Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-03-27
Tho Wilmington g. ReadlnH Bridge-State
ments in Reply TO A'R. B." n'

To he Editor OF Hle COMMERCIAL:
Having taken 8. leading position in opposing
the Amendment asked for by the Wilmington &
Reading Road, feel called upon to reply to my
highly esteemed friend ''E. b." through the
same cSannel he selected for his charge against
certain gentlemen in this city, who, by the way,
are among the largest Stockholders in the W. d.
R. r. r. In reply to the major portion of his
letter, l only request you TO publish the Amehd-
ment asked for by the W. IL r., (Which had
passed the Senate before we attempted to OPP
pose t) and let any citizen decide whether or
not it is safe to entrust such privileges to cor
poration which, to say the least, is endeayoring
to shtTk promise made TO stock-holaers ~neh
subscriptions we're solicited. VIZ: that ''WiLntng-
ton shall be the terminus Of the Road, and that
shipping wharves loould ia due time be erected
| at the mouth of the OlIristiara." !" ~ "a
This however, has been overlooked, and the
| remonstrsnts only ask that the bridge shall be
located above the Wilmington 4 Western Rail-
road bridge, and the draw made seventy tive feet
wide, (the present width Of the W. y W. draw
| The W. & Il through ''E, B. having assented
to all the remonstrants asked, II is difficult to
| imagine why somuch feeling should be exhibited,
and the subject brought into the press, after an
| adjustment professedly satisfactory had been
/ agreed TO by the remonstrants. Bat, no, one
nearer the bosom of the President than my
friend has asserted TO one of the largest stock
holders that il was their intention to extend their
i road to EdgemOOr crossing the Chrlstana be-
Io,0 Third Street Bridge The stockholder is my
informant. "tf'..'.-' i"'" 'f ''.". 'l
The second point wish to correct, is the
/ charge made against the p. W. d b. II. II. i
| can assure the public that that Road hasnot on
| ly not offered opposition to this amendment but
i the officers hdps declined to notice 1t unfAyora-
| hly, prefering when completed, to meet the w.
i & R. in fair competition for any trade that may
| Offer ANY business man can decide how much
| interest the trade the W, r. would receive
/ from the New Castle Iron Works, would pay up
/ on the investment, that would be occasioned by
bridging our "gutter stream" and extending the
| Road to New Castle. il, H.s 81. 81. 49,
The third point requiring attention is the
| Temporary" reduction in cost OF transport alton
uid the 'round about" road which is just thirteen
miles longer than the W. & r. route, and with
advantageous grades that fully overcome the
distance, e. ..-...-..,.I
The cause Of this reduction really is, that our
largest dealers, located on the P.'W1 d b.. Road,
have been obliged to pay twenty cents per ton
more freight on coal, than dealers on the W. q
r., notwithstanding drdlobdct is allowed, nom
indly to meet the P. W. Il b. transfer charges,
but really only amounting to reduction IN the
published tariff, from the fact that it is allowed
on all coal coming othis city, without regard
TO the competition it was, or should have been,
intended TO meet. I am quite positive the Z. q
| r. did not ask the W. & X. 10 ddudnoe rates on
coal TO this city, but simply requested consul
tation to arrange tariff that would leave the
shipper TO select his route, the rats Of transpUr
tatfon being the same BY either ar. ''''''s''