Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-10
NEW ELECTRIC LINE.
TRIAL TRIP ON THE soUTHsIoE ROAD
APERFecT SUCCESS.
The subcommittee Declines TO Arbitrate
tho River-yiew and Union Passenger
Companies' Differences.

The first electric car ever run on tne
Free bridge passed over that structure
few minutes after O'Clock yesterday after
noon.
A start.was made from the power-nouse
Of the Southside Land and Improvement
Company, just beyond the Petersburg
railroad bridge on Semmes street about
half past {.
Those constituting the party on board
were AIr. A. II. rutherford. president OF
the Richmond and Manchester Railway
Company; Mr.. J. w. Middendorf. or BAL
timore, a large stockholder; Mr. ". \.
Stadelman, chief engineer of the Equita-,
BILE Electric Construction Company, Oh
Philadelphia; Mr.. A. Langstad Johnston,
constructing engineer of the line; Stanley
Robinson. cashier: Mr.. and Mrs. Gideon y.
Davenport. Superintendent Il. B. Selden,
Mrs. StadelmGn. Captain Otway ,. Allen,
Mrs. Johnston. and Treasurer Bronaugh,
of Manchester.
SUCCESSFUL TBIP.
The trip TO the Richmond end of the
Free bridge was quickly made, the car run
nlng noiselessly and easily and attracting
no little attention. Owing 10 the stiffness
of the trucks the curve at Ninth and over
ton could not be rounded. but this can be
easily remeded.
The car was then run back on the same
track to the power-house and ont TO Forest
Hill Park and then 20 the starting point:
The test was in every way satisfactory ana
everything was found IN excellent condl-
tion.
The car was started by Mr.. Iangstat
Johnston, Jr. who drove IN the SILVER
spike when the construction OF the road
4 H. cfn
the car. but the little boy claimed the
right. and the claim was allowed.
The company has five cars OF the
latest patept. yestibule ends. aud very
large windows. On Monday next the line
will be in operation from Forest-Hill fark
bevond Manchester, TO Seventh and Baker
streets, this city. The noiseless, gearing
proved success. and was generally COM
mented on.
FIEE AT THE POwER-HOUsE.
Early yesterday morning there was a
slight fire at the companys power-house.
When the workmen Knocked of Wednes-
day afternoon they left the end OF the
unconnected power-wire lying on the TIN
roof. When the City-rallway hands were
working at the corner OF Seventh ana
Main streets yesterday morning their wire
touched that of the Manchester line,
Z
almost the size Of mans hand was
burned in the tin on the root. lne
damage was repaired by o'clock.
rho subcommittee Refuses to Arbitrate.
For a long time the River-View Com
pany have been endeavoring To get IL
property about half mile west OF the OlC
reservoir connected with the city by rail
way. 90, a.,
First an agreement was made with the
| Union Passenger Company TO pull up us
| track on Ashland street from the reser
| yolr TO Meadow street and relay from TINS
/ latter point TO River View. BY advice OF
| counsel the Union Passenger Company
would not execute this contract, nor IL
! fact was the paper everrecorded, and there
was dispute about Its proper construc
| ton. -.
The next step Of the River-View Compa
ny was TO apply TO the Henrico supervisor
! (all of the disputed lying IN the coun
| tv) for right of way along certain streets
| This was granted and afterwards fought II
court by the Union Passenger people.
cAN'r GET 10 TOWN.
Al the present time the River-View tracI
has been laid TO Ashland and Meadow
streets. about two hundred yards from TIA
| corporation line. The former thorough
fare IS used by tho Union Passenger ran
way and IL not wide enough for two tracks
As soon as the new line gets into the CIT
il has under the charter ot the older cle'
! trio company, a right 10 run over Its tracb
upon the payment or fair compensate
TO be determined by arbitration. The onl
hitch in the new line IS this two-hundre(
yard gap.
| some time ago the two companies agree
TO submit the matter 10 arbitration, an
Messrs. Turpin and Stratton, Of the con
mittee, and Clty-Attorney &. '. Meredlt
were appointed to decide the question.
COUNSEL PRESENT.
The arbitrators met in the City EnPl
neer's Office last night at 1880 o'clock. j
addition there were also present City-Eng
neer Cutshaw, MessrS. Willis Is. smith
| William Ellyson, and X. b. Chaffin. OF tn
| Rlyer-View Company, and Presiden
George E. Fisher and Mr.. Wyndham Il
Meredith. of the Union Passenger-Railwa
Company.
II was the sentiment Of the sub-commii
tee or arbitrators that the Union Passenge
Line should allow the new company TO US
the two blocks of track desired IN tn
county. but they agreed that they had n
authority and would not decide the Knott
LEGAL questions involved in the contracts
THE ARBITRATogs' VIEWS.
The following, offered by Mr.. G. V. Mere
dith. was adopted and will be presented
the street Committee at its next meeting
Rssolred /, That this subcommittee !
of the opinion that it IS impracticable 10
them TO undertake to decide the question
involved in the contract between th
Riyer-View Improvement Company an
the Richmond Union Passenger Company
2. That the Richmond Union Passenge
Company are hereby requested TO inforr
the Street Committee within the mex
thirty days whether t1ey are wllilng I
allow the cars of the Riyer-View Rallwa
Company to use the tracks Of the Rief
mond Union Passenger Railway Compan
from Meadow street on Ashland street I
Randolph street upon compensation I
be determined by arbitration IN mannt
similar TO the provision for arbitration 10
the tracks of said company within the cit
limits.
cHLOOl -ROY 'RlIN OVER.