Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-07-11
OUR LETTER BOX.


Messrs. Editors Permit lis. thronpl flo ma
dunn of yonr widely circulated paper, to asl, n
lew questions and state some facts.
Are low fares between Wilmington and pbila-
dclphia conducive to the prosperity of the former
city! five are to judge from the apparent pop-
ularity of the steamer Hancor, they are so in the
opinion of the citizens.
All will remember that but short time since
some OF the best canvassers in this city were Sc
ieetcd for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions
to the stock of the Brandywine,- or, MS ii is now
called, The Wilmington and Reading Railroad.
AL were strongly urged to subscribe upon the
ground that it would open up new country to
us, and the people would become our customers
who were now in the habit of dealing in PhiladeI-
phia thus largely increasing our wealth.
How is it now2 The greater the number of
passengers on the Hancox bound to Philadelnb;a
to make their purchases and spend their money
there, the louder and louder goes up cheer upon
cheer; leaving our merchants quietly to lool,
over their goods and calculate how mnch tbo,,
+" didn't make out of that crowd"
we all know what tendency there is in the
people to go to the head of the market, To deaI
thinking they can buy cheaper;a vel in rataii
1 "a
that as 1t may, only day or two since we heard
one of our most estimable citizens saw INV uifa
wanted two or three dresses for the children and
some matters for herself; and she went to Philn-
delpha to make the purchases. On her return
she proved to me by her data that she had saved
her expenses" s"'eu
This trip was by cars; with fare 81 so and din
ner say fifty ccnts-in all $500. If she saved two
dollars then, under the present state of affairs she
would make profit of one dollar; MS fare and
dinner now would cost her hut SO much. No one
can for moment question her right to act thns
put how much does 1t aid our merchants in nav,
ing their rentand taxes, and add to tho prosnar;v
OF our city? We should think low fires ,vo,,.d
DC prayed by Philadelphia " shoppersn~and
that city be exceedingly glad and reIoice ever
more in the prosperity of the Hancox. W.
But, we ask, what Interest has one sinpIe ;nai-
vidual connected with the Hancox In o,,r c,,,
and we answer without fear of contradictiont
~, QUE penny and the only aim Is to make nil
tne money she can from our citizens for her own
ers elsewhere. On the other hand what interas,
mas the T. W. Il b. r. r. Company in onr o;,,,
anu what benefit do we derive from IL? Tho AZ,
SCISSOR says the company has real estate yalned N
SIso,ooo Zone hundred and ninety thousand dol.
iars,) upon which the city and school taxes
dn,Ian 70 Sio3s, lhiteen hundred and hrty-nine
uoiiars,) being more than one-eightietb nart ~
the whole taxes paid for those uses. Amount Of
water rent the company pays $3.50, being NOR,
| .han one-sixteenth of the whole water rent nn,1
iecaeu oy our city; County tax four hundred and
sexenty,sx dolars-making in all what we CON- s,'s
siuer quite respectable sum. W. wv"
Another very important item in the Comnon,,,
contribution to the material prosneritv nj n .
y the payment OF its employees. There Ia d.
tnouied monthly to them by the Companv IN
.his city, The sum of about thirty-seyen thonsand
aonars, which goes to the support of many fou,i-
lies mere besides about twenty-five thousand dol