The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-11-02
A QUESTION.
SHALL, THE CITY RAILWAY
HAUL. FREHGA1T


police had forbidden the delivery OF
freight by the electric railway from their
car. detailed reporter to interview Mr..
Arthur the general manager, as result
of which the following conversation was
held:
Repurtcr-"Mr. Arthur, has your com
pany been forbidden to deliver freight
from its cars? fso, what will be the el
feet on the company's business and on
the public? ?"
Mr. Arthur-'Ycs, we have been for
bdden. but think it is because the city
authorities fail to appreciate the true
situation. Should they persist in this
determination, our business will be very
seriously damaged, and the interests OF
the public will, think, be injured, as we
can afford to haul all heavy freights at
much lower rates than can otherwise be
done"
Reporter-"But, Mr.. Arthur, will not
the delivery OF freights from your car
cause serious obstruction in our narrow
streets ?"
Mr.. Arthur-"I do not think that our
cars will impede passage along the
streets nearly SO much as the same
freight if hauled by wagons. Gou must
consider that at one trip our car will
bring 5000 pounds, and make the trip
from the depot to the square in one-tlitll
of the time that wagon will require to
bring 900 pounds hence, it is evident
we can afford to do the work at lower
rates. Then, on delivering to consignecs,
our car would stop in the middle of the
street, on our track, where we could not
it permit to remain more than a very few
minutes, because the track must be kept
clear for the passage of our passenger
cars. Moreover, while stationary, the
car is parallel with the street, witt
ample room for vehicles to pass OF
each side. We never propose to use skid%
extending from car to sidewalk, but
must employ enough help to move freight
into the stores most rapidly. Now you
doubtless have observed that generally q
wagon is backed up to the curb, and Its
team extending half across the street
and standing i'll that position many
times as long as our car can be allowed
to remain stationary on our singll
track; hence, am sure that we will OBJ
struct the streets much less than they.
Reporter-"Well, Mr.. Arthur, thi:
statement seems very plain as regards
your advantages for handling heavy
freights, but how about the lighter ar
ticlcs p
Mr.. Arthur-"Well, we only claim that
we can do the carload hauling from the
depot to the stores cheaper than thC
dravmen. We acknowledge that they
may have advantages i'll delivery o
smaller packages; hence, | tried at,tlrst
to make arrangements mutually satisIac
tory with Messrs. Mcdowell and LorricK
whereby we could do all hauling, anC
they manage the loading. delivery, col
lccting, etc, but they rejected all PROPOSE
tions could make, and emphatically de
cline to submit any Tor our reconsideration
We wish only to secure such part of thu
business as our facilities enable us to dc
with profit to ourselves, while at bette
terms Tor our customers"
Surely this desire is alto
gcthcr reasonable, and tie public shoult
not be deprived of the advantage OF com
petition in rates. Have you made thes
points plain to the mayor and alder
men,"
Mr.. Arthur-"Yes, here is letter ad
dressed to them tonight. ltyou attenC
their meeting you cGln learn their action
In the meantime, have no objection tt
your copying it ii you wish"
To the Mayor and Aldermen of the cit.
of Asheville
; Gentlemen:-On the 10Th inst. tn
f chief OF police, acting under your instruC(
tions, notified the Asheville street rail
:. way company that it would not b
f allowed to deliver freight from its car
: to stores along the line OF its track.
, The 9th paragraph of its charter is a
follows;
"rhe said railway company shall b
allowed to carry freights and con
modities on the lines OF its road: Prc
vided, however, that heavy freight
which would detain passengers and OF
e struct the streets, must be delivered b
teams and wagons or oth her means tina
their cars, and from their warehouse q
=, houses"
Under this the street railway clearl