Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-14
Richmond,s Istroet.Car system.


street-car facilities as good as ours.
In TO way have we made greater progress
in the past four years.
Prior 10 the time 1S87-'SS) that the
Church-Hill line was built, the Broad
street. the Main-street, and the Manchester
roads were all that we had, the Manchester
line had not long been established and 1t
was only few years back that the Main
street cars had stopped at Ninth street.
Now we have four east and west lines,
two distinctly suburban lines, and three
lines connecting Richmond and Mancbes-
ter. The Reservoir Park, Soldiers Home,
and River View are reached on the west
Chestnut Hill and the Locomotive-Works
on the north, and Church and Union Hills,
Fulton, and Seven Pines on the east.
One line goes to Manchester over
Mayo's bridge and two cross on the Free
bridge. The two chief routes in Rich
mond and one OF those between Rich
mond and Manchester are operated by the
trolley system of electricity, and another
existing line between the two cities soon
will be.
The suburbs of Richmond and OF Man
chester have street-car facilities far sur
passing any expectations that we could
have INDUCED o few years ago.
We have spoken of the road to Chestnut
Hill AS finished because it is in operation
for the greater part of the distance. When
the viaduet was completed the road be-
came assured, and it stretches out from
our northern suburbs, and, crossing this
city, the Free bridge, and Manchester, en-
tiers Woodland Park Con the south side of
the James,, which is one of the most pic
turesaue localities in all this section of
country.
The newest enterprise is the extension
of the Marshall-Street Line over Mayo's
bridge. and it is very noticeable because 1t
inaugurates the "One-fare system"-that
is TO say, il is now possible for q man't TO
get on a street-car anywhere on this line
in the city of Manchester and be trans
ported for one fare to Fulton. He must,
however, change cars at the intersection
of Main ana Fourteenth streets. Similarly
a person may get on an electrician at the
Soldiers Home and be carried for one fare
to Manchester This is an arrangement of
mutual benefit to the sister cities, and has
long been needed.
Indeed, Manchester people now have ad-
yantages not possessed by Church-Hill
folks. Church Hill is not linked to the
Main-street line, the great artery of our
system of roads, aud, so far as we can see,
the residents of that section are as yet
rather indifferent about the connection.
If there were a limo down Twenty-frst
street from Franklin to Main, and a num-
Der of Church-Hill cars were run from the
Hill down Twenty first to Nam, up Main
TO Seventh, and up Seventh to Broad,
Church-Hill residents would be vastly
benefited. Among other things they would
have the advantage of the transfer to Man
chester across Mayo's bridge.
AS we understand, the strect-car COM
pany was willing to make this change in
the Church-Hill cars year or two ago and
without materially impai:ing the effective
ness of the Franklin-Street Line, but was
met with the information that to get such
franchises it would have to surrender
others that it possessed. Not being mat
ter of much consequence to it, it allowed
tho matter TO drop then and there. But
see what the Church-Hill people have lost.
They are side-tracked." They are not as
we'll off with respect to participation in
the benefits of our system as are the citl-
zens of Fulton OF Manchester. They have
been very slow to act, but we cannot i'm
aqine that they will be content forever to
DENY themselves a benefit for some sup
posed good that may accrue to another
part of the city.
Let us repeat that Richmond has an ex-
cellent street-car system. 1t is some
thing for us to brag about" We can safely
invite comparison with any other city of
our size. We have rapid transit, far
reaching routes, handsome cars, obliging
officials, and schedules which meet all
reasonable demands. The imperfections
of the trolley system are being steadily
overcome, and our community would not
tolerate the idea of returning to horse OF
mule-power. nor do they long for the cable
system.
Not many street-car men are killed by
having appreciative things said about
them. Anyhow we chance these observa-
tions. They tell the truth, and do justice,