Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-16

The Electric Cars, &c.

Two months hence "SAy JoyEs," as
everybody takes the liberty Of calling the
celebrated evangelist, is TO be here. His
fame long ago reached the "uttermost
parts of tho Union" He will preach IN
this city day after day and night after
night, and will attract thousands OF hear
ers. The site selected for the temporary
building in which he will preach is a va
cant lot fronting on Franklin street west
or northwest OF Harrison-that is to say,in
the extreme western part of the city.
few hundred feet from Richmond College.
II is evident that this site was selected
because the electric line passes within one
square or two of it. The gentlemen having
charge and control of the matter of pro-
pairing for the accommodation of the pub
lie would never have selected that locality
but for the fact that they relied upon the
electric cars and the horse cars to transport
Mr.. Joxrs's hearers TO and from it.
without reference, however, to the Rev.
Mr.. JosEs's or anybody else's preaching
wemsy soy that the proper policy of the
electric railroad company would be. as the
old saying goes, to throw their money out
of the window and let the public bring 1t
back 10 them by the door. In word, the
company can hardly expend too much
money in perfecting their road. Notwith-
standing their shortcomings of the past
and the innumerable times the passengers,
ladies and gentlemen. have found them
selves upon disabled cars. the patronage of
the road has never been withdrawn from
1t. II would seem. indeed as If nothing
could induce the people of Richmond to
desert this electric road. Its popularity is
wonderful. What, then, would not its
patronage be If it would make its road as
good as IL ought to be and as good as it can
be made f?
Think what difference it would make if
cars enough were put on the track at all
hours-or at the hours when they are
needed--to accommodate all the passen-
gers with seats and particularly to prevent
the aisles of the cars containing ladies
from being crowded with negroes Some
times not half the passengers are accom-
moiated with seats. Surely the railroad
officials have learned ere now that on Sum-
days and at certain hours of the other days
of the week two cars might be iuh to-
gether. 20 the accommodation of the pub
lic and TO the benefit OF the railroad CON-
pany. II will never do to have an inefficient
and unreliable street-car service during
Mr.. JoSEss stay amongst us. In fact the
electric company ought to commence
now TO improve their service, and
should by that time have it per-
fected. They cannot, We repeat, expend
too much money in this behalf. Money
thus expended will be like the chickens
spoken of in Claude Meinote ut will
come home to roost. II Will find its way
back into the pockets of the stockholders,
and each dollar of 1t will bring back an
other dollar along with it. If we might
fudge from what we have witnessed in the
past, we might say that whether
Mr.. JONES comes hither or not
perfected electric railway will draw
to its support FIVE times the patronage
which has been bestowed upon the very
imperfect one which we have had for the
last two years; for it cannot be denied that
the present road has proved itself to be
wonderfully popular, Notwithstanding that
II has tried the patience of the public in
the most unexpected and extraordinary
ways. So much for that point. Now for
another.
The unfortunate accident of Saturday
last whereby a cClored man lost his life
was the second fatal one on the electric
line since its completion some two years
ago. Whoever has ridden often upon the
electric cars must have observed the pro-
yoking persistency of many drivers of ve-
hicles in obstructing the passage OF those
cars upon their own tracks. The motor
man is constantly in a state of apprehen-
sion as TO whether the hack, or dray, or
buggy, or what not is about to get out of
his way OF not. Again and again we have
seen persons drive upon the railroad track,
though knowing full well that the car was
going at rate of speed which would pre-
vent il from being stopped in time to pre-
vent an accident in case those persons
should decide not to hurry of the track.
Ii is difficult for the motor-man.to know
what he ought TO do under some circum-
stances which every day surround him. he
is almost compelled to take it for granted
that every driver of hack or dray. or
other vehicle. and, as to that matter. every
pedestrian. will leave the railroad-track in
time for him to pass on his way. To stop
two or three times on a square TO see
whether the way was clear or not, or
whether the man on the track intended to
leave il. would be TO render transportation
upon the electric line as slow as upon the
horse ears. II would in fact make it i'm
possible 10 carry passengers i've or six
miles for five cents each. As we have said
heretofore, good rate of speed is sine
qua non in the case of an electric road. The
cars must run fast or not at all. short
electric line won't pay anyhow. A long
dine won't pay unless the cars run rapidly
aud frequently.