The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-26
IHE CAMDEN AND AMBOY RAILROAD
LEASE-SHO ULD 1T BE OONSUAf8fA TED,

N"'O NJ OAPSCbdJlOuaol DellB hDl6 10 STORM Gl-
orasr with popgun," expectation and bat little
nope thst anything say will arrest what appears
now 10 be almost an accomplished fact; as / con-
ceive, the most disastrous fact possible, for the
commercial interests OF Philadelphia, the transfer
TO Jersey City OF all the facilities of the great Penn
sylvania Railroad for building up at eur own
wharves great, an unlimited foreign trade, on
the solid and mmovable basis of the cheapest pos
sible supply Of the consumption OF the world, with
the vast the unlimited export products OF the great
tributary West.
When this shall be consummated, let us ask that
the name OF that railroad be changed to "Jersey
City, New York. and Great Western Railroad" and
that the pile Of buildings on Third and Fourth
streets and Willing's alley be removed to some
suitable location beyond our limits, where they shall
not insult our citizens by a constant reminder OF
lost opportunities and false pretenses.
In order to place upon record these Views, which
have personally urged as 1 have had opportunity
have embodied, very inadequately and feebly, what
deem to be the true relations Of this Camden and
Amboy lease to the commercial interests primarily,
and to all the interests nedidny, whether manufac-
turing, mechanical, or vested, OF this city, throw
them out tentatively, possible Of arousing
the attention Of business men and capitalists to a
view OF this matter not generally entertained, but
capable, to my apprehension, Of all but absolute
demonstration. My first proposition is that all
railroads. being Institutions artificial bodies, created
by the State for public uses; endowed by the State
under the exercises Of its highest sovereign preroga
the power TO take to their own use private property
without the assent and against the will of its
owner, are thereby made and constituted public
corporations, having dual responsibility, owing
duties as well to the puolc as to their stock
holders.
Second The Pennsylvania Railroad vas orig-
nally built from Philadelphia to Harrisburg by the
State and from Harrisburg to Pttsburg by capital
mostly Philadelphia capital, raised with great labor
and exertton the part Of the citizens and heavy
cnha ia w
capacity, when the pecuntGry success OF this as OF
all other railroads. was by means assured: and so
built, the directors in their last report officially
acknowledged, to promote the trade and
business OF Philadelphia, and therefore the
Pennsylvania Railroad is peculiarly
public institution of Philadelphia, and owes to it
and to its business interests, besides (even before)
Its duty Its stockholders peculiar duty. If this
is so then the city government with the citizens at
large, have perfect moral right to interpose
positive prohibition against any arrangement Of the
directors of that corporation which shall have for
its full development as a certan-even probable
consequence the inhiction Of lasting injury on
the business, present prospective OF this city, and
any such arrangement should not be devolved upon
the stockholders of that or any other road, and be
determined by them by stock vote as mere ques-
tion Of profit and loss.
Now let US apply these positions to this Camden
and Amboy lease. The Pennsylvania Railroad has
connections with New York through the New Jer-
sey roads, both by way Of Allentown and by the
Junction Railroad, without touching our city pro-
per- They now propose to absorb the New Jersey
companies, and to switch of over them to New
York all their heavy freight, at an expense of some
two and half three millions per year, and to
pend a sum of money at Harsmus Cove at which
the United Companies have stood aghast
and paralyzed not less than five mil
lions, and, beyond that, a sum to which no
present limit be set for bringing the ground
above water and building up there vast depot,
docks the receiving and shipDQQ of Vest
ern products
Now this can be accomplished and made profitable
only and Just in proportion snail antag0nize the
commercial advancement and export trade Of this
city, to the promotion Of which that corporation
owes instead the devotion of its best energies and
exertons.
OPPOSITE PICTURE.
If the directors OF the Pennsylvania Railroad
would issue s5.000,OO0 OF stock pledged to the i'm
provement of the seventy acres of land owned by
them-bought by them for the purpose, and above
aUater-on South Delaware front of our city, and
would improve the by suitable and sufficiently
capacious docks, wharves storehouses, and sidings
having previously extended their own road from
West Philadelphia thereto; and would erect store
houses and an elevator Of sufficient capacity and
approved construction, and would thereby,
and by reliable assurances, pledge them
selves to a loyal and continuous devotion
OF the capacities of that road to the purpose of
making Philadelphia at whatever cost, THE ENTREPoT
for the supply OF the market OF the world with the
enormous and enormously increasing Southwestern,
Western, and Northwestern products at the lowest
cost possible, with reasonable profit to the road
The merchants and citizens OF Philadelphia would
on instant notice, take such stock for such uses
and would demonstrate TO the President and
directors OF that road that Philadelphia
has "the money and the men to handle and TO
manage all they could bring to them," and would
prove that the assertion OF their late report that
outlet through New York is necessary for that pur-
pose is not well founded but that giving them the
produce, they will guarantee the men, the money,
and also the ships to handle and to dispose OF all
they bring to them, and as much more If offered
from other sources. Merchandise commands ships,
commands money secures men.
Now let us put the whole matter into the form OF
q short preamble and a short resolution, which
ought to regulate the determination and conduct OF
our city, Legislature, and our citizens:-
Whereas This is the critical epoch in our COM
mercial life, the turnng-pOint when 1t is to be de-
energies OF our railroad shall be Loyalty and in
teuiRently employed to the use OF its proper mas
ters, or shall be blindly and improyidenuy driven
into the service OF a rival community; when the
question is to be decided, and decided for all time,
whether Jersey City or the wharves OF Philadelphia
shall TEEN with the renewed life OF great foreign
commerce. a commerce essential to the maintenance
and proper extension OF our manufacturing and me-
chanical prosperity therefore .
ReSolUed, That the City Councils and the citizens
at large will energetcay use all the power ana IN
nuence they possess prevent tins suicidal trans
fer; and the managers OF the pennsylvania hallroad
be invoked by every consideration OF duty ana patrl,
otism to reconsider and change their intention and
withdraw their proposition before 1t Is TOO late and
the business and capitalists OF the city That they
earnestly examine the subject and, II these views
are correct that they bestr themselves TO prevent
these unhappy results
Since the above was written perceive that reso
,...oaa IN aocordance with the views above