Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-03
FRIDAY. .........MAECH3 3. 1893.
The Projected Electric Road from
Petersburg % Richwoud.

Petersburg % Richmond.
There seems TO b. o probability that one
of those electric roads whose coming tho
DISPATCH has for several years been look
ing for is soon g. render travel between
Manchester that u.s. Richmond and Pc
tersburg delightfully."- pleasant rs well Is
duly expeditions. We have no prejudice
against steam railroads. They have s"ry"d
their day and generation, and may now, II
necessary, give way 20 electric roads. We
say III necessary" because the last word
has not yet been said on the subject Of the
comparative desirabiLty Of steam Iropui-
sion and electric propulsion on ions lines
Of railroad.
The steam railroad between Richmond
and Petersburg Is ono of the landmarks Of
Virginia. and We should not ike 10 have
it disappear from the business world.
However. there is no present danger Of lts
loss, We suppose. Indeed, We shall not
snow what that Old scorposatian can do
until We see il pat upon ~ mettle. A
round-trip ticket between Richmond and
Petersburg costing only % or 30 or 30
cents might bo a wonderfully elective
weapon IN the hands 81 the .sicam-rallroad
company. In Richmond ve ride six miles
or more for cents whom we travel upon
.he electric line from the New reservoir
TO the corner Of Twcnty-ninth and +
Streets that il. for SO of cont per mile.
Projected electric lines of railroad may
Be heard of all over the United States. We
gave a few days ago some interesting STA
- f.rt n D.
than which mono can be more important.
We concur in the opinion of that tar
seeing paper, the Cincinnati CoWm1c a.,
that those persons who are ondeavoriug 10
inaugurate system Of rural hOuloyarda
e. boom a clty are behind the times.
Carriace-drivcs are Vel enough in thor
place. hut electric railroads ere the latest
thing in suburban development. These
electric roads FL the pubiic eye, and have
the public ear to such an extent that they
are almost constantly discussed in tie
papers.
The distance from Richmond g. Peters
burg is only twenty-One mites. ln Penn
tylyania q line j. projected from Scranton
70 Northumberland which Is - have a
length Of nearly one hundred miles.
"Ohio has such projects on foot. and capi-
talists are eagerly seeking theinvestment."
But let US not allow our imagiuations 70
sun away with our judgments. As the
Philadelphia Press -ays, there IS danger Of
granting too cLeaply. OK oven Of giving
away. valuable and exclusive privileges on
public highways. THIS should never be
done. These now railroads cau well afford
e. pay liberal prices for the franchises
which they ask for. Be hot mi-iCi by the
sbreat that the c1rporators will 90 else
where. There Is capital enough ready 10
be invested III these electric roads 90 pay
for one IA every town ia the United States.
The moneyel men viii tread upon ono
smother toes in their anxiety % procure
these valuable franchises which, alas
Goo many cities have exchanged ior no
less thai mes, Of pottage. One Of our
exchanges remarks that many councils
were so eager TO obtain rapid transit with
On their limits b. means Of strec,-cars
that they reoklossly voted away rights
which they now vainly regret. This ought
70 be a warning. Electric railways viii
undoubtedly help III many ways. bat on
the other hand these roads are likely TO
return a good profit and they should not
he given rights for which they can afford
e. pay.
This is good advice, and should be pom
dered by both rural aud urban communi-
ties ana Officials.