Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-09-25
THE RAILWAY WAR AT READING.
H. d.ct OF the p. 4 r y. Il.
READING GETTING ITS BLOOD UP

We stated on Saturday that the Philadelphia
& Reading Railroad Company had put large
force OF men to work in the night, on Thursday,
and laid track through the city Of Reading,
upon streets the exclusive use Of which had
been granting to the Berks County Railroad,
Wilmington 4 Reading extension.) The object
Of the Philadelphia road, Of course, was to crowd
the Extension line ont OF the city, and prevent
it's recurring any chance to supply or receive
Reading traffic. They have already put the
Wilmington line to great delay, expense, and
trouble, by litigation, concerning the occupancy
Of the river bank between BirdsborO', and Read
ing until the latter decided to build three bridges
Instead Of one, and avoid the use Of the dispu-
ted track-way
This fresh effort to defeat the extension is
nothing more nor less than a high-handed out
rage, We are glad to see that the people OF Dad
lug unanimously regard it such.
W1en the interfering track wa5 discovered,
on Friday morning, an Injunction was imnOdi-
ately obtained from the Court to restrain It's fur
ther progress, and OH Situtdiy evening spec
iAl meeting Of councils was held, at which res
olntlun was adopted directing the city authors
ties to ''cause the removal forthwith of the SILT
rails. and materials recently placed on Front ant
Canal streets, without the consent OF Councils,
and the expenses incurred in so doing be col
lected from the parties who placed, or caused
them to be placed. on said stre e5ts.'
This resolution received only one adverse vote
in the Select branch, aud passed unanimously in
tue Comm1n branch. Speeches were made by
numerous members denouncng the outrageous
insolence of the Philadelphia corporation. One
gentleman said that in thus business they came
at tue dead hour of night as thieves would do
TO steal the right to put down an additional
traod. II they had such a right they should
have done as honest mon would aud lay the
track in the day time. They came with three or
four hundred meu with all the materials, DC,
and placed distractions not only in front Of the
speakers but OF his neighbors' properties. A
neighbOr Of his Was prevented from getting in
to his shop. The citizens Of Reading should
have done as those Of Erie did, tear up the
track.
On Monday the city Commissioner Of High
ways, went to work, with force OF men, aud by
evening had the whole track torn up, hauled
away and store on an open lot. Ia the even
ing the Philadelphia corporations lawyers tried
a new doige to intimidute the City, and had the
Highway Commissioner and his workmen all
arrested for interfering with their illegal track
SO the matter stsnds, 80 far. We hope and
believe that the effort to brOwbeat our sister
city will be decisive failure, and will teach in
solent corporations to keep within the limit Of
the brief authority which their charter was in
tended to give them Tho time will come, be-
fore long, when some of the great railway cor
porations will appear in the character they are
now rapidly assuming that Of the greatest rob
Der and oppressor the country ever saw. Then
the people will seize and bind them.