Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-08
,rne TnnneI KNcavntion.

IL the Elifor Of the DisDGtch:
Your correspondent who signs himself
Madison Warl" IN Saturdays Dis
,1afch evidently considered the subject
matter well before writing, and those
living in that locality and along the pro-
posed line Of tho MarshaIl-Strcet rail-
road must agree with him to some ex-
tent. Now. while ] would be the las
one % throw Guy obstruction IN the way
Of improvements 20 our city, and cannot
See quite - much danger OF sickness on
account OF the sinking Of that shaft on
Eighth street as the writer Of that artl-
Gle does, yet there is some danger OF
feyers, and the safety Of the
neighborhood may depend largely
upon the prompt removal Of the
dirt as 10 j. taken from the shaft
As d property owner and resident OF that
locality ! feel deeply interested in the
mater and trust the Board Of Health
will give 1t their careful consideration.
I also hope the Dispatch vii call their
spocialattentiont TO thatd duty. Hthe health
Of that locality or Of tne scholars and
teachers Of the High School and German
School are likely to be affected, why then
il i our duty 70 make every lawful eff
fort t. stop the digging until cold yea
ther. If not. why let the work proceed.
But IN relation to the proposed Mar,hall-
street railroad. Vas it not the duty
Of the City Council to consult
the property-holders along the pro-
posed route before granting this
iranchise ? Who in the whole
city desires a line through Marshall
street Ia it not apparent 10 every think
ing man that three competing lines on
Broad. Marshall, and Clay streets would
DO Il starvation business after the close
Of the Exposition II the business was
evenly divided ? If this is fact, and we
think it can be so demonstrated, does 1t
not look as though some one would have
to sell out ? Suppose We take Phlladel-
pbia IS a sample, With population OF
nearly a million and well-Ouilt streets
stretching out for miles, with more
population 70 each street than we have
on the three streets mentioned. and yet
only single track is allowed to each
street, and thus line of ears is divided be-
tween two streets, running up one street
and down the next. This is true of
nearly all the car lines running length
wise through that city. The streets Of
Philadelphia are also much farther apart
than our streets, and yet it Is expected
that Broad. Marshall, and Clay streets
will each support a dOUbletrsck railway.
The idea is simply absurd, and the city
fathers should have refused the right to a
franchise that is Of no value except per
haps to sell 10 the competing lines. [
doubt If there is a property holder on
Marshall street that would refuse to sign
IL protest against this road if such protest
would avail. The fact that this Man
chester company propose to commence
their line In the heart OF our city,
with half promise TO complete
this end Of it TO the Exposition iii pos
sible) by October Sd, should not have
had any force with the City Council,
which body, however, seem willing to
make any and every concession to aid
that great undertaking. We give them
credit for this landable desire, bat think
they overstep their duty 10 their con-
stltuents IN granting this franchise.
Respectfully you're,
MARSHALL STREET.