Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-27
TaE D0WNTRODDEN STREET BAIL
ROAD COMPANY.

TaE DowNTRODDEN STREET RAIL
ROAD COMPANY.
This feeble orphan finds a de-
fender and apologist at last. The
Appeal GENES to the rescue in a
solid column. The article pro-
duced a profound effect; even the
very mules to the boxes prioked up
their ears and took longer steps
when it became known that a
champion for the feeble and OPP
pressed had volunteered to appear
lin the tournament like the Black
Knight of Iyanhoe, when the beau
tiful Rebecca looked on to reward
the victor with smiles. We learn
for the first time in this
ingenious but lame apology
that we earnestly desire to see a
reduction Of rate in the present
fare that is, if the " we" means
our respected cotemporary. Thus
far the LEDGER has been the
only paper in recent years
to discountenance the exorbitaro
charges of the street railroad
company. This, it is scarcely
necessary to say, we have done as 4
duty to the public, and from no
other motive, feeling or interest
whatever. The article in question
shows a familiarity with the books
of the company which, We venture
to say, has not been permitted to any
Of the small stockholders. Still it
is full of errors and mistakes-un-
intentional, we suppose, Of COURSE
but nevertheless it is the best show
ling that the company can possibly
make by attorney or otherwise, and
exposes its salient points as fully as
anything that has ever appeared in
these columns. The threat to stop
running the cars to Elmwood was
made to brighten the people on that
hoe and induce them to sign petit
tons and send kilograms to Nash
vile to defeat, if possible, Mr.. Col
lier's bill before the legislature to
reduce the fare to five cents. Does
anybody believe that this branch of
the road is run merely for accom-
mediation ? This is too thin. As
to the pretense that the company
could not run outside Of Memphis
proper without the authority i'm
piled in section 20 Of the Dan
bridge railroad charter, that is
+ equally absurd. Mr.. Collier writes
to us that the repeal Of this section
, does not affect the lines running
out of the city in any manner.
Even if it did the company could
obtain a charter from the Chancery
Court in less than six weeks
The charter proper expressly
J gives the company authority to
run cars in Chelsea and Fort Pick
eriug. In law it is doubtful whether
the company has any charter. Ii
has forfeited whatever rights and
charter it had long ago in a dozen
ways, and we, believe any court
would so decide. If this poor,
W ak little company is losing one
. dollar and aquarter a day, or s456.2j
per annum on each car, why don't
they quit and let some body take
| hold of the business that can run
! the road proitably, and so a;
to accommodate the public at
: a nickel a fare As to The tax
e of $25 per annum on each car, that
is a small matter to the s456.2l
5 charged up to profit and loss. The
n statement that the removal of thii
e tax would enable the company t,
It repair the track as required in til,
: charter and in the contract witt
d the city, and to reduce fares to. fy,
cents, seems a little incongruous, t
say the least. But the article il
a the Appeal which seems to be au
thoritatiye and from the books
vt concludes: "The company unde
It the conditions mentioned above vii
e reduce the fare to FIVE cents" Thi
l. is a slight concession, perhaps
considerable concession. If the
l.; have sixty cars, the tax at $25 eacl
1t would be $500 per annum. sa
4 100 people ride in each car ever
Of day at 81 cents. The receipts pc