Year: 1859

signature to ordinance that every preeaution had
been taken to ensure success.


Shall the Council, with these various applica-
tions before them, entertain the lo,cest bid? Or
shall she base her grant upon a calculation of her
own. derived from the experience of other cities,
of the probable results of the enterprise when
pleted? In the adoption of the drawers Bill"
disposition has been manifested to adopt medium
standard; and so thoroughly impressed am with
the wisdom OF your policy that feel constrained to
urge still further precauton to insure the
OF the plan and guard the city against the possb-
lty OF future contingencies.


| of those who do mt haliayo thot tho
system OF railroads which your ordinance proposes
can be successfully maintained at the low rate of
three cents per passenger with the prospect of
fair return upon the investment-at ali events until
our population shall have greatly increased bevond
its present limit. In this opinion have been sus
tanned by the highest engineering authority. Nor
am over sanguine that this result could be brouobt
about by the increased rate of the drawers Bill"
beyond a saving interest


wish to make to city secure, however, against
all contingencies, and at the same time to intro
duce feature into the bill which am sure cannot
fal to meet the approval of all classes of our citi-
Zens.


With this view, | am willing to adopt the terms
and conditions of the ordinance submitted for nv
approval, with the following notifications:


l. That the standard of transportation from ter
minus to terminus, over any streets occupied by
said tracks in the city of Baltimore for short or
long distances, shall be the same that uniformly
W
cents per passenger; said rate to apply to any fu-
ture extensions within the city limits.


z That the city of Baltimore shall be entitled to
one.tth Of the gross receipts from all passengers
transported over said roads-the same to be applied
towards the establishment of public Park in some
convenient location to be fixed bv the Council here
after to cover an of not less than 200 acres,
and the completion of the improvement heretofore
projected and surveyed bv order of the CITY Coun,
Gill; forming avenue $50 feet in width around
the suburbs of the city.


). That the city shall have the privilege at any
time hereafter to reduce the of fare on passe-
gers, within the limits ofthe one-itb of the gross
receipts of said roads, retained for her benefit
should she deem the same advisable, after securing
the objects above contemplated


This plan would present the following induce
ments:


l. 1t would guard effectually against error and
miscalcuaton in the offers submitted for your ac-
ceptanca, by adopting rate for the transportation
OF passengers which could not fail to ensure success
because it is the standard adopted upon similar en-
terprises in other cities.


2. 1t would make the city of Baltimore fair
participant In the profits of the enterprise present
and prospective.


3. 1t provides fund for the purchase of a pub
| lie park for the promotion of the health and com
fort of our whole population and more especiaIIv
the industrial and working classes whose pursuits
| confne them within the corporate limits; and the
| completion of the design of grand throughfare
800 feet in width, encircling the whole city, and
offering to every locality a convenient place of re-
| sort


4. 1t places the fare at rate which would be
represented by convenient currency, without the
| necessity Of resort to tickets.


B. 1t leaves with the city the power to reduce
the passenger fare upon her railroads at a future
! day, should the people so determine.
For years past the public attention has been
drawn to the Importance of providing some place
OF recreation for the mechanical and industrial
classes OF our community, whose engrossng pur-
suits contine them within the city limits Baltimore
IS more deficient in public squares than any of the
| large cities of the seaboard. In 1853 the CITY


Council appointed Commissioners to examine and
| report upon the expedency of grand avenue


two hundred and fifty feet in width skirtiug the


whole circumference of the city. commencing at the


Patapsco river, on the Canton Company's grounds


and terminating at Fort McHenry-a circuit of


l4R mles-to be improved and planted with shade
| trees-Wlth view to meet the public demand in


this particular. This avenue-intersected BIZ the


streets OF the city-running towards it in all direc


tlons would present a succession of Parks or public


squares, admirably contrved for the comfort,


health, and recreation of the inhabitants and place
| Baltimore in advance of any other city, by giving


her thoroughfare around her entire circumfer-


ence without parallel in any part of the world


This plan, although fully matured, and promising


such useful results to the great body of the peo-


ple-convenlent as 1T was to every locality OF


the city, was never carried into effect owing to


the Strengthened condition of the treasury. Beyond


private donation of few acres of ground here


and there, more suitable to ornament than use


nothing has been done to better condition in


this respect. The establishment of public squares


of limited extent in the heart of the city, does not


remedy the evil. The masses of the people require


place OF recreation, where, during the periods of


leisure, they enjoy with their families, enlar


ged space and pure air. The introduction of Pas


senger Railways, running to our remotest suburbs,


and even beyond them, where inducements held


out, suggests revival of this subject, and the es-
tabliShment in connexiOn with the Improvement to
which have referred, of Public Park of two or
three hundred acres, in convenient location, at
the terminus of some one other of the lines of
., | the Railway tn he stabl
When the subject of street railways came up for
consideration, it occurred to me that an opporuni
: ty was offered, when the valuable privilege asked
I at the hands of the CITY might be EXCHANGED foI
: something in which every class of our community
could not fail to take lively interest. 1t was ir


this connection with this ject of enlarged pleas
ure grounds and public parks, for the promotion OF


the health and rational enjoyment of our people.
that looked with anxiety to reasonable eouiva-


lent for the grant asked at the hands of the CITY,
= While the revenue from the contemplated
would at no distant day, be ample for all the i'm
provements recommended by me-steadilv increas-
g ing with the growth of our population--it is be-


lleved that nne-tenths of those who would hao!tu-


ally resort to these street RAILWAYS would never
deem 1t worth while to estimate the fractional diff
ferences about which much has been said; but


on the contrary, would prefer the establishment of
standard of fare reasonable in itself and which
would be represented by a convenient and prevail


ing currency. 1Our honorable body will deter


mine whether this aid be relied upon for so


Bile purpose; and how far it would meet the appro-


oti"H o te people, 10 give 1t the direction have


indicated, by introducing it feature in the plan
, which you are about to adopt.


The occasion which is now presented is perhaps


the last that will to CRAFTY the desire of our
people, without a direct tax upon the treasury


and the agitation of the subject me appro-


pirate at this time. The very fact of the incOrpo-
ration OF such feature in any bill which might re
celve the sanction OF your honorable body, would
give increased value to the grant proposed to be
1 made. The renewal of the plan for an avenue, and
the location of an extensive park at terminus OF


one of your leading lines of railway park suit
ably improved and adapted t. the tastes of our
, whole popuaton-would give stimulus to the use
OF these roads which it would be difficult esti-
mate, and would in all probability create revenue


equal to the annual interest upon the cost of such
a improvements.


| / submit these views, thrown together more has
tily than | could have desired, (tor which must
find excuse in unavoidable absence from the duties


of this office; until within short time previous to


the return of this ordinance,) to the matured
, judgment of your honorable body.
r With great respect,


r Your obedient servant,


TH0S, SWAMI, MayOr