Evening journal., 1897-04-21
OPPOSITION WAS RIFE.
Resolutions Adopted Against
a Railroad Bill.
WAS DEFENDED BY PETER J. FoRD
THE BILL TO DEVISE BETTER
STREET RAILWAYS CAUSED A
STIR AT THE BOARD OF TRADE
LAST NIGHT.

STREET RAILWAYS CAUSED A
STIR AT THE BOARD OF TRADE
LAST NIGHT.
There was a big stir at last nights
meeting Of the Board OF Trade. The
meeting was called to consider the
bill, which has already appear
ed in the Evening Journal and
which pertains to the regulation and
management Of the Wilmington City
Railway Company.
There was large attendance OF Will
mington's business men, and the bill
was discussed at length. Il was nailed
as being detrimental to the city, as the
railway company had bettered street
railway facilities, improved travel and
increased the valuation Of property
The matter was finally settled by
committee being appointed to confer
with the officials Of the railway to dis
cuss means for further improvement
by another method.
After Secretary Taylor had read the
bill, Peter j. Ford, the well-known mo-
rocco manufacturer, stepped out and
said:
Gentlemen, / believe that many are
! present this evening under a misappre-
hension Of this bill, the impression hav-
ing gone out that there is something
concealed in IL with view of having
the railway company go into an unjust
fight, and feel it due to myself to state
thatsuch Is not the case. / am the father
Of that bill, and | want to say that there
is nothing disreputable behind the So
called Strike bill" The bill will come
up before joint committee In the Leg
islature to-day, and / challenge the
Of of n
present and oppose the bill. / admit
that in some sections Of the city the
street railway line is the finest in the
country, while in other parts OF the
city, namely, Front street, IL is the
meanest."
E NJ. Hopes said that he had never
seen more improvement and progress
brought about than can be attributed to
the railway company. IL has increased
the value Of property and added sew
, eral thousands OF dollars to the treas
ury OF the city in taxes.
George W. Bush said he was not in
sympathy with the bill, as it was an
attack upon industry.
= Washington Hastings agreed with
Mr.. Bush. He thought the bill unfair.
He compared the present line with the
one ten years ago, when the cars were
uAdWn ny lAOloNns n' hAAAi az "tNArf
r was full OF personal spite, and not In
=. line Of public grievance.
e No sooner had Mr.. Hastings finished
L than Mr.. Ford arose and denied the al
le legation made by Mr.. Hastings that
" the bill was full OF spite. He asserted
!. that he was not ashamed to be back OF
D. the bill, and hit Mr.. Hastings some
hard raps.
S. II. Baynard agreed with Mr.. Ford
as to the need Of better railway facili-
~ ties, but did not approve OF Mr.. Ford's
TX plan of securing the same.
ID DR.. f. E. Smith said the company
lr was showing discrimination. The
Delaware avenue line, which the rich
man uses, Is excellent, and in glarine
q contrast with the Front street line, on
g which the poor man rides.
rs John S. Rossell opposed the bill. lie
3, said ii is true that the Front street line
)f Is in bad condition, but the company
IS must be given a chance. He said h'
i'd represents considerable stock In the
re company, which had tried to increase
j. its capital stock in order to make GER
st tain improvements, but could not
On motion of T.. NJ. Hopes, a com
mittee consisting of E. Nj. Hopes, A
ID. Warner and S. II. Baynard was ap
ne pointed to devise methods OF bette
he street railway facilities.
he Resolutions were finally adopte'
as commencing the management of tn
Wilmington City Railway Company
and recommending that the bill nov
pending in the Legislature be killed
re II was also recommended that IN
tv Front street line be improved.
~ Peter J. Ford, on being questione
lfe this morning regarding the railroad Dl
now before the Legislature, said:
Il have no grievance against tn
Wilmington City Railway Company
B. but in my opinion-and / but refieC
the opinion of thousands of citizens {
this city-considering the yaluabl
franchise gratuitously given this COZ
ier poration the people deserve, and hay
at reason to expect, the very best servic
ly that can be obtained; and they have
right to complain If they don't get IL.
Is. indeed. amusing to hear some peop
praising the management of this col
noration. especially those who reside
Ut the. district where all the earnings {
el the company have been expended
m improving the road and equipping ~
las same with the latest and most modef
ill cars. But in the industrial district
nd the city, where the working classes n
side. every honest man knows that .
- effort mas nttM IldNN " EASftN~
10, service necessary for the large class
- people who are obliged to ride on q
IA" cars. When people refer to the IA
that the service of the company h'
has improved during the past ten or tweN
eet years 1 say that, with the exception
be Delaware avenue and Market stree
and possibly Eighth street, which IS
mi improvement ON some others, 1t Is
No had as il can be- and when the con
ast many is requested to make necessal
improvements and refuses, then Il
people should appeal to the Legisl
uS ture and ask for what is right and JUS
nal SO far as the public interest is conceri
ns- ed. That is all there is in this bill no
VS. pending, except that the fares Tor q
working classes should be reduced uu
TED inc stated hours. and that the hours
the conductors and motormen shou
a., he reduced. think it would be we
-, for some people to read this bill beto