Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-10
AN ELECTRIC CAR-INSPECT0R.
An Interesting Session Of tho COMMITTEES
on Streets Relative to tho Noises.


The Committee on Streets held meeting
in the Office of the City Engineer last
night and received the report OF Mr.. +. N. idclis
the mechanical expert OF New York, who came
here TO investigate tho causes OF tho seemingly
Unnecessary noises made by the electric cars o'
the Richmond Railway and Electric company:
There were present Mcssrs Fisher, Wilbur. ana
Meredith, representatives Of the railways, ana
Mcssrs. Capers chairman. Bahen, Carter, .ur'
tls, Thomas. Turpin, Gray. and White, OF tne
committee, as woli as the City Attorney ana Sf'y
Engineer.
SChairmsn Capers explained why the meeting
had been called, aud Clerk Jacob read the rclort
OF Mr.. Ideli, which has already been publisneo
In tho DISPATCH.
TUE RgpAIR SYSTEM.
Colonel Cutshaw said he did not think the sys-
TEN OF repairing was what IL should DO 10 Keep
the cars and track In perfect order and thar THIS
was the remedy that was needed
Mr.. Fisher stated ifat when car Is FOUND 70
be In need OF Improvement IL Is At once az.
tended TO. IIe said that IL was the intention OF
the company to put down the best steel rails all
over the city Just such as are now being used
on Clay street. He said he had tho best man
from the sprague company to come and loox
into the troubles, and he failed To give any sat
sfactory report TO them as TO the remedy.
Mr.. Wyndham X. Meredith. tho attorney OF
company, spoke at some length on the present
condition Of the entire system compared with
the state OF affairs two years ago. Mr. Mere
dth said his company were doing and eSprcteh
to continue to ~ everything 10 enhance its N,
terest. and thae1h doing this II was compelled
TO consider the interest OF It's patrons.
WILL MAKE no PROMISES.
The speaker declared that he would make no
promises as tho representative OF tho corpora
tion that tho Committee on Streets Of the
Council OF Richmond had no right 10 exact su,h
a promise. lie asserted that II these people
complained OF the noise a. nuisance they hti
redress through tho courts, but that the CNy
Council could only take away the electrical iran
chl-e. and II they preferred 10 10 that the COM
pany stood prepared to put the mules on the
streets at once, and would most assuredly DO 50.
II FAVOR OF THE MULES.
"Then II you don't propose to abate the
noise," SAID Mr.. II. l.. Carter "givc us the
mules and give them TO Us quickly
Mr. Fisher declared that hc had dozen
places TO which he could carry his electric cars
whore they would pay him moro money than
they DO here.
The City Attorney was then called upon, and
he delivered a lengthy opinion upon the situa-
tion. He said be- knew the people had been mar
rassei to death by those noises Up 10 the pres
ent they had been given little relief. III the
company were 70 promise 10 do their level best,
said the Attorney, "to abate this nuisance they
could not DO II unless they were 10 take the pro-
per means. II they do not do thus II IL because
they are not going 10 help u.s.
The people on Main street, he said, had
right 90 complain. and that there had no. been
fair efforts made TO improve the condition o' a.
fairs was very plain.
A FEELING or sAPErA.
"If these gentlemen believed for one moment
that the citizens u Richmond would take Their
electrical franchises they would be more eager
70 remove this trouble asserted tho City Attor-
ney.
Mr.. Turpin said he did not believe there had
been A time In twelve months when tho nu-
sance had been great enOuge to warrant mo
taking away from the good people OF Richmond
the benefits Of the electIic-car-
The City Attorney then continued by reading
the ordinances governing the company. adding
that the Council had ,hf right 10 put other AMI
additional restrictions upon the company III
Mr. Fisher is rInniug his cars with As tile noise
as possible. II IL due to him that we announce To
the city that such - tho case. l think that tho
city should go into this matter with view To
finding out II the noises arc excessive, and it
ought to even look into 1t carefully even II 4 be
at en- expense to the city"
An RLECTRIC-CAR INSPECTOR.
~ think We should select n competent man
and place him on our streets IA an inspector oi
the cars, and when he says a car should be taken
% the repair-shops let tnat car be taaen.'
After some further discussion between tho
Me-srs. Meredith. hr. Gray offered notion
which was adopted without discussion, instruct
'ng the City Attorney 70 draw up an ordinance
providing for snch an inspector n he suggested
hs new officer 10 10 paid by the city.