New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-10
CITY EA!i.EOADs.

We 9,', Tie LEGISLATURE. IN considering t'
numerous applications for city railroad charters
"a, keen one principle in mnd-that the streets
plNav-YYrh ar, public highways, intended for
the use ami convenience o. all the people. The
single question 20 be answered with reference
70 each charter u,,iioncl FOX is whether the in
;e-es. o. .lc public, on The whole, demands that
rails shall bc lld through the streets embraced
in 'ac Bill L 70 docs, grant the charter; if il
Co.'s not. refuse II, though the petition be.
ru t.H bv influential names. and though The.
passage 9fthe b.ll be- supported by unanimous
lobby. I.is mo-; the lobby, 10 is the members OF
thc Senate and Assembly. vho are responsible
finally 90 ,lc people fo- Tie u.c or abuse OF their
delegated powers.
New.Yo-t to-day no some stree. railway
which ar simply nuisance, and liable 10 Dee
aaa.el q. such by Judicial process. Other
O.. l,t.-- a-r bD..-. tho Legislature, which pro-
vide fr .hc construction OF track IN street,
which 49,, 700 narrow and too crowded with cx-
is':nr bu.ncs- 90 admit them. Before any of
tiem is granted, suppose tho Legislature
should send Committee Of country mem
l,,s - examine the condition Of the streets
whore a., -, are 20 be- laid. II those
streets az already chokct by the travel
which ler.imatelv aud nccc auly passc-
through them. they ought not TO be further I'M
DeIed by rail, and car.. Whatever street J"
incap.5le Of accommodating additional travel
w.tlYr. excluding what % now has, or
without n-errup'ug the loading and unloading
ot merchandise, is not proper street Tor q rail-
way. l. such a Committee ~ we suggest
should be sent. il may proiiiably take LOOK
ot Fulton street. or still more ~ Front street
and from the angry collisions, and the frequent
protraofcd interruption Of al busincss-thc cars
as well Is the carts--judgc how many more
railways ought to be chartered in similar local.
tics. Those streets are not merely incon-
vicinity crowded; they are now unsafe for any
Class Of travel Nobody viii venture TO sny
that the interest of the public was consulted IN
the construction Of such railways.
The Legislature ha, also duty 10 perform in
tie mater Of already existing aud properly
locI.,l railways. They are now managed Oh
the theorv that the public has 40 rights which i
street railroad corporation is bound TO respect.
Their officers and employees should be taught
10 remember that the franchise which the cor
por,'.on enjoys j., granted Tor The benefit OF The
public generally, not for the pecuniafy profit
Of their stockholders. The corporation is Tie
scryan' of the public. It, agents arc the ocrv-
ant. of th. servant, and arehy nomcnHmyes'-
ed with absolute dictatorial powers The coTpo-
ra,ious don't own the strccts, and their right to
20 use them legally survive jus. so long as they
use them in accordance with the conditions, ox-
press and implied, of their charters. A 'oad
which has ceased to Dee run for the convenience
If the public may De- aud ought to be, deprived
Of ifs franchise How many II our city rail
-olds could retain theirs if this rule were en-
forced
In charteriug new road and in investigating
'hc management Of the DID, the Legislature will
find opportunity 20 legalze reforms of numerous
abuses under which the public now suilers.
Should they be met by the cry Of injury 10 The
stockholders, they will do well to bear in mind
that if the present corporations cannot afford to
run their roads as they ought 70 be run, others
may be found TO take their places
Two reforms we want Immediately. First,
let every road be compelled To put on cars
enough % accommodate travel AZ all hour.
Provide by law that no more persons shall be
allowed in any car than can be comfortably
seated inside. To make the rule ellcctual, pro-
vide that no fare shall be collected from any
person who is not furnished with seat. The
company will then, Of its own accord, announce
when a Car is full, and will admit no more pas
sengers. From the same dictate Of seli-interest,
IL will add ears enough to carry everybody who
wants to ride, for there i, 10 doubt that road
can be proitably managed on that principle.
Secondly there must be no distinction OF
color. Every citizen Of decent dress and de-
pertinent has right to use the cars on payment
of his fare. No existing corporation has right
to exclude negroes. They persist in an exclu-
SION which Is as Illegal as it is disgracciul on the
presumption that they can do it with lmpuniiy.
,et penalty be affixed for each violation OF
the law, and the practice will cease.
There are other points " be touched on. but