSED
storm Of public opposition, euch as has been rarely
sxperie need was at once aroused The Tal-tracks It
WAS said would oestroy the Of the strects, anu
thereby iruriOusly diminish the value OF property on
the line affected. TIE privileges, II was alleged,
should be made source OF revenue by the eNactloh OK
large premiums; while Others boldly alleged that suoh
accommodation we've not required for the public con-
yenience. 800
All these objections to the prscticabilty have re-
ceiyed satisfactory quetus while, Tar nom Jurlns
property the argument that railroad Is close AZ maud
Il now universally used by landlords as increasing The
value Of their premises.
ADVANTAGES or CITY RAILROADS.
On the oueston OF obstruction % the streets II IS
found that each in capacity is equs to h'e omm
buses thus economi2iDg the use OF the carrsGcWdyi
that II travels one third faster than ounouses that
re wheels running iron beds, the wear ana tear o.
dol hat