The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-05
STEAM ON THE BELT ROAD.

ANOTHER MEETING OF THE STREET ALDER
MANIC coMMITrEE-ARGUMENTs IN oPPosI-
TON TO THE PLAN.
An adjourned meeting OF tho Street Committee OF
the Board Of Aldermen was held yesterday after
noon for the purpose OF hearing arguments IN oppos-
ton TO the proposal to freight by steam on
the Belt Railroad Colonel G. W. wingato. Mr. Robert
G. Cornell, Mr.. John Mix and others made speeches
in support Of this side Of the argument. Additional
arguments were made on tho other side by Mr. !. +.
Lees, Captain Snow and others
THE OPPOSITION ARGUMENT
Colonel Wingate appeared tor OF the property
and esseos of premises West street and nd
joining thoroughfarcs. He charged that the Cheap
Transportation Association not infnble IN their
advocacy Of this matter All agreed that tho terminal
facilities of the city should DO Increased, but the plan
proposed would effect the desired result
The entire commerce and passenger traffic Of
tho city, except what passed the Centrsl Rail-
road, crossed West aud ouh streets, and was helped
hindered ms those streets cleared or OBJ
struc,ed. During the time steam was 10 be used on
the Belt road sxy-our passenger trains nightly ar
rived and Left Jersey Guy. Any delay In crossing
West street would cause travellers TO lose connections
and cndanger their lives Every night during. the
winter 1000 vehicles crossed tho Hudson bringing
milk ana provisions Tor the OF New York, and the
number was doubled n summer. Washington Market
employed directly 5000 men, and indirectly 10000
and received and distributed PROVISIONS than any
".
centrated the produce and provision trade. Every
night the streets south OF Canal street were crowded
with market wagons. THIS tradc would be destroyed
by the running oil freight cars on West street. The
Eric Railroad. which transported much ireight as
the Central. delivered the bulk OF It in this locality.
The Pennsy lvania; Delaware, Lackawanna aud West
crn, and New Jersey Centra, tue Eastern and other
steamboat lines also received and delivered their
freight along West street All these interests would
be njurousiy affected by tho adoption OF SUCH PLAN
From 900 10 1000 freight cars would be hauled over
a railroad having but TWO tracks during each night
hr on Had Inn "a IN n
properly handle such arge number Of freight cars in
the street without causing much Inconvenience. He
also pointed out the great expenses lnat would be nec
essary crca Cd in the loading and unloading OF
freight in this manner II would require the railroads
ana merchants 10 employ double gans OF men and
involve iourlold the present expense OF cartage'
\ MONOPOLY TO THE GRAND CENTRAL.
The effect would be TO give monopoly 70 the Gen.
trail Railroad Not single road coming IN on the west
side could use the privilege 1t was SO important 10
connect ships and stores why could not the vessels
up town. The Central road had elevator built ex
prcssly Sixy-iith street. Ii ST. Johns Park
oo lar distant, why could not freight DO received
floats on the east SIDE as tho Erie aid at Coenles sp
New York wanted broad and welpavcd streets which
would permit cartlng 70 DO done ut u minimum
whole day was frequently wasted in delivering single
jury to New York commerce owing to the port
charges, the Custom House. and the discrimination in
central railroad had received 81, ooo 600 from the
city Tor the Fourth avenue improvements. which was
as much Tor It's own benefit us lis present depot
WASHINGTON MARKET INTERESTS.
Mr.. Robert g. Cornell also argued against tho i'm.
practcabilily OF tho The gentleman ap.
pcared tho representative OF the Washington Mar
ket interests lie stated that the running Of freight
by night would destroy w0thrds Of the business
oil that market. There was within the twenty
four that thousands OF dollars worth OF property
was not carried away from this vicinity.
Mr. John MIX also spoke us a representative from
Washington Market IN opposition to the plan. Hc was
followed on the same sde by Mr.. T. G. Kimball and
Mr.. j. j. Phelnn
Additional arguments in favor Of tho scheme were
then made by Mr.. Theodore +. Lees, Captain Ambrose
Snow and others, after which the committee adj
Journed until Monday next