Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-11
Tho CovinHton and Cincinnati Suspension
fF Bridge. ..lo lftt 'n'

HridRp. 'N.'
A proposition now awaits the approval of
the people of Covington to grant the use of
the streets for street railway, on condition
that the grantees shall provide for the COM
pletion of the bridge across the Ohio. One
would suppose that the only question that
could be raised in the case was whether the
grant for q street railway, which is in itself
desirable, and which is to be provided at or
dinary rates of fare, will secure the additional
convenience of bridge, and whether the
grant is sufficiently guarded to enable the
city to enforce its conditions.
The great advantages of the bridge to the
city of Covington would hardly seem to
admit of question. Yet we understand that
the grant will be opposed, on the ground that
the railroad connection which the bridge will
furnish, will transfer the business of Coving-
ton to Cincinnati, and that freight and pas
sengers will pass through the place without
paying any tribute. Such considerations as
these, compared with the advantages of shar-
ing on equal terms the prosperity of Ctncin-
natl, seem much like the wish of another
progressive individual, that everybody was
dead, when he would keep the halfway inn.
Prosperity was never yet built up by en-
bargoes. The largest facilities and freedom
from restrictions result in the greatest ag-
gregations of trade. If difficulties of transit
promote the prosperity of Covington, she
should abolish her Strawberries and give
employment to laboring population in
making the ferriage in skiffs and hat-boats
Her prosperity has probably been promoted
thus far by the increase of facilities of COM
munication with this city. So it will be as
these facilities are improved, and without
limit when they become as easy as through
our own streets.
The rapid growth of Brooklyn is an in
stance to show that, instead of the smaller
place being absorbed in the greater by the
ease of communication, it draws from the
greater its wealth and desirable population.
Brooklyn is great city of wealth, elegance
and refinement, and has acquired the name
of the city of churches, all of which ele-
ments are largely supported by the business
of New York. The relations of Covington
to Cincinnati will be similar when communi-
cations are made as easy with that as with
a great portion of this city.
If any local jealousy of the effect of the
proposed improvement should be felt at all,
it should be on the part of the Cincinnatians
but the interests of the places will be as iden-
tical as those of different streets of our own
town, and local feeling no greater than be-
tween them. ssa. ~
As to the transfer of the railroad freight,
which is probably one of the chief grounds of
hostility to the project, the great business of
the country will not be stopped to pay toll
to unnecessary impediments. The routes
which offer least detention and break of con-
nections, will take the great trade, while
those which offer obstruction will be con-
fined to a retail business and will be COM
PEELED to retire from wholesale competition.
The greatest levy which can be made upon
the railroad transit from the Kentucky to
the Ohio shore will be a mere drop, COM
pared with the increase of all branches of in
dustry from this communication. The en-
ployment furnished by the railroad itself
will increase, instead of being diminished
while rapidly-growing city will create
demand for labor in proportion to its growth,
and the element which is now the obstacle to
this project will be astonished at its blind
ness to its own interest. ..-.