New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-12
TAKES STEP BACKWARD"
RhinsbeCk Franchise Should Be Forfeited,
Says Correspondent

To the Editor OF The Tsfhuna
sIrs The Railroads COMMITTEES OF the Assembly
BY favorably reporting tho BIZ TO extend the time
20 oornplets the Rhinsbsok 8 Rhinsclir Street
Railway has taken q very important step back
ward Tho history OF this bin Is not generally
known and It involves principle which is OF IN
terest ell the people OF the state-not alone the
people OF Rhinebeck and Rhinsclir. This is the
question: Are Iapsed franchises TO be Indefinitely
extandsd wnsn It IS perfectly evident 70 any fair
minded person that the rights existing under than
should properly be forfeited because or absolute
neglect on tbs part OF the oTners TO use these
within the tine spsc1sd n the statutes for them
70 do sol Therefore the following facts. It seems,
should be rnads public. because II this little bill
can pass many others vastly more important and
graspIng VII doubtless follow.
TIE Rhinebsck & RhinsoiiR Street Railway
Company vas incorporated thirteen years ago.
About ten years ago thirty feet OF rails was laid
along ths side OF the road n the Village OF Rhine
beck and thirty fest % ran similarly along tbs
roadside IL the village OF Rhineclin, with the eX-
ception possibly. Of certain surveys. concerning
which I have 10 knowledge. This Is thu only thing
that has ever been done under the charter Of this
railroad company during its corporate existence OF
more than thirteen years Tbs ownsrs Of this char
ter have gone 70 the Legislature On three different
occasions and asked FOR extensions OF the tina %
complete the building Of this road We have every
right TO infer THAR actions n the past that
thay have 10 intention OF Immediately construct
ing this road and that ths,r desire is simply 70
hoid It's CorDOEaTS franchise II the nope OF soma
day dizposing q Il 70 soma one else.
The people OF Rhins5sck have always bssa d.
srous OF having a road between the two villages,
and their reason for opposing the sxrsnsion OF
the franchise q this proposed road "a simply BE-
Gauss they realize crorn past experience thai the
fa1Lh and have intention q constructing road
Strong opposition was made 20 each extension thas
has been already granted, but n each casa poiri-
bean 50 strong that the protests % ths people have
avatlsd nothing, , 49,. -, -. -.
signed b. 10 os the prominent residents of ths
village OF Rhtnebeck. askiAg that this charter Do
40 longer extended. The names % thsss pstiC0n>
tors and rspFessntatfvss q al the tTadsspsoDIs
p The town. L L theEetoEs PlatnlZ evident teas
Chai-rnan Hooker OF the Railroads Committee re-
Gently announced his policy that he would
strenUoUsly oppose ths granting o. fUrthsr exten-
oAlIy Iapsed through ronusage and y scanned thas
81 Tits policy he would be supported By the rest q
ths Railroads COMMITTEES. Al the Nsw-York news
rapsrs commented fav0rably on this action q 1r.
cured A honest COMMITTEES n tbs vary tn1po--
tant part OF our legislative branch However, ne
-s-or that ar Aooker las nol Doen So-7 - -. -
support q the balance Or a. majority OF ne com
nlittes against tbs extension OF the HhlneDeck
q Rhtnecli1 Railway would Indicate mat re
A. orcs more 70 20 back the old principle OF
Hcisur Political influence 70 push us case be1ors
The action OF the COMMITTEES Is Al
outrage n this respect The people have 10 ram
sdy whatever unless they C7n count on tLe As
ssynbly 20 support them n cases OF this kind
They give Up their rights and II return get norh-
ins and u these charters a-s 10 Do t1dsf-nitely
~ eD-sssrtatfvs government IS G farce II s. K
Nsw-Tork. March 10 1855