Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-05-26

Speech of Mr.. oilliland in the coun
oil Chamber, Tuesday Eve. Ma,
Gath
Mn PREsIDFNT 1t appears that major
ity Of the Committee, 70 whom vas rcforre,
this much exciting and vexod question of thl
obstruction Of Prairie street. has reported a
two other committees Of this council have
heretofore done on the same question, viz
that the rail road companies should be com.
PEELED TO keep the rail road crossing on
Prairie street unobstructed and in passa
bic condition.
The question then before this council is
shall tho report Of the committee be reoeiy
cd and the resolution adopted This ques
ton has heretofore required no argument Ia
secure its adoption, but at this time | feai
that the rail road companies, through their
we'll paid agents and attorneys, have sue
ceeded by their statements and representa-
tions in deooyiug q sufficient number of tho
members Of this council into a negative vote
upon the resolution aud therefore defeat its
adoption.
am aware that the minds Of the mem
bers on this question cannot be easily
changed by talking, but have few words
to say which hope will be considered.
In the 6r,t place we find by the majority
report OF the commmittee which sets forth
tho facts in regard to the obstruction Of the
Prairie street crossing, and also by the many
solicitations and petitions which have been
pi esented to this council, that the people OF
this city actually require the free aud unob,
structed use OF that crossing and we are nj,
80 informed that there is soon 70 be free
bridge built across the Miami River, south
Of the railroad, and then it will be still more
important to the people living north of the
rail road to have street leading down to
the bridge. For these reasons | contend
that Il Is the duty Of this council ut once to
restore to the people, to whom IL belongs,
the free use of that crossing.
The majority report of the committee
proves that it is only for the great convent
enco that part of Prairie street is to the com
panios which induces them to resist tho
opening of it. and the report also proves that
it is not impossible for the companies To
keepit open, and that the danger that is
there now would be greatly lessencd if the
companies would keep the crossing in n
good passable condition and station nagmen
there to signal the people, when they can
not cross in safety, which the city laws re.
quire the companies TO DO Now, cir, these
being the facts, il it not then our duty as tho
representatives of the people, to protect
them 10 their rights, and enforce the laws
that we have already made, to secure to the
people that which they have positively
proved 10 us they actually require Tho
committee ask for no new law, but only ask
that those air sadY made be enforced. Then,
sir, the adoption of the resolution offered by
NJ nNtf g.fN Nt,... "a.
enforcing Of tho laws, already made by this
council, to prevent rail road companies
from imposing upon the people, yet there
are some OF the members of this body who
declare they will not vote for the resolution
neither will they vote for the repeal of the
laws. lt seems TO me that if we have laws
they should either be enforced OF repealed
and when laws are necessary, it is equally
necessary that they should be observed -
Then what can be the objection to the reso,
luton, which only requires the enforcement
OF the laws, aud how Gun any member con-
sistently vote agalnt ii
Mr. PRBslDRNT. - If tho rail road oompa
nies are not soon compelled TO observe our
laws the lives and property Of some of our
citizens will be destroyed We have a law
(Which is very necessary 10 protect the
lives of the people) to prohibit the oumpa-
nies from running their cars inside of the
city at faster rate ofspeed than siA miles
an hour This law they will not ol ey, and
are known TO run their cars across our
streets at the rate Of twenty or thirty miles
an hour, greatly endangering the lives of the
people
They also have refused to plank their
tracks IN trent of the alleys on sixth street,
and tho people there cannot get in and out
OF their alleys with their vehicles, because
their tracks are not plRnked. 1t is but n
short time since that one Of eur citizens in
attempting TO drive his horse into the alley
on Sixth street. between Main and jefferson,
got killed, which would not have happened
If the tracks had been planked at that place
as the law requires. This council has notii
fed The companies to plank those places,
and they have refused TO do IT,
The law also requires them TO keen tb,
culSorts clean that passes under their road
They have neglected to do IT, his Coun-
Gil has given them notice to clean their cul-
verts, but they treated the notice with con.
tempt The water course being obstrueted
caused the water to how into some of the
peoples cellars and yards, doing them dam.
age, and this council ia order to let the wa
ter pass of had their culyerts cleaned and
presented the companies the bills for pay,
ment, which are still unpaid. For these rea.
0 ms | say it is high time that we sh ,ulf !,
for the protection of the lives Of the people
and -four property, exact a strict observance
Of our lava
The Railroad Companies admit that Prai,
rie street belongs to the City, but in as much
rs It ID ofgreat convenience TO them they
should not be required TO keep the crossing
open This excuse is not worthy of consid'
Grafton.
We ara not sGnt here 10 legislate for the
convenienoo Of the companies, but t0 legis,
late for the convenience Of the people, and
when the people tell US that they want that
crossing for their convenience, il is our duty
TO give it to them (which we onn easily do by
adopting this resolution.
Bat it is said by tho companies that that
crossing is not wanted by the people, and ii
il was opened there would be but few per.
soRs that would ever cross upon IT, This
statement has been positively contradieted
by two petitions presented to this cocncil on
last night one signed by $50 citizens pray
ing this council to restore to them the free
use Of that crossing, aud at the same time
notifying Council that ii the crossing is not
kept open they will exact from the city, re-
numoration for the depreciation of their
property, caused by the obstruction.
The other petition is signed by as dray-
men and oartmon Of the city, who declare
that their business requires the use of the
crossing aud respectfully ask this council to
procure IL for them. These petitions, | am
sorry to say, has been treated with CONTEMPT
by portion Of this council and asserted 6y
fha her lruF, - taA -.