, 1874-06-14
are worth to-day and would sell for eloo, goo
each. I sold the plat of tive acres Wnefe sne
State Prison 1T Joliet nov stands for $3.50
WABASH-AVENUE H0RSE-R4lLNAY.


Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen or tht toHsW"~ee'
We assume that, in your report 70 the Common
| Council on the petition for an ordinance author
| izine the construction and operation OF horse
railway on Wabash avenue. you will desire to d.
substantial justice to the public at large and tt
the propety-holde1s on the limo OF the proposed
railway The fact that you grant US this hear
ing indicates that you desire to inquire into ant
subserye the interests Of all concerned. Now,
WHO ARE CONCERNED IN THIS MATTER?
! To give due consideration to tho interests O.
ALL it is necessary to define these interests, and
weigh their relative magnitude. For. surely. II
great interest require, and small interes
oppose this railway. you will, as just mon, give
heed to the larger interest
Without going into distinctions too fine, Te
may say there are three general classes OF rights
in and upon that portion OF Wabash avenue or
which it proposes to lay this railway:
FIrst-There is the naked right which all citi-
zens and all strangers coming into the city have
in common-the right OF passing along this
highway.
Seco,d-Thero is the bare right Of all persons
who oAn lands eouth OF north OF this portion OF
the avenue, to pass over this thoroughfare to
their possessions beyond.
Third-There are the various rights OF al
persons who bold property fronting upon this
portion OF the avenue, which wi1l be affected by
the railway.
Now, while tho three clnsses Of rights all
exist they are not all co-existent with interests
OF equal Importance. While no nun will deny
the right OF any citizen or stranger to pass up
or down this street, whether OF not ho owns q
foot Of land On the face OF the earth, no man
will say that d stranger OF non-landholder has
the came interests involved as the person who
has land or buildings fronting upon that street.
OF the three classes Of rights, the man who
holds the second has greater interests II this
thoroughfare than the man Who holds simply the
first. III still greater degree, tho man who
holds the third class of rights has 1uterests
EXCEEDING THOSE
associated with the first and second classes; Tor
he, the property y-holder on this part of the ave
nue., has all the rights pertaining to the tirst aud
second classes, and tho additional rights pecu-
liar to the third class.
Now. gentlemen Of the Committee, If strap
ger were to come here from tue happy City OF St.
Louis YOU would not deny him the right aud
pleasure Of promenading the middle line of VA
bash avenue. But, it the same stranger we're to
come here before you, and demonstrate against
the laying Of car-track on that middle line,
claiming that he had the right to there,
would you glye much consideration to his remon-
STRANGE?
So the man who owns land in Calumet has the
right of driving along this roadway toward his
suburban acres. But, if sufficient roadway is
kept open for his passage, what weight shall be
given to his remonstrauce on the ground that
there should be kept open for him nine times as
much roadway as he needs for safe transit? AS
it il proposed to run cars on Wabash avenue only
go far south Twenty-second street, the man
who holds property on this avenue south
Of Twenty-second street has rights On
that part north of Tweutv-secoud street only
of the second class. So that tho avenue
from Lake to Twenty-second street is kept
method, the psoperty-holder south Of Twenty
second street has no ground for compliant. aud
he has no rights on which to base remonstiance
against the use Of portion Of the roadway for
other methods Of travel. HIS carriage, his sad
die, his boots, perhaps, are his means OF transit.
Tie horse-car is the means OF
FAR GREATER NUMBER.
Have not the thousands living south OF Twen-
ty-second street, Who can suend only 10 cents q
day for conveyance to and from their places OF
coach run upon the highway, as the man who
can spend $40 per day on his turnout has
to speed his thorougLbreds and taunt his
carriage-crest? On Nhat rule of public equity
can the carriaGe-rider claim the exclusive
easement over thus route, and deny tho car-rider
Wabash south Of Twenty-second has no mote to
do with the use that shall be madc OF that ave-
nue north OF Twenty-secon3, than has the prop
on Cottage Grove or South Chicago
avenue. He is beyond the interests to be af-
fected by the proposed railway. By fur the
larger portion Of the rcmonstrants live and have
south Of Tweuty-eecond street. IN
deed, very few on the line to be affected
By the railway have protested against
it. This rer,onstrance was lnst'gated, and
on State and other streets west; and
they, failing to got signatures among the prop
on that part OF Wabash on which it
is proposed to run cars. we're compelled to 20.
and did so, to the dweIlers on Wabash south Of
street. This entire opposition
eprang from, and is urged on By, Il few men on
State and other streets who are apprehensive
that cars introduced on Wabash will make 1t also
3 prosperous street.
WHAT npEnTISEScE
for one street to assume to dictate the manage
Eent of q neighboring street How Httleworthy
Of prosperity Is he who would throw obstacles in
the way Of his neighbor! The success
which declares that 10 others shall succeed
is unbecoming, and deserves the condemnation
Of ali fair citizens. Wo have no quarrel with
State street, or any other, If they mind their
own business. STATE street has business enough,
and nothing can take it away from her. All We
ask Of her is kindly ueighbo1hood, and fair and
honorable competition. Perhaps competition i"
is moro likely to be found the
future relation OF these two avenues Of trade.
State street. in opposing what tends to the COM
mercat activity of Wabash avenue, is thereby
retarding her own future growth. Greater busi-
ness on Wabash will not detract from State, but
the Two will gain thereby together.
Let us now consider the third class OF rights,
the rights Of the property-hoders on Wabash |
ayeuue, north Of Twenty r-second street.
Here is q broad avenue, 100 feet wide and |
miles long, nearly the entire frontage of which
desires a horse-ralway. They who oppose this
project bass their efforts at argument largely on
the fact that this is broad avenue, the widest |
through street in the city. They expatiate on
the future magnifcence Of this thoroughfare-lf |
they can only
REP BUSINESS AWAY FROM IT;
and they lament the awful sacrifice OF gram |
deur. and beauty, aud roomineas for fast |
that will follow the granting
Of tho petition before you. They CRY. What a !
pity to cut up with car-tracks the only Broadway
Of Chicago! They come to this avenue, and.
beholding it, exc'uim: Ho, every one that
driveth, here is room for the brilliant equpnge,
the pondcrous draY, tho dashing buggy, the rae |
ing omnibus. the swooping express-wagon. and
the knobby tandem dog-cart. Come aud drive
over this broad, smooth roadway, and you shall
not be crowded or retarded by the popnlous aud
sedate etreet-car. We will keep forever the
distances of this glorious avenue
the pride Of the city and the admiration Of