It makes absolutely certain the perpetual control of the Tunnel for
the benefit of the people of the whole State.
It secures to the people by whose money it has been built, the
ultimate value of the enterprise, whatever that value may prove to be.
It secures to the people an independent Western line, to be managed
for the benefit of the people, free from any danger of combinations by
which rates are fixed.
It secures to all corporations desiring to use the Tunnel, equal
rights.
It secures a line stronger than any other, amply able to provide
equipment and facilities, and to compete with powerful corporations in
neighboring States.
It fixes the capital of the corporation without danger of inflation,
and without risk of speculative control.
It enables the people to try fairly the experiment of cheap
transportation.
It provides equally with the plan of the majority for the interchange
of depots, by which the crossings at the north side of the city may be
avoided.
If only one-half of these advantages can be gained the experiment is
worth trying. If it succeeds and our expectations are fully realized,
it will confer upon the people the greatest boon since the
introduction of railroads.
Senators will bear me witness that I have never solicited their vote
on any personal consideration, and in the decision of this great
question, I can only appeal to you as legislators to record your votes
in accordance with your convictions of duty to the people of this
Commonwealth, and for the protection of her six hundred millions of
industrial interests; unbiased by any local or personal interest,
keeping in mind that there is no power but that of the State that is
safe to trust in the great exigency that now exists.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
All obvious typos were corrected. Hyphenation was standardized. The
placement of quotation marks were not standardized; but left as in
the original printed version.