Evidence and arguments before the Committee on horse railroads of the legislature of Massachusetts, session of 1872, upon the petition for incorporation of the Highland railway company and the petition of the Middlesex railroad company.

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is fully understood, that competition between different lines
of railroads affords the travelling public greater facilities and
greater comfort; and that, if this whole business is to be
given over to one corporation, and its managers are not to
be brought up to their duty by any competition, no laws
which the legislature can pass, and no rules that boards of
aldermen may make, will have the wholesome effect that a
little competition will have. And we claim that for public
purposes this petition should be granted, and that the evidence that we shall bring before you will show-that the
statements which we make are true. That being so, we believe that the committee will recommend that this charter
should be granted.
J. H. HATHORNE stated that he might desire to appear before the committee, a remonstrant, at a subsequent stage of
the hearing, but desired to stand aloof at present.
Messrs. KNAPP and BOWMAN appeared on behalf of citizens of Somerville.
The counsel for petitioners introduced testimony as follows:TESTIMONY OF HON. RICHARD FROTHINGHAM.
To Mr. CHILD.-I have resided in Charlestown about sixty
years; was formerly mayor of the city. I think there is a
general desire, on the part of the citizens of Charlestown, to
have increased facilities and to come farther into Boston. They
are not accommodated now by stopping at Scollay Square;
inasmuch as there is a desire on the part of many of the
inhabitants to attend the lectures and various places of
amusement, and also to visit their friends in the rapidly increasing portions of Boston. The present facilities are not
adequate to their wants. I should say there was a large
number of people who would desire to use the proposed route
through Tremont Street and Shawmut Avenue to the old
Roxbury Post-Office. I do not think the coaches meet the
wants of the people, although they are well conducted. If
ladies get into them in Charlestown, when they get into