The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-02

The awkward dilemma in which the First
Branch of the City Council found ITSELF on Mon
day afternoon, in consequence of its inability to
decide between the conflicting claims of the differ
ent competitors for the privilege of constructing
and working Street Railways in this city, has
elected commiseration, while the singular
unanimity with which every member of the
Branch expressed his willingness to vote for the
scheme which should promise most advantage to
the city, and declared himself solely actuated by
n desire to promote its interests has encouraged
us to suggest plan for their relief. That Street
Railways will prove a highly profitable invest
ment here as elsewhere TO those who undertake
their management, cannot for one moment be
questioned Such has been the case wherever
they have been tried, and the experience of Balti-
more, in this respect, will not be found to vary
from that of other cities, There are neither tun-
nels nor entertainments to be made, nor bridges
nor viaducts to be built. The first cost of con-
structon cannot, therefore, be great. Requiring
fewer horses and men-liabe 10 fewer acct
dents-and subjected to a much smaller out
lay for repairs, than the present omnibus lines,
the working expenses will be diminished,
while, owing to the increased capacity OF the cars,
and the superior inducements offered to the public
to make use of them, the receipts will be proper
tionably greater. In the present abundance Of
capital, and absence of profitable methods of using
il, it is not unlikely that many citizens would be
glad of an opportunity to share in an enterprise
which promises so well. Let the Council, Their
instead of converting this valuable franchise
into prize to be fought for by hungry contest
ants, or bestowing it at hap-hazard upon the earl
est appcants-de6ne the routes over which rail
WAYS may be constructed, and the restrictions un
der which they shall be worked, and then publicly
offer to the highest bidder the privilege OF con
structing and working them-the interest on thu
amount bid 10 remain perpetual charge upon tn
roads, and source of perpetual revenue to tin
city. Thus to throw open the whole matter t.
public competition, is certainly the fairest an(
easiest method of settling the question which
at present, occasions the Council so much embar
rassnent If these Street Railwa US were an expe
riment, now about to be tried for the frs
time, there might, indeed, seem some hardshi
in this proposition. Every item however
both fcost and profit is now perfectlyunderstoo
as to admit of no question as to the actual value
in dollars and cents, of the right to be conceded b
the city. A franchise which pays its possessors,
one for which its possessors ought to be willing
pay. 1t may even be asked, what RICH
members of the Council have to give thf
away as an act of pure generosity,
as the reward of political partizanship, which
though it may cost them nothing, might yet be mac
a source of yearly income to the city? Certainl.
their action in the premises ought to be ma
rowly watched, and if they shall be found to be a
tuated by any motives less pure and dsintereste
than those to which they have laid claim, the
should be held to strict and rigid accounts
biity. At all events if the franchise in question
to be sold at all it is better that the purchase
should go into the Golfers of the city, than into Il