The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-05-18
THE CITY RAILROADS,
New Road IN CarroIIton Projected.

New WORU W t0cfOlltDU VV0Scteu.
Since there are several propositions
now before the Council, or about to be
presented for their consideration. con
cerning our city railroads. 1t may not be
inappropriate to consider them In u
general way. The first and most i'm
portant Of these propositions Is the ex
tension of the charter Of the New Or
leans City Railroad Company, the
wealthiest corporation Of its kind In this
city. aud whose lines are numerous, and
extend from the river to the lake.
nnd from the Barracks to the upper part
Of tho city. The questions which tho
Council will havo to consider carefully
before granting the extension asked Tor
embrace not only the interests OF the
city rs corporate body, but. MS we'll.
the pccuninry and physical comforts
Of the individual members Of the cor
poration. Cheapness Of travel to the
poor, in cities like New Orleans. spread
over such q large cxtcut Of territory.
ia second to no other consideration.
Then comes that vCxed question
one which applies to all the
companies the Keeping in repair Of the
streets through which the trucks are
laid. If II Ia deemed that the extension
aud new privileges should be granted,
aud that the street repairing clause
should be included in the contracts, let
the contracts be worded in this respect.
and in all other respects. in such u man
ncr as to leave not even mn apology for
misapprehcnsiou as Ito their true sig
nilcatiou. Railroad companies. in tho
person Of their directors. aro
human. and it is not strange
that they should seek to improve
opportunity in their own behalf. they
are more Idiroctly concerned in the
affairs of their companies than the City
Fathers in those Of the city corporation
their personal interests arc Mt stake.
whilst in the case Of tho Council, its
members are acting in the capacity Of
trustees only. Tho latter have. there
fore, nm nrd,lous task before them when
they enter tho field Of discussion with
the former, not because OF any lack 81
conscientiousness, but from lack ol
that self interest which inspires judg-
ment and instills into It those great ele-
menta Of success foresight aud saga
city.
There Ii another matter which de-
serves the stl die | deliberations OF ou'
Mayor and Administrators. 1t is the
question OF monopoly. which should be
is nj ready at issue In the conflicting In
tereats OF the New Orleans City Rail
rond Company and the Orleans Railroad
| Company The latter are asking for
division with the former Of the neutra
ground on Canal street, between Ca1nI
and ST. Charles. now monopolized bl
| the New Orleans City Railroad Com
pany for its down town stations OF tht
Camp and Magazine streets lines. Th'
petitioners demand Is not onl,
equitable, but II granted will resul
| In nm improvement to the CONDITION
Of the great thoroughfare. AS It nov
stands, the station Of the Orleans Com
pany is confined to the gutter edge o
the neutral ground; adjacent to the Cla.
monument u space entirely too re
slricted for its uses, and ut n spot where
u partial blocking up OF the street Is tn
inevitable consequence. The Orlean
Company go further and propose us al
ALTERNATIVES that all the stations oi
Canal street be removed to the head o
the street, thus leaving the blocks be
tween Magazine and Cnrondelet street
free from incumbrance and thcreb.
meeting the requirements OF the cit,
ordinances regarding the grand trun'
track.
The alternative meets our favor n
being decidedly the best arrangement
that could be effected. for many reasons
and because the change could not ac
inj,lriously against any Of the com
pnnies. ii would rid the vicinity OF tn
Glay monument Of the over crowdln,
which Is frequently seen there. III
change cannot be opposed on the Scor
of expense, since one OF the companie
voluntarily comes forward and offers t.
share it,: besides, it must take plnc
sooner or later. Sooner or later ais
the City Railroad Company must re
move their tracks beyond Claiborn
street, to the centre OF the neutra
ground the proposition to TINT effect
contained in u resolution presented !
: the Council recently by Mr.. Landry
should be insisted upon.
or the projects which are being ma
: turcd there is one which proposes t
; connect Carrolton with the station {
the Canal and Claiborne street railroad
; on Common street near Broad, by wa
: Of Canal avenue. There is not, as man
people seem to think any great advaf
tage to be gained in distance by the pre-
posed new road, for the distance froT
the head Of Canal street to Carrollton
r by the way of Common street and Cana
avenue. is about the same as from tn
, corner Of Baronne and Canal to Da
Hickock's and the difference in fave
! Of the new road, from the corner of BE
t rome and Canal streets, would be abot
, six -tcnths OF mile. But the propose
road would serve the public in man
WAYS. 1t would extend the line OF tn
Common Street Railroad Company
the City Insane Asylum and to within
3 few hundred yards OF the Haifwa
, House and the Ridge Cemeteries.
would afford variety Of travel, build u
| Canal Avenue, one Of the broadest
the city. 1t would also afford the i,
habitants Of Carrollton easy access
the New Orleans. City Railroad Con
9 pany's railroad to the lake, over roa
!, about two and a-quarter miles loni
! whereas they now have to travel Ov'
. nearly nine miles Of rail to reach II
! same point, the corner Of Common ar
, Canal Avenue.
T Centennial Picnic Of the webster schOa
, Yesterday was q bright and gloriOl