Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-05-29
0be Ca,,faster 1ntclIiacufer.
LANCASTER, MAY %, 1855.
The Philadelphia Railroad Question.

The solicitor of the Baltimore Il Ohio
railroad says to the committee of the Phila-
delphia councils, which is considering the /
plans for the entrance of that railroad into
the city, that it is ready to avoid all grade
crossings of the streets, if the city will |
make it practicable by changing the grade |
Of their streets where necessary which is |
fair proposition manifestly. He further
says, relative to the charge that Baltimore |
had been exacting in its requirements upon
the Pennsylvania railroad, in the entrance
of its railroad lines into that city, that the
Baltimore & Ohio will be satisfied to re-
ceive from Philadelphia twentieth part of
the privileges Baltimore gave to the Penn
sylvania's lines. lie says that it will cost
Baltimore million dollars to bridge
the rails of the Pennsylvanias roads
that one of them, the Northern
Central, has been exempted from
county and city taxation, which is
worth to it million and half dollars per
year ; that twelve miles of Baltimore's
streets are occupied by the Pennsylvania
lines that the tunnel which connects
some Of them through the city, however
advantageous to it, was built by the Penn
sylvania, not because the city demanded it,
but because it was necessary for its
purposes and, furthermore, that the ap-
plication made to the Pennsylvania legis-
lature by the road in Philadelphia con-
Meeting the Baltimore Il Ohio and the
Reading lines, for permission to increase
its stock beyond the statutory sl5O,OOO per
mil do lao Of lnr ,aI
would excesf fthSgsum and he pertinent
ly CESS that in such case it is better to
apply for legislative authority, than TO
laugh the law to scorn as the Pennsylvania
railroad company has done in building its
new Chestnut Hill road of seven miles in
length upon capital stock of 81 100000.
From all of which it appears that upon
this line of argument the Baltimore x Ohio
makes strong showing. II knocks its
opponent out at every round.
But the argument is itself worth nothing
to either side in the settlement of theques.
tion at issue, which is simply as to the
terms upon which the entrance of the Bal
timore Il Ohio railroad into Phil.
adelphia will be as advantageous to
the city, as is possible, while being also
reasonable. No one denies that the city
needs the new railroad; and what Balti.
more has or has not done for or against its
roads, has nothing to do with the terms
upon which Philadelphia will admit it. A
city needs the least possible disturbance OF
its thoroughfares by the railroads which
enter it, 1t needs that goods and passen
gers shall be taken out of it conveniently
and swiftly; but it does not need to be
made a thoroughfare it does not need tC
have the goods and people of other cities
carried through it. There does not seen
to be any advantage to Philadelphia
or the railroads in making their connec
tions in the city, as they may as well con.
meet outside and run into common depot.
The city's interest requires it to limit the
number of lines of steam rails laid in it
and the Philadelphia councils have to de.
termine what lines are necessary and how
they may be made least Objectionable.