Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-12-01
TILE NEW nEpnr.

AAAA W. " DHAOAs
There appears to be an unnecessarily acri-
monious discussion going on in one of our
city papers in relation to the proposition of
the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
Railroad Company, to erect on Front Street
an immense and beautiful depot for the
accommodation of the largely increased
demands of the travelling and business pub
lie. Why this discussion should take the
Vituperative course it has, no persons per-
haps, can better tell than those in whose
special interest it is conducted. All manner
of hard things, falsehoods, innuendoes, filings
and slurs are hurled against the company,
not because it deserves them; not because it
has done anything to warrant them; not
because it has by action or inaction, forfeited
the public confidence or favor which it has
hitherto uninterruptedly enjoyed in the three
States of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Mary
land, but simply because, in following up
the spirit of progress, and holding out the
liberal hand of enterprise to our city, ii pro-
poses to erect at the foot of certain streets
structure which, for architectural taste, gran
deur of design, completeness of accommoda-
tiOn, facility, and personal security, shall
vie with any other similar building in this
country, and add immeasurably to the wealth
and prosperity of our city, and the neighbor
hood in which il is designed to be located
For many years past the Railroad company
has been censured-and we think justly, too
for having delayed so long the building
of Depot which should be commensurate
with its own necessities, to say nothing Of
the wants of the travelling public; and now
that 1t steps forward at the close of a long
and bloody rebellion-during which its SER
vices and patriotic devotion to the Union
were ofinestimable value and importance to
the Government-to supply this great and
long-felt public necessity, and give employ
ment to scores and hundreds of the brave
men who did and dared and suffered for the
glorious old flag of the Union, the victorious
Stars and Stripes, it is met at the very TIRES
hold with objection and fault-finding, by a
few grumblers who, we are led to believe, dc
not represent tithe of the business interest
prosperity or enterprise of the people al
large; but who, true TO their own instincts
like very maw-worms, are never so happy
as when they are miserable.
But while the few are objecting, the
great mass of the people are deliberating
and in due time will come forth in the ma
jesty of their matured convictions and de
mand of the city authorities prompt ant
cordial concurrence in whatever measure o.
proposition will most speedily secure equally
the best interests Of the city and the needed
conveniences to travellers, despite the flimsy
pretexts of interested parties to the contrary
II must be a source of pain to every fair
minded man when he reads the false state
ments, perverted facts, and many idle ant
wanton charges set ailoat against the com
pany by certain writers of communication
in cotemporary sheet. TO say the least
they show bad spirit, and disposition I,
prejudice the public mind against the com
pany, as though it were a stalwart, crushin!
enemy of the city's prosperity and the peo
ple's rights and interests; when it is wei
known to every one who has eyes TO see
that but for the enterprise and energy O
this same company, Wilmington would no
today be the prosperous and thriving itil
city it now is. Thousands upon thousand
of dollars are circulated monthly by til
hands employed on this road, in the retail
business channels of the city; hundreds 9
houses find active, intelligent, industriou
paying tenants; and the busy hum of I'll
workshops in Water Street and along til
line of the road, attest the thrif and indus
try of the mechanical element of our com
munity, made so by the rapid and increasin
business facilities Of the Railroad Company
And is all this to pass for nothingg are shop
10 be silenced, houses vacated, chldre
drawn from schools, is our retail trade to h
paralized, and the blood that now course
with such YigOr and elastic energy throup
the whole commercial system of Wilmina
ton - he checked and have sluggish flow
mill is vitality shall be gone, and all be
cansl :, few men, hating Railroads general,
and th,s one in particular, seeflt to charge
with laes Of that peculiar quality or gil
which can make lis trains and tracks an
,ebeles and conductors accommodate then
selves On the instant to all the whims, flr
cies, preivtiees and crotclety notions wit
which they are beset? We will believe
only when the actual fact of gelf,dcstro,
industry and demented people shall :