Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-06-04
THE d. & o. IN PHILADELPHIA.

THE u. DC %. IN PHIL1DELPHIA.
Before Councils, Railroad Com
mittee-The Pennsylvania i'm HAL
timore.
In Philadelphia, Thursday, the railroad
committee on councils met to consider
the two bills recently introduced to per-
nit the Baltimore and Philadelphia and
the Schuylkill River East Side Railroad
Company to lay their tracks in that city.
John X. Cowan, counsel for the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad Company addressed the
committee, and by the use of large map
explained the proposed route through the
city. He will continue his remarks at O
meeting next Friday.
Mr.. Cowan said the only important
grade crossing in West Philadelphia was
that of Darby rond. If the city would
depress Darby road for six feet the rail
road company would build bridge
across it. The other grade crossing
could be avoided by depressing Fifty
eighth street 10 feet and bridging it. At
the Reading railroad starts the East Side
road; crossing the river with two draws,
each rs feet long. From that point to
the junction with the Reading on Green
street, no street would be crossed at
grade. Mr.. Cowan next spoke of the
freight line branch across the Neck. II
was proposed to amend the ordinance Ill
few particulars to suit property holders.
A large part of the right of way was
free gift.
Mr.. Cowan wished to answer one or
two objections made in the public press.
1t had been said that the Baltimore a
Ohio should be treated precisely rs the
Pennsylvania had been treated in entering
Baltimore. ~ say give us one tithe-
one-twentieth part of tine privileges
granted the Pennsylvania by Baltimore
and Maryland we shall be content" The
Northern Central was given SO, ,000, 900 MS
n free gift from Maryland and Baltimore
In 1868 and 1863 Baltimore permitted the
Northern Central and the Baltimore Il
Potomac to come in such way that the
city has had tospend $3.50 900 for bridging
the tracks, and the amount will reach IL
million. The ordinance passed the city
councils without dissenting voice. BY
that same ordinance the main thorough
fare North street, in Baltimore, is for n
considerable distance from Saratoga
street, used as n yard by the Pennsylvania
railroad, and upon it its engines are
shifted. North street is magnificent
thoroughfare, coming right from the city
hall. That is the Pennsylvania entrance
to Baltimore.
''rhe fair name of your sister city,"
continued Mr.. Cowan, "has been yilified
by saying that it took the Pennsylvania
by the throat to make it burrow under
Baltimore. Baltimore did not force the
Pennsylvania into n tunnel. That COM
pany could not have reached its objective
point by any other way than tunnel
The Pennsylvania company never asked
for or surveyed any other way. BY
unanimous vote, and without waiting for
ate Legislative action, the councils
allowed the Pennsylvania to enter Balti-
more in precisely the manner that it pro-
posed. Twelve miles of the streets of Balti-
more are occupied by the Pennsylvania
to-day, more than twice the number of
miles occupied by the Baltimore x Ohio
in thnt city,"
In 1880 the Northern Central, in Mary
land, was subject to state, county and
municipal taxation. The Pennsylvania
knocked at the doors of the Legislature,
and without dissenting voice it wns
granted freedom from county and muni-
cipal taxation. This is worth to the com.
pany more than million and hnlf of
dollars year.
The board of managers OF the Maritime
Exchange of Philadelphia adopted reso-
lutions Thursday setting forth that the
decline in the commerce of that port has
been due to the lack of competitive rail
road facilities, and urging councils to
give prompt assent to the ordinance and
plans submitted by the Baltimore 4 Ohio
railroad for entrance into the city.