Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-14
HAMPTON sTnEEr RAILWAYS.
A Plea for the Granting or Com.
peting Charters.
HAMPTON, February IL, 1888.
To The Editor Of The Dispatch:


To The Editor Of The Dispatch:
II may he said with truth and empha-
sis that no people in Virginia have since
/ the close of the late war made such ma
terial progress az the citizens OF this
seaside town ; and these general results
have been accomplished 10y the union of
home and foreign capital" working in
perfect harmony" just now our peo-
pie are much exercised over the bills
nov pending before the Legislature for
street-railwey charter between this
place and Old Point The corporators
in each Of the bills from this place are
prominent leading, enterprsing men,
whose lives and labors arc identi-
fed with the growth OF Hampton
Andif the question were submitted to
the freehOlders of the town and county
as to which OF these sets OF representative
citizens shall receive the legislative prize
it would be difficult to say which would
receive the majority OF home suffragans.
But the Council OF the town and the Sill
peryisors OF the county, ever on the alert
for the public veal, have entered the
fight requesting the passage of both
charters, that the town and county may
receive the benefits of competing com
panies for local franchises. On this
question there can be no doubt that the
popular will and wish IS with these local
official representatives, The county
Judge. to whom would be referred
the question Of the use of the
public roads and bridges, has
the confidence of the people OF both po-
litical parties. The Council is composed
OF representative men. The mayor, Cap
tain John \. Brown. who is er-o6icio
president and who heartily unites with
the Council, is n leading Democrat, was
for years chairman of our local party
organization, is one OF our Oldest cltl-
zens. and perhaps knows our people bet
ter than any man now living in the coun-
ty. J. 5. Darling is the largest taX-pay-
er and welthlest citizen in the county.
He is a man of great public spirit. and
for the past ten years has annually eX-
pended among a most deserving class OF
our people from $4,000 to $1,000. j.
". Richardson IS one OF our leading
merchants man OF enterprise
and means, whose hand is always
ready to assist any public improvement.
W. -. Wallace is one Of our leading
architects and mechanics, "A man OF
sterling Integrity and strong convictions
As an illustration of this he was en-
ployed at Old Point in 1872 and was
warned along with other mechanics the
dav before election that if he voted the
Democratic ticket he would be dis
charged. Notwithstanding the warning
he voted his convictions, and on the fol-
lowing day when he reported for duty
received his discharge. j. McMenamn
is an accomplished and genial gentle
man. the head of a large packing
establishment here, and has the re-
spect of the community. The remain
ing two members OF the Council are
colored men, Republicans in politics but
quiet and worthy citizens. The people
90 not see why an enterprise purely local
in its character may not WITH safety be
committed to such men as these, who
know the interests of the people and are
willing to protect those interests. There
is some feeling because one OF those
charters has been advanced over the
other. having passed the Senate and be-
ing now on the House calendar, while
the other is still buried in committee.
The charter which has passed the Senate
provides for IL ten-cent fare, while the
charter which lies in the committee un-
reported for the same service only asks
five cents. Cur people, especially orr
mechanics and labOringmen, do not
understand why the s. nate shonld
have wished to force them TO pay
ten cents when there was an application
before the Senate for a similar franchise
ut five cents. 1t is true that this bill has
been amended in the House committee,
leaving it to the Council to say whether
il shall be five or ten cents, but this very /
amendment has been forced by cOmpeti- |
ton and illustrates the importance OF |
giyIngto the local authorities the benefit |
of competing charters. The question OF
fare is not the only question in which the /
people are interested, and many other !
questions will occur TO the local authOri- !
ties which the Legislature cannot foresee |
or provide for. And as to which cOmpeti- /
ton will force response favorable to the /
people | write these facts, which are in
controyertible, that the Legislature may |
not act in ignorance of the true state Of
affairs here on this subject.
CrOTIIDA