Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-16
UovfNaT0N Neyys.

better ito, be, or not to be-" and the same
rather difficult problem is now racking the
brains Of many of the good citizens of Cow
ington. In word, they appear sorely puz-
zled TO know whether the advantages of
street railroads will outweigh their dsad-
yantageel whether i Is better to move along
IN The same channel with their ancestors, or
by breathing the spirit Of the age, avail them
selves Of all the modern improved methods
Of travel and keep pace, at least, with other
cities OF the same class
=, While we hiEniy respect the opinions of
the opponents of the street railroad and
bridge ordinance, upon which vote OF the
people Is so6n 10 be taken, We yet have to
learn Of one solid reason upon which their
opposition is grounded, while we believe that
every dictate Of policy urges its adoption.
It's known that the city now owns 100000
of stock In the bridge, on which they are
paying Interest, all Of which win be utterly
worthless unless the, work is completed.
When this Is done, there is no doubt Of
yield of at least twelve per cent. on the capi-
tai stock, which would produce revenue of
$l2, 900 toward defraying the expenses of the
city. The question is not whether this stock
shall be taken, for that has already been
done--but simply whether, without any ad-
ditional cost to the city, that amount shall be
saved s BOD
It's adoption will raise the value of prop
erty and increase our population, and 1t is
the only way that we will be enabled to COM
pete with the other suburbs Of Cincinnati.
Population tOiH tottO,c the lines Of street rail-
roads. .'.-Fr .-.'.IN
1t win bring capital here from abroad,
which is now seeking investment, and
thereby give employment to such as are now
unwilihgiy idle, provided there be any, which
we doubt 20 t y III M
The principal arguments of those opposed
to the measure, are: First-It will have the
effect to destroy the draying and hotel
interest of the city; second-1t will grant
away a valuable franchise, worth at least one
million of dollars; third--The roads will
never pay, and the capital invested in them
will be lost.
With reference TO the first of these objec-
tions, we would say that it is the same that
has been urged against every improvement
that has ever been introduced, whether in
agriculture, mechanics, or any thing else.
1t, however, has no foundation; but on the
other hand, labor-saving machinery only
changes the channel of employment, but
does not destroy It. The tendency of the
times is to remove physical drudgery, and
supply mental labor. When it was proposed
to introduce steam-printing presses into the
office of the London Times the pressmen
threatened to destroy them by adroitness on
the part ofthe managers, however, a riot was
prevented, and the experiment proved sue
cessful. The consequence was, that the cost
of physical labor being reduced, the Times
was enabled to add to its editorial force,
thereby increasing its circulation, and giving
employment to more clerks, superintendent,
&c; and, to-day, the office has treble the
number of attaches it had at the time of the
introduction of steam.
Take the New York papers-the Tribune
for instance-with an aggregate circulation
of 275,000 copies, including the daily, weekly,
and semi-weekly. 1t employs twenty editors,
thirty clerks, sixty compositors, and ten OF
twelve pressmen, besides numerous others,
amounting in all to about two hundred and
fifty. Suppose the same paper were worked
off by hand, and folded by hand, and the pub
fishers were compelled to sell the weekly al
So per year, and the daily at $25 in order to
| defray expenses, does any one suppose that
there would be fifty men, all told, who would
find employment IN the Office? While the
greater part of those employed would be al
hard manuel labor, whereas now there are
none of that class. The introduction ofsteam
has increased and elevated labor.
We might enumerate hundreds of other in
stances in almost every branch of business
but will content ourselves with one. Sewing
machines, it was said, would throw thousand;
| them to starve or take refuge in prostitution
yet they were introduced, and the females
that were wont to labor sixteen hours in the
day, are not prostitutes, but are engaged il
more remunerative and less laborious occu
pations.
As long as there are mental or laboriou.
pursuits, there will be those who will engage
in them. Remove these, and these same
men will seek and obtain less arduous call.
1 Nnh huw-
who are largely interested in the cattle and
hog trade; but we must not sacrifice the com.
mon good for theirs. There are probably fifty
drivers Of draysand expresses, who are work.
ing atfrom seventy-6ve centsto one dollar pei
day, all of whom could find ample employ.
ment at an advance of fifty or one hundred
per cent. as builders &C., ii they would turr
their attention that way, under the new
emigration induced by the introduction o
| street railroads. ...... ......
With reference to the second objection
it is, we think, completely annihilated by tn,
third. But if really the company is to maxi
so much, Covington, as one of the larges
shareholders, will reap proportionate profits
If there is any danger of the receipts beinJ
too large, let section be introduced into th
ordinance empowering Council to reduce tn
fare at stated periods, and not require al
enormous per capita tay upon the passengers
thereby heeping onorous burdens upon tn
poor, who are the chief patrons of the road
while the rich, who ride in carriages, are fire
from them. There are no more reasons VIII,
man should be taxed for riding in ca
than in O carriage.
The supposition that the investment woul
not pay, is not entirely futile. If the enter
prise did prove failure, in what way woul
the city be in a worse condition than at pres
ent? II is asked to take no neU stock in tn
bridge and road, which it is proposed to con
solidate. If private capital is sunk, it will
not injure the city. If the ordinance pro
posed to increase the stock of the municipality
the question would be presented in an en-
tirely different aspect. Then, there might b
chances of additional loss; but now, there /,
there can be, none. If there are any advan
tages to be reaped, Covington, through its oil
capital, will have its share; If there be losses
it will incur none other than the ones it ha
already sustained. E rtfsTra Iurgl
A REoREANT HUSBAND ATTEMPTS TO SHoo
HIS WIFE.-Y esterday afternoon about thre
O'clock, man named Frank Bowen crosse
the river from Cincinnati, and stationed him
self on Scott-street, short distance from tn
ferry landing, as fawaiting some friend. il
a short time female approached him, an
between the two spirited conversation com
menced, which lasted for some minutes, whe
Bowen drew revolver and fired at her, tn
ball grazing her back. The alarm brough
Marshal Mclaughlin, and some others has
tened to the spot who secured him an
lodged him in Jail.
The statement of this woman, who prove