Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-16

TevuuSAL PROPERTY.

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TERMINAL PROPERTY.
The difficulty of procuring proper ter
minal facilities in large cities is one OF
the most formidable obstacles which
new railroad lines encounter. In many
of the great cities at the East the only
entrance ::attainable is over the lines
aud property of other companies. The
rights thus attained must always be
subject TO superior and exceptional
privileges reserved by the original
owner. A good terminus in many OF
the larger cities il of almost incslcui-
able money value, and its ownership mas
ia many Instances been the means OF
aiding poorer roads by combinations
which otherwise could not have been
accomplished. In New York city the
Harlem railroad owns in its line from
the Harlem river 70 the Grand Central
depot q piece Of property which is worth
moro than all the rest Of its line, and
NAV, indeed, be said TO be almost be-
yond price, for 1t would be impossible
nov TO duplicate IL. No new railroad
will ever be able to secure such an. en-
trance into the city. On the New Jer-
sey side OF the Hudson, where the roads
from the West and the South have
their termini, nearly all the water front
opposite New York Is now so taken up
that it would be difficult, il not impoe-
sible for new road TO find place, and
IL could enter only by permission OF
some existing line. "This." says the
Railroad CARTE, "alone will probably
prevent the baiiding Of third line be-
tween New York and Philadelphia by a
wholly new company, for while nine
senths Of such line could be built at a
moderate rate, the four or five miles at
each end could only be completed at q
cost so enormous as to practically pre-
vent the construction of the road" All
the new lines entering Chicago which
have been built In the past two or three
wears have come in over old roads, and
chiefly by the Chicago and Western
Indiana, which was built entirely as a
terminal road, and which finds the sole
reason for its existence and for the
large Sums spent upon 1t in the
value OF it's terminal property.
There il no doubt that this question
Of suitable and ample terminal facili-
ties h TO be more important as popula-
ton becomes denser and new railroad
lines are demanded to meet the increas-
ing volume Of business. Terminal prop
erty In every large and growing city
must largely increase In value, and the
difficulty Of securing proper facilities
for new roads will increase proportion
atsly. Il 10 also plain that monopoly
Of terminal facilities at any given point
may, while proving greatly TO the profit
Of the company owning them, retard
the growth of tn, terminal city by pla-
cling q practical inhibition upon the
construction Of new and competing
lines. To avoid all danger Of sach a
result. and at the came time reserve in
the hands and control of young and
growing cities source Of great and
perpetual revenue, II has been suggested
that II might be we'll for such cities to
secure q suitable entrance, obtain title
10 IL In the name Of the city, and hold II
~ property Of the municipality, open to
use on fair terms to all railroads that
may come. The plan IL not at all inn
practicable in most cities Of from ten to
twenty thousand people, and is reoeiv-
ing In many places oarefal considera-
tion. II would secure open competition
by q guarantee that any railroad desir-
Ing TO enter such city could do 80 on
equal tsrrs with others already built !;
prevent the cutting up Of streets and
condemnation and destruction of pri-
vats property bv lines of road keep the
roads out Of the main residence portion
Of . CITY, avoiding cindsrs, dust and
danger at crossinRs, and in many other
respscts be beneficial. II would estab-
lish general nucleus for freight and
passenger business, and become dis
tinctive featare In a city's growth.
These are some Of the many arguments
which can be urged in its favor, and
thus far " have seem no tenable objsc-
tions raised against the proposition.
The time IL coming whom the terminal
facilities already obtained and granted
In this city win be immensely valuable,
and when new roads seeking admission
Will BE- forced to pay large sums of
money for room and privileges.
Tmg EDlTo9lAL :. We.-