The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-28
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
tFOr Additional 0lty Inteqtoenoe see rim paoe. !


LocoMoTIyEs IN THE STREETS OF PH1LADE1-
~. rhIAEM EETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMIT
~ LkEE[EVIDENCE ELICITED.-Ata a recent session
vi SI,l Ihe 20 State Legislature committee of fve
Hood, DeHaven, Quigley, Ghegan and Dono.
hugh, We're appointed TO visit Philadelphia and
locomotives from running through the paved
sIeeIs ana built-up portions of the city, and
reporting bill to that effect to the Houseif
circumstances warranted the same,
Ihis committee reached the city on Saturday
lsSi,, assSt, and held preliminary meeting at two
NO. 249 s. Sixth street. Mr.. Hood acted as Chair
man, and asecretary was appointed to take
Gown all evidence that might be submitted
Two members of the committee Messrs, GheRan
and Donohugh, were absent.
AS soon as the committee organized for the
transaction of business there being no wit
nesses present, n sort OF general consultation
was held as to what the ,nodtlS operdndi of the
committee should consist Of 1t was suggested
TO take mp the different lines of railroads on
which locomotives run into the CITY in SeI{dfiJl
visit the localities and confer with the residents
as to the feasibility of the proposed prohibition.
IL was also suggested that taxpayers and citi-
zens generally be notified that petitions would
be received in relation to the matter and all
evidence, pro ana con, would be accepted by the
fairly and fully ventilated. Mr.. Quigley stated
that he had already received n number of com
municat1ons from citizens urging the prohibi-
streets
Three gentlemen then entered, who expressed
desire to give evidence. The first witness
was Mr.. Menko Stern, who was sworn, and
teStlned as tOllOWS.-lEeSideS at No. 660 N.
Elghth street, and Keeps horses and carriages
at the stable of William Ash, on Coates street;
has occasion to cross Ninth street, over the line
of the Germantown and Norristown Railroad,
every day, and considers the running of the
steam cars through that street a very great
nuisance; finds himself much incommoded
and is often in considerable personal danger;
horses get frightened every day; has known
steam cars to run through the street where IL is
thiCkly populated at the rate of twenty miles
per hour; ii is almost impossible for horses and
Vehicles to travel on Ninth street. above Green.
w Ihn Mt
running of steam engines the street is not
paved between the rails, and high curb
on either side of the railroad prevents
vehicles from crossing between cross streets:
vehicles sometimes are compelled to wait ten
and fifteen minutes before they can cross Ninth
street on the streets that intersect IL, owing to
the constant passage Of steam cars; no improve
ments are progressing on Ninth street, and pro-
perty can now be purchased on the line of the
railroad at the same price 1T brought fifteen
years ago; the smoke from the locomotives is
also very annoying; considers the Germantown
and NOrristown Railroad as IL stands at present
a decided nuisance, and the depot should be
removed at least as far north as Ninth and Co.
lumbia avenue.
Mr. c. Coket, President of the Germantown
and Norristown Railroad Company, who was
present in the interest of his company, ques-
toned the witness (Mr. Naughan) regarding the
rate of speed at which the cars run through the
city, and stated that just enough speed was OBJ
tanned to prevent children from getting on the
cars.
In answer TO questions put by Mr., Collert.
the witness stated that he was aware that
Ninth street was curbed on each side of the
ing the track between the cross Streets and
Also that the streets that intersect the railroad
cross the latter on q level with the same, and
also that the Railroad Company purchased the
ground over which the cars run.
Mr.. Colket then made statement that the
Germantown and Norristown Railroad had
killed less people during its existence than
many passenger railways have within few
years past.
The witness, in answer to another question by
Mr.. Colkert as to whether he considered the
danger greater with drawn through the
city with locomotives than with horses. stated
that he considered the stone trains that came
laundering into the city, without either steam
or horses connected with them, more danger
ous than either steam or horse cars,
The witness stated that he owns a house on
Ninth street, for which he receives only twelve
dollars per month, and If the same house was
on Tenth street, or on Eighth street, and be-
tween the same Streets he could get four hun
dred per annum for it,
In answer to Mr.. CollSert, witness stated that
he was aware that Ninth street was taken up,
and built before Eighth or Tenth streets
were.
There peing no additional evidence, the meet
ing adjourned until next Saturday afternoon,
at the same time and place.