Evening journal., 1897-08-12
THURSDAY. AUGUST 12. 1897.
is A NEW ROAD THROUGH THE
CITY A NECESSITY?

CITY A NECESSlI1E
Mucn adverse newspaper criticism
has been made against the Street and
Sewer Department because it has not
hastily complied with the demand of
the proposed Brandywine Springs cleo
trio railway for a permit to build its
line through the city from the western
limits TO a point in the neighborhood
of Fourth and French streets.
Electric railways, while operated by
private corporations, are really public
affairs in many respects, and as such
are proper subjects for comment and
criticism. The position of the Evening
Journal on electric railway affairs is so
well known in this community that but
a casual reference to It at this time is
necessary. We have always been un-
quallhedly in favor of trolley roads be-
tween this city and suburban points
They operate as feeders to the general
business Of the city, and by giving easy
and rapid communication between the
city and surrounding country, practi-
cally increase our population.
The Brandywine Springs electric
railway asks the Street and Sewer De-
partment to permit its proposed trolley
line 20 be built through the city, and
the Wilmington City Railway Company
naturally opposes it. The Street and
Sewer Department has nothing what
ever % do with the controversy between
the two electric railway companies, but
should only consider the interests Of
the city in the matter; and, II seems to
us. there are many cogent reasons for
not making a decision in the matter
without a very careful study of the
needs and interests OF the public,
whose servants the Street and Sewer
Directors are.
An impartial and unprejudiced view
OF the electric railway situation at this
time In this city does not disclose any
need for another road through that por-
tion of the city which the Brandywine
Springs road proposes to build. The
Wilmington City Railway Company is
giving the public a most excellent, as
we'll as cheap, service. We know OF
nowhere that one may ride so far, so
comfortably and so cheaply as here.
We believe that the public in general is
well satisfied with the progress OF the
city electric railway and we believe that
the city railway deserves all the en-
couragment and support to which it is
entitled.
We have-and we believe justly
criticised the city railway company in
the past, and are prepared to do so IN
the future should the occasion, in our
Judgment, demand It, but in this case
we do not believe that there is room OF
need for another road through the city
1t would multiply the overhead wires
and increase risks to pedestrians and
vehicular traffic without any CORE
spending benefit to the people Tn,
Street and Sewer Department has moth
ing to do with the demands of any pri
vate corporation which seeks favors a
It's hands for private gain. The onl!
thing for the department to consider
is the public need. We believe that tn,
parallelng OF the tracks OF the com
pany now here would only result in tw,
inefficient roads where now is on
which is meeting all reasonable publl
demand for a city trolley service a
rapidly as it is possible to do so.
We are in favor of the building of tn
Brandywine Springs electric railway
and nave not the slightest doubt that
II the company builds on up to the cit
line, some satisfactory and equitabl
traffic arrangement can be made wit
the Wilmington City Railway Compan
under which the Brandywine Spring
Company may land its passengers i
the city over the Wilmington Cit
tracks Such an arrangement was mad
in the case Of the New Castle electri
road and one may now jump on ca
at Fourth and Market streets and rid
to New Castle.
A sober second thought by those VIII
have denounced Directors Simmer
and Webster will no doubt lead to II
conviction that the directors have actC
wisely by making haste slowly.