The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-10

examination of the railway and electric plant
there and submitted a fullreport OF the same.
Il now understand that certain complaints
are made that the motors are making consiu-
cradle noise and that your rails are Dhoiy
worn so that your ira ks should be taken up
md relald At the date of my visit iounu
| the road-hed Of the several street faiways'
which you had amalgamated. IN very vary,
ing condition The older parts OF the rond
gave evidence of much wear abuse and de-
cided lack of proper maintenance. This work
found that you wero taking up and were
! reroedving ~ fast rs possible, and the new
/ VII that Won were doing was being done in
a most substantial and W rkmanllke manner.
/ When therefore | zee that criticism has been
made by the Richmond papers IN regard TO
tbe condition OF the rails and track. ! infer
! that this criticism Is applied 80 such portions
| Of the railway that You have not yet repaired.
Having had considerable experience IN the
/ matter Of building and maintaining railways.
I fully appreciate the difficulties that you
] have met with in rebuilding the street rail-
way system Of Richmond. Few people
unless they have had actual experience. can
appreciate in any degree Whatever the
amount of N ney. tine and trouble that 1t
requires TO bring up a system OF railway to
proper standard when it has once run
down II. therefore. some'part of 1t has not
yet been finished. / think that the people OF
Richmond should appreciate the good work
to gradually perfect the rest
AS 10 tho quality Of the work which you
were doing on the newer portions II gives me
great pleasure 10 bear the testimony that /
did above.
MOTOR NOISE.
In regard to the noise male by the motors
All electric motors do make more or less noise.
and it is the aim of all the manufacturers Of
electric motors TO diminish this noise as mucn
ne they POSSIBLY can. During the past year
considerable Improvement has been made in
this regard and, therefore, it is possible that
some Of the motors which you had. which
year ago were rs good as any that could be
purchased, are to-day subject to improve
ment In the same way n motor that will be
purchased to-day viii III q year from now not
be the equal of others which will be placed
upon the market. 10 Is simply impossible
therefore, for any railway company T. always
have on hand and in use full line Of tie
best motors. Were they TO do so, 1t would
mean that their whole equipment would have
20 lie replaced at intervals Of about two
months so rapid is the stride in electric
development
The general form Of the motor that yon
had in use year ago WAS then and is now
good motor. one that know TO be in extern
sive use thrOug hout the United States. and it
Is not just 10 critcse any company for hav-
ing such motors on hand. These motors that
you had replaced q very antiQuated form OF
horse car and marked such decided i'm
provement upon it that in my opinion the
citizens Of Richmond are % be congratulated
upon the change on replaced al old lash
toned, badly worn horse-car system with a
complete electrical plant of good and mod
ern design and if. therefore, the motors
themselves create noise, which IS an inevita-
bic cOncOmitant Of all machinery they never,
tbeless removed from the streets OF Richmond
a large number OF horses VIII ch not tony made
noise as they trotted along on the stone pave
ments. but also helped 10 foul them to con-
siderable degree"
no PROMISES.
Mr.. Meredith added that the railroad com
pany would not make any promise Of any
sort; however. within the last eighteen
months according TO the statement Of Mr.
Fisher, the managers OF tho road had spent
one-half million Of dollars in this city for
tie Improvement of the electric system. The
charter which gave the company the night
70 equip the road with electricity did
not empower the Council to arrange
the details in which tho road
spent great deal of money on the road
and it was certainly in Their interest TO do
away with the noise. They we're willing 70 do
Their very best and had shown II by therp PIE
vious actions However, lie was free TO admit
that If an eAort should be made to compel the
company t. do certain things At M enormon5
e1u ense they could not do It and IL would
then be better for the City Council TO revoke
the franchise altogether and do away with
the electricity.
MIR. n. L. Carter announced that he in
tended 10 indulge in some plain talk. and he
actually did 50. for he said that according to
his Interpretation Of tho remarks Of Mr..
Meredith the company did not intend to
remedy the evil, but preferred TO wear out the
patience Of the people lie for one was ready
to vote al once for the removal Of the electric
power and substitution OF the oid-tlme
mules
Mr. Charles V. Meredith, the City Attorney
and .egal adviser OF the City Council. stated
that there was no question in his mind that n
grievance existed and a righteous complaint
WAS made 10y the citiZens a. 10 tue unnecos
ssry noise caused by the electric cars. He
thought that the cars were not kept IN the
proper condition but II was OF no use on the
part OF the company to make any promises.
for they would not lie carried out unless the
proper means wero provided Tor that purpose.
lie could not shy anything as 70 the degree OF
the existing noise and when the cars should |
be taken of but the people along the limo |
had perfect right 10 make their complaints,
especially as there were not the proper means
IN existance to make the necessary repairs.
THE COMMITTEES RIGHTS.
While the committee might not have the |
right 10 designate the exact character OF the |
10 be used they did have the right |
To ray that all legitimate means should be |
used t. keep the road in the best poss Die con- |
dition. lie did not mean to say that the ccm- |
pAny was Intentionally neelectful, but IL |
looked To him M if they were banking on the |
fact that the City Council did not dare to take |
away the franchise.
Mr. Wyndham II. Meredith here Jumped TO |
his feet and stated most empEatiealy that he |
denied that his company was banking on |
such reasons. but that they fully intended to |
improve tie service as much rs possible be-
cause it was in their own interest to doso.
The City Attorney advised the committee
that if they were satisfied that some good |
cause for grieyances.e1 sted thew should take
3 decisive stand t. bring the matter TO test
If the company did all they could be expected
to do the city ought TO know It, even II 1t
should be at some expense. ile therefore
suggested that an ordinance be passed TO-
yiding for the appointment OF competent
person. who for a term of six months or
year should patrol the streets ana wateh the
passing electric cars with the view or order
ne any car with defective machinery 10 the
repalr-shOp.
after some further discussion the commit
tee decided on motion Of Mr. Gray. tore
commend 10 tho Council the adoption Oh such
IN ordinance. which the City Attorney was
irecte g. draw up.