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.