Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-12-02
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OUR oAruR DAY LETTE r.
An EXCITING wHRK-BUANINo OF TIE MARKEr sT.
BRD0R-FloPosITIoNs FOE RHBUILDrNo QUAR-
REL bETwsxN sTREET RAILWAY COMPANIES
TIE MOODY AND sANKEY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
sUoCRss OF TEE NovEHENT-THE HOUSE OF COZ
RBcTroN-KyFECT OF THE NEWS OF VICE
PRksrDKNr wiIAoN's DKArH-LYINa IN STATE AT
INDEPENDENCE HALL, de- &c.
Special cOrrsspondenos o. sAs Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. &c.
People have hardly had need to ask one an
other whats the news ?" this week. OF course
they did it from force Of habit, ~ they are lke-
ly to continue doing indefinitely, hut they all
knew what the news was worry well. It has been
long, indeed, since 20 many exciting incidents
have crowded together ~ in the interval since
my last letter. Tho wonderful revival, and the
burning Of the Market street bridge. with all the
municipal hustle, and the complications atten-
ding 1t, have boen In themselves matters to ex-
cite the public in an unwonted degree. Then
the news Of Vice President Wilson's death pro-
duoed direct local effect; and we have had, Also
the Thanksgiving holiday, the discussion Of the
important Tax question, the decision in the
House Of Correction case, the pushing Of the
shameful Gamewell Job through one branch Of
Councils, and other topics, to attract attention.
The Centennial excitement 10 Of course con-
slant, pormeating and enveloping all city inter-
eSts. It can be seen therefore that the most
listless person has to give ear In these times to
the manifold movements around him.
can recall no recent local matter which has
provoked such general comment and interest ~
the Market Street Bridge disaster. A house or
store burns and it is the affair of the owners or
the insurance companies or At most Of the work.
ing people who may be thrown out employment,
but the destruction Of main avenue Of com-
muncation like this aheots every citizen,
ands of persons in the habit of using it. 1t il
EASY to say that short detour only 10 needed in
order to cross the Bchuylkill at Chestnut Street,
but the sum Of that extra labor cannot be easily
calculated neither can the losses and inconven-
fence to the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Adams
Express Co., the numerous transportation COM
pAnies and the business firms dealing In coal,
lime, lumber, grain and produce-Au of whom
depended solely on the the Market Street Bridge.
Even with the trestle work which has been
pushed forward with such marvellous rapidity 1t
will not be possible to carry freight SO ~ to
answer the proper demands Of trade. There in
TO be but single track, and delays in shipments
must be continual. The disaster emphasizes
Two lkCL9 very kLEOuKly ,-urbt, tub IOlly OF BUD
jecting all these immense interests to wooden
bridge while the thoroughfsre, ~ true part Of
Market street, should have been rs substantial
and impreguable as the street itself and, SEQ.
ond, the miserable judgment which made
Chestnut st. Bridge what it is. II that
thoroughfare were ss wide again a. it is, and il
the approaches were reasonably graded, the
situation at present would be much more endur-
able.
Aud now,, what of the new Market Street
lx~tl naIN t.-sA
when the Mayor called . meeting Of persons
more directly interested to consider this ques-
ton. He assembled these citizens on Sunday
morning, from which novel fact the urgency Of
the case will be Understood, and 1t the same
time he also called special meeting Of both
branches Of City Councils to meet at An early
hour the next day; also q most unusual proceed
Ing. But those consultations have ~ yet come
to nothing, for the Pennsylvanis Railroad would
have run its trestle' work across In any case. In
point Of fact, serious question is raised in the
matter Of reconstruction, and although the af-
fair IL urgent it il not All easy thing to decide all
At once. The problem is whether to build tenn
porary bridge, or one suitable to the growing
needs Of the city,Isuch . bridge as shall stand
for centuries, and be always adequate TO the de-
mands made upon it2 From one view this is q
direct opportunity for such work, on the other
| 1t is necessary that communication should be
opened for the Centennial season, and . bridge
such a. here indicated could not be constructed
| IN time, Yet again, 1t must not be supposed
that by temporary" bridge Ii mcant any such
| makeshft ~ the Railroad company is now erect
ing. Nothing less than . bridge that can
| answer all present needs, - we'll az accommo-
date the Centenn nial traffic will do, and the con-
sideration is thus presented, whether with such
temporary structure, answering apparently all
needs, the city. would agree Immediately after the
Exposition to erect permanent bridge such A.
