Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-12-19
THE RAILROAD Depot AGAIN.

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THE RAILROAD DEPOT AGAIN.
The complimentary calls we received in
consequence of its publication, assures us
that our article on the stupidity ofthc action
OF the Council, in reference to the proposed
new Depot, has met the appreciation of the
business community generally, and that great
dissatisfaction is felt with the manner in
which the whole question has been treated
by the public authorities In no city or
village in the United States would men,
assuming TO logislatc for the good Of the
community they represent, have thrown
away so many advantages, all tending 10
strengthen and increase the local interests of
the people, as has been done by our City
Council within the past ten days; and il is
becoming question with many whether it
would not be well for the present Council to
resign, and let the people say by special elcc
tion, whether they will have the prosperity
of the city interiered with and its mercan-
tile interests crippled by the weakness and
inefiicicncy of those to whom these great
interests were committed for protection.
1t is not enough to say that if the Railroad
Company could find its interests better sub
served in any other locality than Whining
mington, it would not remain here. 1t is a
plain rule of business, recognized by every
sensible person, that to be successful, trade
must go where it can meet with the most
fostering care and patronage To compel
the company therefore TO remain perma-
nently in this city, we must offer it supcraor
Inducements TO do so. The spirit of liberality
must be mutual, just as the benefits are mu-
tual and reciprocal To demapd bonuses
and conditions equally ungcnerous, unusual
and exorbitant, while other places are oft1-
ing grdtuitously heavy inducements of greater
pecuniary value to secure the Depot, is not
the way to best persuade the company to
have tender or loving inclination in favor
of the business of our city.
The interests of the company are the in.
tercsts of the people at large, and the former
cannot-il it woud--spend a single dol
lar that will not benefit, in some degree, the
trade and industry of the latter. This charge
of sellislmess is all moonshine, and it is time
the people looked the foolish drlnsion square
in the face. No person spends money with
out expecting TO reap some advantage from
il, and just as it is expended judiciously or
not so will the return of profits be; and in
like degree will the expenditure be continued
and increased as Inducements are presented
to make something by the operation. This
is principle OF commerce and trade which
neither Railroads nor Councils can ignore or
set aside.
In respect TO the charges of injustice and
so forth made against the Company, we will
close this article with the following commu-
nication from member of the present CITY
Council Whether the facts therein set forth
were communicated to the Special Committee
or not we cannot say. They arc certainly
entitled to some consideration, unless the
Council has determined to end the matter nt
once by asking for proposals to fence in and
erect monument over the remains of the
business prosperity Of the city of Whining
ton.
For the Journal and Statesman
MIR fCkEL'-Dodf Sri notice your
editorial referring to the Railroad, and was
pleased with 1t, us it accords with my views,
and must give it n passing notice
am sorry the Railroad was so hasty in
Withdrawing their application, us the final
result might have turned TO their favor. the
report was simply the action of a committee
and the demand Of SEQ, 900 was not an ulti-
matum, but open for debate, as it is known
it did not meet the views of all the Council
The Council are fully alive TO the immense
advantages the Railroad Company is to the
city anu its business. 1t is urged the Rail
road discriminates against the interest of
this cityin its fares. Now, every one knows
that corporations and individuals strive 10
| serve their own interest. The Railroad. in
order to avoid competition, are in measure
| compelled to arrange their fares to serve
them. The citizens of Wilmington have
very little TO complain Of ON that score
They travel principally to Philadelphia 10 do
their business, and the fare between these
two points is lower than on any other part
| of the road per mile. The lny-nyer ticket is
granted, if asked for, between Baltimore and
Philadelphia fora reasonable pcriod--I have
one of them now in my possesson-and a
few cents extra ought not TO create much
trouble TO our citizens when hut few of them
travel south of this, in comparison TO the
travel north
The Railroad Company and their work
men scatter thousands of dollars here among
our business men, and whatever serves their
interest serves us in return
admit, as general Thing, Railroads or
other corporations arc sOuless-but think
ours has little, and | am one Of the busi.
ness communicative property to serve
in the same ward with them. | am not
afraid Of their mighty tread or that they will
ever gobble me up; so urge the measure for
ward--put it TO II town meeting.
PRooREss.