The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-19

Editorial Opinions of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topios Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
THE AIRLINE MONSTER.


Fifty years ago Congress, then a mild and
innocent being, had an ''air-line" vision--a
dream that it could build roads, DT0pri0 nlotu,
where and as it pleased. It was a brief delu-
sion. Aggrieved by the monopoly" sup
posed to be enjoyed by the central turnpikes
Of Pennsylvania-extendin in sections,
from the Delaware to the Ohio--over which
toiled the old-fashioned Conestoga wagons,
with the bells on the horses necks, Congress
resolved to make q road of its own, not by
the intervention of a corporation, but, as we
have said, by its direct vigor and agency the
money to come from the Federal Treasury,
the work to be done by Federal engineers.
Such was the national turnpike of 1920, from
Cumberland to Wheeling, passing through the
States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virgil
mia. In hosedays of simplicity, no one doubted
that the consent of these States was needed.
It was formally asked for and proudly given,
for Pennsylvania made it conditional on the
adoption Of certain route. To make the
road was easy enough to keep it in repair
rather more difficult, as the special funds
relied on began to fail. Toll-gates we're de-
vised, and the wayfarer, with his saddle-bags,
travelling from Cumberland to Frostburg, or
from Uniontown to Washington-not of the
District, but of the secluded spot where Grant
communed with Corbin and the letter to ISIS"
was written-found himself stopped to pay
Federal tax in the shape of a toll. This, of
course, caused discomfort; for nothing is
more aggravating, time out of mind, than
turnpike gate. Doubts were suggested, very
soon maturing into adverse conviction, as to
the power of Congress to do any such thing.
Let it once be established" said leading
Federal member of the House of Representa-
tives, ''that the Government can enter the
dominion of the States, interfere with their
domestic concerns, build roads within their
territories, and define and punish in the
courts of the United States, offenses commit
ted upon these roads, and there would be a
longer stride towards consolidation than ever
yet has been made" The then President,
who, though a virginian, was rather latitudi-
marian, expressed his belief that this was all
wrong, in what was more a remonstrance
than veto; and in few years, to use an
illustration which '1oyaIty" has made classic
''the bottom came out of the whole affair. "
The fragments of the short-lived thorough
fare were retroceded to the States, and the
national road became, practically and politi-
cally, as obsolete as the path which, century
and quarter ago, Braddock cut through the
virgin forest.
From that day to this, with the exception
of some local experiments such as the Marys-
vile road, no Congress has pretended to
usurp this prerogative of local sovereignty;
certainly never, as now, by the creation of q
corporation, born in the District of Columbia
but extending its arms-perhaps we should
say its legs-three hundred miles over the
territory of four States. Now, we have
always said, and repeat, that we welcome any
new avenue which leads to this great city;
but saying this, and confident its attractions,
social and commercial, will open all that are
needed and are legitimate, we have the
stronger right to protest against any scheme
which, in the specious guise of commercial
facility, is founded on legal wrong, a clear
violation of the Constitution, and, without
going into the region of disputed doctrines,
the heretofore acknowledged rights of the
States. Such may easily be shown to be the
q company to make new railroad from Wash
ington to New York, without the previous
consent-nay, if need be, in spite of the
opposition-of the intervening States. Let
us look at it in practical point of view,
having the reported bill before us as we write
This scheme, long latent, was recently re-
vived by restless knot of people in the city
of Philadelphia. They wanted an ''air-line
road to New York-though they now have
one as straight as the compass can make it
and, to this end, they invited the interposi.
tion of Congress- But no sooner did the
beak of the Federal Legislature show itself
than they hastened back, and were glad tc
take refuge on the safe log of New Jersey
monopoly for they ascertained to their dis
may that the only air line which Congress
dreamed of would be far away from them, ant
leave their city-like Bloomfield or Freehold
or Bridgeton, or any Jersey townlet-at the
end of "branch." If, as the new bill pro
vides, the air line is to cross the Susqeehannt
above tide, it will pass still further westward
Since this discovery not word more ha
been said that we are aware of; and while il
the bill there are six corporators named from
Pennsylvania-the Dutfeys and Camerons O.
the Susquehanna edge-there is not a single
Philadelphian. There is one from Delaware
one from Maryland; there are four from New
Jersey, seventeen from New York and the
rest from all creation.
The powers of the corporation are vast
Their application is minute. It is amenable
only to Federal authority. 1t goes where il
pleases; takes what it pleases; crosses tide
less rivers within the limits of a State where
Federal power never ventured before; OBJ
structs canals, for which we see no compensa
tion provided; interferes with railroads; and
with a minuteness which is almost comical
provides for express packages and parcels
and sleeping cars with the necessary improve
ments and all proper and necessary bedding.
Now, when one pauses to think that all thi
corporation prerogative is unnecessary, ther
being no evil calling for remedy, or, if ther
be- no dlsinclination on the part of the State
to apply one, it is really almost incredible no
far this superfuous folly of pseudo-nationa
ism is going. Our street railways will not b
safe much longer, and we shall have
national airline on the surface of Broadwa,
and, by and by, national pneumatic railroa
underneath.
Luckily there is in this scheme an elemel
which, if it is ever authorized by Conpres
must be fatal to it. 1t is q corporation vii
stock to be subscribed and bonds to be neg