10 demanded Of Market street? It is an awkward
question to settle but the immediate need is 80
urgent that there can hardly be any doubt but
that the Temporary structure will be erected
gradually growing to be called permanent"
Ihave left myself scarcely any space to speak
| OF tho trouble between the Market and Chest
nut Street Railways, growing out Of the dre-
| yet 1t III matter OF some moment In view OF
the manner in which the Passenger Railway
magnates lord it over our streets. Immediately
after the burning Of the bridge, President Col
John 8. Morton, President Of the Market Street
| Line, the use OF the tracks of the former COM
pany, TO connect with Market street by turn
outs on 92d on the West, and 2Sd street on the
East. This action was thought entirely fitting,
and the liberality Of the Chestnut street COM
pany was generally applauded. But after Mr.
Morton laid his additional tracks aud was ready
to cross the river at Chestnut street Mr.. Colket
suddenly backed water. 1t ID supposed that
the weeks experience has shown him the value
and that desiring to keep that traffic, or grea
part Of 1t, he thought better Of his agreement
with Mr.. Morton. He refused to connect with
the Market st., Line except at 34th street, thu,
the depot beyond where they want to alight, ant
making an even thing between itself and th'
Market st., Line Of this valuable patronage
Morton insists on the original understanding
and Colket gives notice that he will apply for ~
injunction, Fair play is Jewel and public
sympathy IL entirely with the Market Stree
Line. The quarrel brings freshly 10 mind the
fact that Mr.. Colkets company has, somehow
always had the reputation of being the closes
and most illiberal Of all our street roads.
As for the Revival fear to be thought s1trav
agant in simply stating things as they are. Th'
success has been truly wonderful far surpass
ing the hopes Of the widest enthusiast. No
only has the attendance, and the spirit shown
church, press and populace on the subject i
complete and satisfying. When I say the sue
cess 10 wonderful, refer to such results q
these ~ to spiritual effect do not see how W
are to gather much data. for it 10 mot likely ths
1.-THE q those who are induced by the meet
ings to lead q purer life will give any publ
evidence of their bettered condition the
carry that renewed heart into thei
, homes, but the world knows nothing Of it, ca
only judge Of the result, after considerabl
time by the better tone OF society. It is poo
wisdom to expect = showing Of hands-so man
converted sinners on such date, so many on sue
smother. The retiring man is more modest il
this matter than in any other, and it Ia only tn
sellor of my youth used often to declare i
Friends meeting)-" blasting on the barre
mountains Of an empty profession" The pee
pie who ARE always 1t one extreme or another i
. feeling, now that evidence in plenty s in IS re
CARDS the interest in the revival, take refuge i
tho doubt that there IL more curiosity than r.
ligion IN all this. But do not see why the
!, should even doubt on that score Of course, cl
riosity 10 largely answerable for the excitemen
:. mainly answerable, very likely, but what Of th
balance? Certainly it u not all curiosity Il
gathering of Thousands for hours before Il
opening Of the depot-church," the order, th
7 earnestnoss, the frequent signs Of feeling, u
!, fsrvor with which the hymns are sung, most
" all, the anxious thronging Of the "inquil
meetings" which arc held in neighborir
churches after the adjournment Of the main se
vices-all prove this. Over 100, 900 persons ha,
N attended the meetings in less than week, and
IN is supposed quite ~ many people have vain
!, endeavored 70 gain admittance. This would
\ nearly the whole adult population Of Philsdt
;" phia, supposing all these persons to be PhilAdt
j.. phians, but In fact people from sll surroundiI
10 towns and country parts are Aocking to the wo
derful meetings.
Preacher Moody aud Singer SSnkey ha
II, made strong mpressions-Sankey possibly Il
'i N strongest OF the two-but the effect seems
," lie deeper than the leadership Of any iudividu'