Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-06
who may he either n member OF the Board OF
Aldermen or Of the Common Council.
WEDNESDAYS ca. SERVICE.
People Kept at the Reservoir Until
3A. M.-Eieetric Car Disabled.

shortly nfter 3 A. NJ, aud soon after this the
returning excursonlsts from Washington
reached the city, and they were taken home.
BY this hO1r 1t was time for the regular
morning schedule 10 begin.
Two hundred and ten people piled them
selves on one OF the large summer cars, aud
when 1t was rounding curve near the Old
reservoir one OF the axes snapped near
where II goes into the wheel, aud before the
car could be stopped the track was made 10
spread. This caused much trouble, and sew
crai beayily.loaded cars which were behind
this one got off the track here, and the pas
sengers had TO get out and let the car be
lifted on. An effort was made 10 have all the
passengers transferred at this point but peo-
pie who had become impatient waiting and
walked down TO meet the cars had crowded
on to ride back to the reservoir, so as TO be
sure OF transportation home, and transfer
was impossible.
Beyond this the Electric Liue suffered no
damage as far as could be seen yesterday,
but all agreed that the tax on the motors
greatly exceeded what ii should have been
and what the company desired 1t to be.
The dummies OF the City Railway Line ran
up to 9 a. M., when their water supply-a
tank OF $1,000 gallons-gave out, and they
had TO be stopped. The horse-cars ran
regularly until after midnight, when they
began 10 20 10 the stables. The last Que left
Lombardy street about a quarter-past l
O'Clock. and passengers who took the dunn
my after this time were told beforehand that
they would have to walk from Lombardy
street. This deferred but few, for walking
hall way home was to tie average citizen
preferable 10 walking all OF the way or re-.
naming all night at the New reservoir.
"a - - Ixru
though they were given the bes, OF attention
and were allowed to rest as much as posi-
ble.
One Of the officers Of the Electric Line
said yesterday that they took in about $4,000
fares on Wednesday, and the horse.car line
must have collected about $1,000, but this
does not anything like represent the number
OF persons carried, as hundreds rode on both
lines who never paid their fares. In the
stupendous crowds II was utterly impossible
for the conductors TO tell who paid and who
did not.
The conduct OF some persons on the cars
was outrageous. They would climb In the
car-windows and over ladies and children
without the slightest regard for them. On
each of the electric cars there were four Of
the companys men, but they could not stop
the rush OF the crowd or protect the passen-
gers who were fortunate enough to get in
the cars. Both companies did all that they
could 10 accommodate the muititudes. but
the odds against which they had to labor
were too great for them.
Unless their facilities are greatly increased
before the Exposition Wednesdays expert
ence shows conclusvely that they will be
utterly unable TO accommodate the crowds
that are expected then to be in the city.
The need OF q double track 10 the Reservoir
is also very manifest
The fact Is 1t is an absolute necessity, and
without it the Electric Company Will always
be unable to handle crowd with any de-
gree OF success or satisfaction, 1t matters not
il they have ears by the hundred and sulli-
cheney OF power TO carry any weight.
The tremendous loads carried at times on
Wednesday show beyond question the
great power OF the Sprague motor.
Some Of the officers OF the Union Passenger
Company seemed to think yesterday that the
DiSpatch'S criticism OF the fireworks was
too severe inasmuch as they were gratis.
The general opinion OF those who were
present, however, was that the case was
mildly put.
1t il true that no one bought tickets or
paid an entrance fee 10 see the display, but
Thousands paid Mr.. FlynD's car companies
ten cents to 20 and come aud rode in the
greatest discomfort and danger as well,
while others nlred conyeyances, paying large
prices for them, because they had been led
10 believe that they would see some tirst-rale
fireworks. They were not only disappointed
IN what they ssw, but felt th't they had been
made victims OF an imposition. With Mr..
Flynn this was a business investment. lie
bought the fireworks because be expected
thousands OF people 10 ride on bis cars TO see
them. and he knew that 1t would bea money
making scheme.
An itemiZed bill was shown Dispatch re-
porter yesterday, and 1t shows that the
"net" cost Of the goods aggregated S62i.5O.
II MIR. Flynn paid this much for the fire
works displayed at the New reservoir We'd
nesday night he paid an enormous price.
The bill shows that one OF the set pieces
cost S3j and that some OF theJsmaler pieces
cost over $50 per dozen.
IL is a wel-known fact that what fireworks
are priced at and what they sell for, especial
ly in summer, are widely apart. The dis
counts are always large.
Mr.. Flvnn, in recent letter to Captain
Andrew PiZzini, suggested the adyisability
of having a pyrotechnical display at the
reservoir once week. II this IS done little
experience may teach those in charge how
TO Use the material ana the puDnc NAY DC
afforded better amusement. The Dispatch
and the Richmond people generally appre-
ciale all that the northern gentlemen inte-
rested In the Electrician Line have done for
Richmond, and their liberal patronage
is the best proof Of 1t. They real
ize at the same time that these gentlemen
brought their money here TO make more and
that auy expenditure, although it affords
hana6r to the uuhIic il intended TO rebound
TO the advantage OF the investors. TIE peo-
pie who went TO see the fireworks night be-
fore last did not blame any one particularly.
All that they felt or sad was that they had
been led TO expect good fireworks, which
they failed to see. Their feelings were more
those OF regret or disappointment than OF
blame.
No fireworks were burned on the water
because some OF the city authorities thought
that 10 do so would kill the dsh In the lake.