Two petitions of rival horse-railroad companies are now before the citizens of Cambridge: One, that of the Union Railroad Company, stating that its patrons are perfectly satisfied with the existing accommodation; the other, that of the future Charles River Railroad. Company, petitioning the legislature for a location on different streets, and also for the right of way over the tracks of the Union Company from the Lower Port to Boston. The Union Company have furnished every conductor with a copy of the petition, which he is obliged to present to every patron of the road for signature. None of us can deny that the accommodations are now very good, but suppose the Union Company had requested those to sign who think that the railroad owners have at all times tried to please the public and furnish the best accommodations, how much of a response would the petition have met with? The plain truth of the matter is this: The Union Railroad Company in past times have never shown the least willingness to comply with the requests of their patrons until they were frightened into making an effort at improvement by the inception of a new railroad scheme. Why, then, should they expect the citizens of Cambridge to favor them? A rumor has been started to the effect that the new horse-railroad will cut through Jarvis Field, and otherwise injure real estate. This is not true; on the contrary, the new road will furnish a direct line to Boston, and when extended, as it is proposed eventually to do, will include Brookline, Somerville, Charlestown, and other suburban towns. It is said that there is not travel enough to sustain two roads. There certainly ought to be in a city of fifty thousand inhabitants; and if there is not, then let the one survive which gives the most to its patrons for their money. Nowhere was competition in horse-railroads better illustrated than at the time of the formation of the Highland Railroad Company. The Metropolitan had almost entirely disregarded the numerous petitions and requests of its patrons, until the Highland Railroad Company was formed and equipped, and we now see the effects of a healthy competition in the best horse-railroad system and equipments of any city in the Union. We would urge all students, and others who are interested, to sign the petition of the Charles River Company, believing that competition will add to the comforts of all who have occasion to use the cars.