The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-12
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY IL, 1859.
The Elevated Railroad.

The Elevated Railroad,
Mr.. SAMUEL JosEPHs yesterday introduced
Into the Legislature an act incorporating
the Philadelphia Elevated Railroad Com
psny, providing that Charles M. Provost
Joseph +. Tobias, John F. Reading, W. A. +.
Maddox. s. W. Gross, NJ D., Charles B.
Sloan, Jacob Janney, Richard Montgomery,
L. Cooper Shapley, and William B. Wilson,
be authorized to form q company under the
provisions of the general Railroad law, with
capital Of $1,000, 900, to construct double
track railroad, at an elevation OF not less than
fifteen feet nor less than twelve feet from the
surface of the ground, along and over Market
street, commencing at Front, and running to
the western line Of Philadelphis county, to be
constructed of corrugated beam iron, sup
ported upon columns Of the same material,
the oars being propelled by dummy engine
The bill was referred to the Committee on
Railroads, and is at present before that body.
We have heard Of wild propositions. Thus,
bridge across the Delaware river to spot in
New Jersey to which no one goes or wants to
20, is being debated. A tunnel under Broad
street-an imitation, feeble, to be sure, OF the
Metropolitan Underground Railroad OF Lon
denis also discussed. And it is not
many years since an aeronaut, Low
or High, or some such name, favored the
ohartering of balloons to carry people from
one street corner to another. But of all
insane and comiCal ideas, this elevated rail-
road on Market street takes the lead. Really,
Mr.. Josephs, if you perpetrated joke on
General Provost and old DR.. Gross and their
associates, you deserve the Csssio-like COM
msndstion, "By heavens, this is more ex-
quisite cns than the other"
The contemplated improvement Cd on
Market street is certainly unique. At space
of twelve feet above the level Of the street,
or about ten and half feet above the pave
ment, will be erected corrugated double
track railroad, for the purpose OF transporting,
not people only, but freight, coal, ashes, and
all other substances which are calculated
TO throw dust in the faces of the passers-by
below. Probably at intervals there will be a
passenger car, from which citizens will be let
down or taken up in buckets, like they
do in the Cornish mines. Occasionally
the Goals from the dummy engine will
drop on the head OF an innocent passer-by,
and at intervals one Of the Corrugated iron
beams, with columns Of the same material"
will give way and let the elevated railroad
down on some cart or pedestrian. These are
a few of the incidents Of the road. Bat of course
these are all cancelled by the fact that the
injured people, provided they are seriously
injured, and not merely smothered by the
dust and dirt, can sue the corporation.
In addition to these claims for the passage
OF the bill, there are others which will recon-
mend II strongly. II is not asked for by any
one, ner will It supply any need of our people.
This is Q convincing argument in its favor.
There are no passengers who would ride ON
II In preference to the cars on terra firnad, and
there is NO freight which needs transportation
through the heart Of the city. 1t is, there
fore, mot in compliance with any want. Again,
it would be greatly injurious to the owners
of all property on Market street; in fact,
II would be ruinous not only to bust
mess, but to the real estate owner. There
fore. these parties will possibly be ready to
buy the scheme Of Certainly pass it then.
The oorporators can have their dividend and
all interested could have theirs, provided the
owners of property could be brought to terms.
And then, too, some Of the Market street men
are rich, and therefore legitimate prey. Again,
tbs Market Street Passenger Railroad would bs
seriously affacted by it, and they too might
be induced to subscribe proportion. Alto
gether the bill has SO many merits that we
congratulate the ineorporators over their
charter when they get it, and also give Mr..
Josephs credit for it's introduction. We trust
that this bill will die in committee. There are
gentlemen of sense and honor in the House.
Let them see to il that no such charter as the
Elevated Railroad COmpsny's is ever granted.
Diamond Cut Diamond.
A VERY pretty case was lately argued before
Judge Peirce in the Court of Common Pleas,
which involves some nice points Of business
atLica A member OF the Board OF Brokers'