The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-04
CITY INTELLIGENCE
{ FOv Additional City Intelligence see F.fh paoe. J

AEoTHER DISCUSSION UPON TIE DUMMY QUEs-
St, salt question having run its lengh the
supJeet OF running locomotives into the city is now
the topic OFT hour. While there are many per
sons VINO desire continuance of the facilities now
nhoIoeu ior bringing freight from Norristown and
inhrmediate stations into the centre of the city,
mere are others who own property Ninth
street, which they pronounce 70 be injured by the
pfopln nqutty of steam railroad track.
TO hear testimony from all parties Interested, the
Railroad Committee of the Legislature, Mr. Hood
Ohalrman, held an adjourned meeting on Satur-
day last At the opening Of the session, Mr.. Hood
announced to those in attendance that testi-
mony in favor Of the running of the cars me-
eessary; what the Committee wanted to know was
the character of the objections to the privilege now
enjoyed by the various railroad companies whose
depots are within the built-up limits of the city.
The testimony taken this
Mr. James Mckinley, sworu-l reside at 7t3
north Ninth street; have lived there between ~
and % years; own the property live IN; / don't
know its value; l could have sold it many a time,
but people said they would not live in II II they
could get IL for nothing coneideT the running OF
the steam engine cars through Ninth eet we'll
calculated TO depreeiate property and the running
Of the steam cars is dangerous; they sometimes
Kill their own switch tenders if they do this, then
of course IL m ust be dangerous to stran gers man
had his feet cut off two or three weeks since; my
bell was rung at twelve O'Clock at night,
and then ! was informed of the accident; there
was blood on the street and pavement I'm
front Of my house; another accident hap
pened, but did not see 1t; the engines are
run taster at night than in the day time;
trains run faster than others; l seldom see the
trains running in the day time, because leave
ness at Cornelius d Bakers; I have seen the cars
go out so fast from the depot that il would be dan
geIous for a person to attempt to jump on the
avakens me from my sleep; the slower the trains
run the louder they ring the bells; in summer time
from sixty to seventy trains run each day; on
Sundays three or four trains run; 1 kept horse
and carriage for seven years, during which time
found / could not drive to my house; l was COM
PEELED to drive into a street. and there await
the arrival OF my wife; IL is not an uncommon
thing to see four locomotives on the street at one
8 we na nn oil nj ia
week; people are awakened from their slumbers
early in the morning because of the blowing off OF
steam; am not prepared TO say where the depot
ought to be erected; think the steam engines rum
ming through the streets retard improvements the
smoke from the locomotives is a great nuisance
the houses in summer time are always hlied with
dust and cinders; in winter time the hot water
runs from the engine house and freezes at the inlet
so that the street becomes covered with ice; If
can get a house like mine in any other street where
locomotives do not run ] would give thousand
dollars.
Oross-examined.-The accident spoke of was
not at public crossing; do not know that the
man was tipsy and lying on the track; no not
know of my own knowledge OF any fatal accident
occurring in twenty-five years; have seen horses
run away; the switch tender who was killed
casionaly drank liquor; l don't know that
the danger is any greater at Coates street than
at Montgomery avenue; a different position
OF the depot might require different switches;
l will sell my property for the same price
gave TOR it; the property was built after the
railroad was located; property has not advanced
in price as much on Ninth street as on Eighth
street, people, OF course, might be killed by horse
cars as weA as by steam trains; am not aware
that lots on Ninth street, taken up at 81 SO per
foot, are now worth $40 per foot; had put my
money in the stock of the company instead OF real
estate, should have made more money.
Mr.. Nathan Nathans, sworn-Live on Broad
street, north of Cumberland; have lived in that
section all my life; my present house have occu-
pied thirty years; am member of the bar. After
explaining why he appeared before the committee
he testified as follows: have seen the railroad in
operation from its commencement 10 the present
time nv opinion is clearly and definitely that the
fntaF NJ
of its citizens, and their health and lives, de-
mand that the depot of the company should be
placed in a more rural section west and north of
Broad street, because in so doing property on
Ninth street would be enhanced in value, taxes
would De increased, and the owners would he more
able to pay them. He had seen trains cross Broad
street at twenty miles per hour. Blowing OF the
steam whistles frIghtens horses and affects the
peace ofmy family on Sundays and at nights His
candId opinion is that the running of the steam
cars is as great nuisance as can be found In Phi
ladelphia.
Cross.examined-A flagman is stationed at
Broad street crossing; own the property through
which part of the railroad tracks pass; built on
BROAD street, nv opinion as to the speed OF the cars
is based upon sightthat is, looking at them; have
seen accidents at Broad street from the blowing OF
whistles, such as horses running away, vehicles
upsetting; once a woman was killed on the road
she was one OF my tenants; she was killed not eX'
actly at Broad street, but about hundred yards
below A.; she was not killed at a public crossing
think the woman had right to cross the road
anywhere; if i cross the road anywhere ana ge
kiiled by the train the company should be indicted
for murder; do not think 1t would be trespass tc
cross the road at any olner points Lnah INC PUDil'
crossings.
Mr, Alexander Gamble, residing at No 7l0 north
Ninth street, where he has lived for thirty.hvt
wears, testified that the trains run at the rate o.
eight ten miles per hour; thought the ROAD Wa'
detrimenta tai to property located on either side o.
il; consider the running of the cars nuisance es
pecially in case OF sickness because the houses ar
shaken; live nearly opposite to the place Wher
the man had his feet cut Off my son. in. law car
red him from the track; my daughter said sh
heard a man groan before the train came along
nearly an hour before.
mi xad pf fha X1yitn WI
mis- daughter, in narrating the circumstance at tn
time Of the occurrence, had not said that the mai
was tpsy.
The answer was promptly given, "No, SIR"
"Did'nt your son-ln-law say sol"
al think not"
uWelI he SO testified befor the Ooroner's jury
impanelled in the case" - ..,
The witness, upon cross-examinauon, admitte
that his trade is that of builder ana tnat ne cou
probably obtain number Of 'Jobs" at building l
Ninth street if the railway track were removed
that he cannot get at present.
Sam Fite, 7l5 north Ninth street, sworn-O)I
sidered the road damaging TO property, ana tni
the depot ought to be removed; the running OF ID
cars was dangerous; could not drive his horse
there with several Others he had purchased a IL
on Ninth street for the purpose of establishing
coal yard, butthe lot was relnquished ana rage
beer saloon has been built thereon; he was not pr'
paTed TO say where the depot ought 10 be erecte'
IL he were director he should advocate It's loct
tion on Broad street, certainly above Oolumb
avenue, but this is simply matter Tor the conslu'
ration of the company; ne sometimes brought pott
toes 10 the city, but he ways had to stop his morse
on Eighth street because they could not stand u
locomotives; would rather have half dozen groe
shops near my property than the running OF u
steam cars.
Mr. Hood inquired whether there was anybod
present 70 testify in regard the Philadelphia an
Trenton Railroad, Baltimore road or Readln
In response to this one man replied ne was he