Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-02-02
STATE AID FOB THE WILMINGTON AMI
WEETERN-A GLIMPSE BACKWARD.

There seems to be 80 many badly defined re-
ports bruised about in respect TO the petition
now before the Legislature, asking aid to com
plete the W. &. ". R. R., that some reliable
statement concerning it may not be inopPor-
tune Mr.. Saml- Townsend, in late letter to the
Gazette, in his customary style has, We persume
unintentionAlly. misrepresented several points
His statement that this road has but about
miles in Delaware is quite mistake. The COM
pany is now operating about Is miles OF track
in the State and when built to the chartered
point Of commencement on the Delaware river,
with branches and connections complete,
will have several more miles in Delaware.
Again, the aid asked for il not for three or
four hundred thousand dollars, as Mr.. Townsend
states, to be gicen in State bonds, but for the
loan of moi more than ttoo hundred thousand
dollars worth of State bonds to be secured to
the State by first mortgage on the work, the
exact amount Of the loan TO be determined by
the number Of miles necessary to complete GER
tain connections not yet accurately measured.
The bill. as prepared, limits the loan to a certain
amount per mile for every mile OF track first
graded and bridged by stock subscriptions brt
in no case to amount to over 500, ,000., u per
cent. Of which will be reserved by the State for
two years interest, at the end Of which time, the
road, with extended line, and perfected connec-
ton, win be in condition to meet regularly both
interest and taxes due the State.
We do not think it necessary TO argue the
points assumed in Mr.. Townsend's letter. but only
to correct misstatements. An intelligent public
will know how to appreciate the value Of his
utterances. We think, however, that his effort
to appeal to the political aspirations Of members
will fall very fiat when the following facts are
observed
LIST. Mr.. Hickman who voted for the aid bill
70 the Junction L Breakwater R. R. in 1865, has
since been twice returned to the Legislature
the last time in 1873, voting for similar grant
to the Breakwater & Frankford r. r.
2nd. Sheppard p. Houston, Speaker of the
House in 1865, and an active supporter Of the j.
L B. aid bill, is now returned member tie
present session.
3rd. Mr.. Jackson, OF New Castle county who
voted for the aid bill of 1865, was returned tx
the Senate in 1867.
18th. Ex-Governor Ponder, who voted for tht
same aid BILL has since been exalted by the suf
frages Of the people to the highest position
within their gift.
One more observation may not be aEliss
When the facts are patent to every well-in
formed mind that the Delaware R. r. was aide,
by State credit to the amount Of 1900, 600, th,
Junction & Breakwater to the amount Of s4Oo
900, and that both these enterprises have de
yeloped largely the prosperity Of the State all,
her citizens that instead Of being burthen L
the State they have largely increased her imam
ciai ability, We cannot see the necessity OF al.
particular objection as touching the petition o.
behalf Of the W. L ". Let its claims for con
alteration be plainly and fully examined into an,
treated accordingly.