Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-04-27

Special Correspondence Gazette and journal.
DOVER, April l9.--Fortunate among rail
wavs is the Middletown Electric. II has
received its charter substantially as asked
for with the simple stipulation that it shall
cross the Delaware railroad overhead,
which is no hardship in this case since the
lay oe the land a short distance below the
station will make that quite practicable.
The Senate passed the charter this after
noon by unanimous vote leaving the |
privilege Of laying tracks on the south sac
of the public road, between Odessa anu |
MiddletoHn unimpaired. Alexander |
Comegys is the leading commissioner |
named in The bill, and he has looked after |
il with the energy and assiduity character
istic Of him. His townsmen owe Mr.
Cpmegys an ovation of large dimensions.
The route Of the projected railway IS
from Cantwell's bridge through Odessa
via the public road to Middletown, thence
by the public road to the Maryland line
about one-fourth Of a mile east OF War
wick with authority to merge or connect
with any MARYLAND extension. The right
to establish electric lighting plants goes
along with it, Work is to be commenced
within six months and completed within
two years.
Willard Salisbury brought down with
him to-day the following letter, which is
significant as indicating that the projectors
of the Gordon Heights railway bill wall
find both the Wilmington City railway
and the Edge Moor Bridge Works arrayed
against them. Tile letter Of PRESIDENT
Morse is evidently leveed most directly at
this enterprise, although the Gordon
HEIGHTS bill does not mention Edge Moor
''as one of the termini of their lines, &c
nor, indeed, does any bill now before the
Legislature. The original Brandywine
Springs bill was the only embryo charter
in which Edge Moor, was mentioned, alil
the remains Of that bill were cartei away
last week. The letter of President Morse
runs as follows
April 10Th, ISl3.--To The Chairman nf the Conn
n niitse on c ortions, General 4 tsn,b'V, b1Det
n Dbl am deeply interested in the results Of
the various efforts now being made TO nhtain
charters for electric street car llres TO oporhte
in and about Wilmington. Not beranse am
financially interes ed. for ] have not now ana
do not expect in the future TO own stock in any
4 OF the SO lines am Interested however ~ the
4 rapid transportation Of our employees petWern
their homes in Wilmington and our shops In
Edge Moor. Our wUfkmen do not live IN
Brandywine Springs, Claymont, ChAdds : FORD
4 or Newport, but in tho eastern pnrt OF tho city,
N between the krandywine and Ghrtstllnl
ID rivers, from winch section OF ths city none ot
the proposed charters ask Tor direct llnes 70
Edge Moor. Perhaps the parties asking Tor
charters only intend D. build lines through
the streets Of Wilmington, and in hfter yerrs,
II these lines pay, tl.sy may constder mo
3 them 10 build to suburban towns.
In case we depended on any Of these lines
for which YOU are asked to grant charters, II
I'm would be years before they could nulld thein
tI In Wilmington to reach the homes Of our work
'N men, and after doing this. should they contem-
.N y ate building line TO Edge Moor, they wOll'i
Isl lind that by their proposed routes they wand
have to carry our Workmen over , aonfle me a,a, M
tance required ny u direct line over lue
"A Eleventh stree: bridge.
M Not one Of the parties asking for charters
V have ever eyinced enough interest III Eige
Moor to ask us how many passengers we woud
furnish or by what route they could best serve
XII our people, or even in what portion Of me city
sH our Workmen lived, from which neglect am
iii cd thnt thew either have rISeU
III ordinary business instincts or that they oniy
81 named Edge Moor as one of the ternihl o.
~ their lines. for n cloak to shield their purpose
n of building lines In tho city only. The cttlzem
of Wilmington have not asked for better stree
car service than they now have, on the con
IA trary have heard IRON all sides, c4ntinnn
praise for the very efficient service which W.
VI now enjoy and for the efforts they are nov
making TO reach the extreme limits OF the city
M Should another tNmpany build lines through
II the city tho combined earnings would not b
III materially increased, while the lnye ttmeht
sl and operating expenses would be doubled Ant
she profits for both companies would either b
VI reduced to no hing or 10 such low ebb, Ina
II neither line would be able or willing to bull
make tho following suggestions for you
III consideration:
vi l. Do tho parties asking for charters nten
to build to the suburban towns mentioned I
4 their bills; II they state that they do so II
tend, what proof do they oirer and what ral,
Al pearing before you and obl'gatinE tbemselve
TO cnrry ont The promises made by their reI
4 reS6ntHtlNeS.
4, Have The people of Wilmington asked tC
III better street railway facilities tnan they no
III possess?
IA s. Will the interests Of this city and state
III better conserved by one line owned hy citi2ei
IA who will retain all tha'r profits here or vi
" you best serve your constituents by hrlngll
M capital from. without the state to be invested
W not In products OF this state, but in cars IA
M motors and machinery bought outside Of II
IA State, and permit them 10 carry away from
IA the profits, II any, which they may earn by T.
"A ducing eXterminating the profits whlt
IN your own neiGhbnrs should make by the
#N present Investments.
A 4. Will not another system OF rapid trans
f1 through our streets 50 eniahgar public tray
VII that IL will be unsafe 10 travel through Il
M cltye The present system has almpst entire
M driven all other vehicles off OF tho streets Oc,'
piei by their tracks. The people who brit
produce and supplies into Ulr city and tho
M who come here TO trnde havs solno rights
II our pubic thoroughInres, which should he re
ognzcd in considering the question OF gtvli
up more streets 10 rapid transit.
do not wish to urge upon those interest'
in obtaining elec'rlc INES ior mel. suoutp
III villages, that they may be standing III tht
IN own light by asking you 10 grant CHARTERS
~ parties whose intentions may not be clear
|M all of us, bat who MAJ succeed lwtthonl
,M tending to do so) in breaking down our prese
WI admirable system, or so depreciate its car !
0 capacity as to force its sale 70 sicn notorio
tE syndicates as now hold the Cities OF lhilad
'N rhta Chicago and Boston in Their GRASP. u
|W | do ask that the Wilmington city Rhw
|N Company be given q chance to reach out
,N our suburban towns, before embarrassing tEt
III with parallel lines in the city. which lnii
lW prevent their future growth ana undo Us
lW well as them.
lM Ii after a reasonable opportunity to srf
E% they shall tail to meet proper public deinhn
lH snail be among the first p ASK you ior fril
If and ouDt not that you vii! then teel lustt
Itf In granting II. Yours ttuly, ,
IN Signed y. Y. MORSE,
I% President Edge Aoor Bridge Works
| Has Preston Lea lost his grip on
| Senate or has the Pennsylvania Rallro
|9 Company turned on its late ally? BC
IW questions are being asked here IN view
IH the increasing probability that the Sen
III will insist upon the acceptance by
lI Wilmington City Railway Company
II the same overhead crossings amendin'
II that all the new electric railways hi
It been forced to shoulder. Mr.. Lea was
II formed yesterday that such an ame
|I ment was inevitable and asked if his CO
IJ pany would accept it. He asked time
II consideration. The alternative is the vi
III drawal of the company's pending
N asking authority TO borrow S2OOU0O0
increase its capital stock to s4,g00rO0O
merge, consolidate, connect, &c, "
other lines, and, inferentially, to
electricity as IA motive power. And
even intimatcd that this may not pr
II effectual; that there is u disposition OH
part of the Senate to insist, nolens volt
IN that the Wilminton City Railway q
III pany shall, in any future extension OF
III lines. be prohibited crossing the track
m any steam railway at grade.
A substitute bill tor the relief of
III heirs of John FehrenbRch, deceased"