The sun., 1901-11-09
PRESERVE THE HIGHWAYS
TO THE RIVER.

nothing The implied threat, in Mr..
pugh's letter, in which he suggests the
necessity, under the Street and Sewer
Directors demands, for the removal OF
the company's shops from this city, i
hardly il thoroughly respectful way OF
dealing with the authorities OF city Of
over 10000 people.
We presume that whenever it shall APP
pear to be necessary for the interests OF
the company to remove these Shops they
will be removed. There have been no
proofs Of Il disposition. on IFS part, so far
os we have been able to know and under
stand the relations of the T. K. X. Com
nany with this city or State, to sacrifice
its interests for those of the people or
this city or State: and therefore we DO
moi incline TO the belief that any Of the
shops Of the company are here, expressly
for the benefit Of this city. and to the
injury of the company. We are not in
clined TO the belief that the railroad COM
pnpv is running its trains to, and through
This city expressly for the citys good
neither are we inclined to the belief that
the projected elevation of the railroad
companys tracks through or around
this city. is projected for the express
benefit of the city. The company Is
seeking its own interests and, It IS very
likely. will do that, at the city's cost
whenever opportunity offers and neces-
sity (N demands. We remember a case
in point. Some years ago when local
business traffic on Water street seemed
to he seriously interfered with By the
numerous railroad tracks there, and for
local business interests it seemed to be
necessary to preserve an open wagon
way on that street, the city voted
large sum Of money, exactly how much
we do not now recall. but at least $780,
00O for the widening of Water street.
The street was widened 1t is fact.
however, that every foot of the ground
purchased for that purpose at city eN-
pense has been occupied By railroad
tracks. II was not long, not more than
n year. before the tracks Of the T.. W. y
b. Railroad Company encroached upon
and occupied the ground bought for
widening the street. The railroad com
pany il for itself The duty of the
Street and Sewer Directors is to pro
tect the rights and interests Of this
city; they should not hesitate nor shoul(
they fail in doing that The interest,
Of tire city arc not only superior to thos,
Of the railroad company but the Stree
and Sewer Directors are under obliga
tionS to see to il that pulac interests IL
corporation interests. They should no
allow themselves to forget that obligatio
because Of the railroad company's threat
~ We have already pointed ont tn
future of this city depends more on til
utilization Of its magnificent river from
than i'll the promotion Of the rairoa
colnpany's interest Indeed it is possibl
that this river front. with its magnit
cent prophecies for the future, woul
have been utilized and developed Ion
ago hut for the interference with til;
utilization BY the railroad traffic b
fore the coming Of the railroad the Chri
tiana river was thoroughfare of bus
waterway traffic, Us the unused war
houses At Newport attest There WEI
steamboat lines that gave cheap al
rapid transit for passengers and freigl
to and from this city: there were Sloop
and <thaaners and steam freights. til
la -GoY.1-
scarcely any of which remain. VIII.
They have simply been crowded out
the railroad company. The influence
tho river traffic was to make this ci
an important shipping port, and as tn
iufutilCe int et!sCd, rs the traffic gre
it Waa!d inevitably have led to t
Delaware river front for wharfage al
depots. That would have made W
mn@tHH In important commercial s.
port How great, can only be imagine
Surely the combined water way and IN
road frallic would, long ago have fore
the ritH 70 the river, on have 50 improv
tile Glfistiana aS 10 make it a great 90
nlcr,.inl water way. and connected the q
ilEthElA Will lllt SItitl SHlpUlHS 90
mcfcc ~ the world. Iii opposition u Il
the influence Of the railroad company Ii
been ta make IN insular city dcpeildt
upon railroad traffic. NotWithstandi
all This the future industrial and %
mercial growth Of the city must be
ward and dependent upon the utilizati
Of thc city's water way advantag
This points 10 great traffic to and
over hi lailrOad companys tracks. Tl
traffic should not be obstructed. or c,
gestcd upon amy one of the streets GRO
ing those tracks, hy and concessions
the building of the elevated tracks:
between the abandonment of its elevate
track scheme by the railroad compal
and the granting of privileges obstructi
the passages from the city to the riy
pUstic interests as we see them, deman
the preservation of the open way to t
river Further than that we do not !
that the Street and Sewer Directors a
". interested in the matter at issue. i
: spUnSibility for the work proposed.
strength durability ana safety, rests 6
tircly upon the railroad scompany. If
G.