The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-25
FRANCHISES GRANTED
AND TWO ELECTRIC RAILROADS
WILL BE COMMENCED SOOy.
Citizens Elected From the Council Cham
berthe Secret Session an Exciting One.
Other Manchester News.
MAScHHsTIR BUREAU RICHMOND TIMrs.
1l21 HULL STREET. ByATTIE BLOCK.

evening, the following members were
present: Messrs. O'Brien chairman.
Taylor. Utz. Sims. weisiger. Morris.
Morton. Ely. Campbell. Hart, Fair and
Starke
City Attorney Clopton. Mr.. George T..
Fisher, who is interested in the proposed
new road from Manchester to Midlothian,
and Major b. II. Nash, Of Richmond,
council for the new company; George II.
levitt and John c. Robinson. represent
ing the proposed new electric line TO
Petersburg, and Colonel George X. Ma
con. counsel for that company were also
ON hand
The report OF the special committee
appointed for the purpose Of comforting
with the members OF the Central Metho-
/ dist church with reference 10 building
number Of cells in the rear Of the station
house. near the church, was returned
favorable TO such action.
Mr.. Sims offered a resolution that the
report of the committee be adopted and
that the Committee on Grounds and
Buildings be authorized TO begin the
erection of the cells. The resolution
was adopted by a vote of 20 4.
The ordinances granting the franchises
10 the new roads were read by City
attorney ClOptOn.
Mr.. George II. levitt, in behalf Of the
Petersburg line took the floor He
said he was not opposed TO the construc-
ton Of the Midlothian line. but he was
surprised that the representatives Of
that company were opposed TO the line
TO Petersburg by which passengers could
be brought from that city to Manchester
for ten cents each. He thought this was
strong argument I'm favor Of the fran
chise being granted. He said that the
opposition company argued against the
Petersburg line on the ground that it
would never be built, and that the com
pany securing the franchise would sell
this right to other parties
In reply to this he referred to the prom
ises on the part Of those interested in
the company, and spoke OF T. William
Pemberton, r. NJ. r. Talcott and Colonel
| William II. Palmer, whose words he said,
were as good as their bond Mr.. levitt
stated that his company was willing to
accept the ordinances as construed by
the Street Committee, but not IL that
committee bound them down with bur
den Of conditions. He referred TO the
great advantage that would be the out
come OF the road in the way OF increas
ing the value Of real estate. and declared
that the road would certainly be built
II the council would grant the franchise
I
Major p. II. Nash. representing the
proposed road TO Midlothian. said that
he had not opposed the plan OF the
| Chesterfield board OF supervisors TO grant
franchise TO the proposed line TO Peters
burg. but as counsel for the Richmond and
Petersburg Railroad Company. he could
not stand by and be silent I'm a proceed
ing that was Illegal. He maintained
that the board OF supervisors had no
right TO give the company the right Of
way over the turnpike. He said that his
company was not competing with the line
| to Petersburg outside the city. but with
/ in the city the two lines would run over
/ the same street part OF the way, and
! with the present system as operated by
the companies represented by Mr.. Fisher.
which system would be improved with
the Midlothian road. he thought it would
be an unreasonable action on the part of
the council TO disregard the rights OF
a man who had invested 500, 900 towards
/ improving city property.
Mr.. George X. Macon then spoke in the
! interest Of the Petersburg line. He said
! IN At he was paid by the company to rep
/ resent their cause, but that he would not
advocate any scheme which he believed
10 be Instantaneous to the city Of
Manchester. All he asked was to secure
the right to run their cars over the short
! distance OF 167 feet on Seventh street with
the other line. and that the two companies
could make satisfactory terms among
| themselves.
He was unwilling that the company he
represented deposit 5000 with the city
treasurer as compensation 20 the city for
the franchise asked for. The road would
prove OF great advantage 10 real estate
in Manchester. and he thought IT would
be a great mistake on the part of the
! council 10 refuse to grant a franchise for
! the construction of a road that would
! greatly Improve cheap Transportation
from this point through Chesterfield cOun-
! " to Petersburg
Considerable discussion arose on the
part Of the members Mr. Taylor claimed
that the council had granted an exclusive
right of way over the 167 feet on Seventh
street to Mr. Fishers company. and
that 1t had no right TO allow the Peters
| burg Company TO come in and interfere
| by running their cars over the same
street.
Mr.. Morris believed In Dihding the Mid
J lothian Company by a contract that would
| specify the service they intended Civ
| ing
a number OF other members expressed
themselves pro and con, and then the
! chairman ordered the citizens and re-
| porters to vacate while the council went
| into secret session.
Mr.. Fair moved that the reporters be
allowed to remain, but the chairman re-
fused 10 entertain the motion.
There was considerable unfavorable
comment on the part of number Of the
most prominent citizens in Manchester
on the action of the chairman In ordering
the visitors TO leave One prominent
citizen insisted that the council had no
right 10 prevent them from being present
when II was a question of giving away
city property. Another stated that II was
a great mistake and not calculated To
please the citizens in any respect; while
others were emphatic in their expressions
OF disapproval at such treatment.
The secret session was one of much In.
terest and excitement. too. judging from
the number OF wildly emphatic gestures
on the part OF many of the members as
seen through a missing Stat in the out
side blind.
There were three newspaper representa-
tives present. and the longing look on
their respective physiognomies, like that
of a hungry man when gazing at a
tempting supper out OF his reach. was
a study for the artist that paints dining
room pictures. Ali three OF us could
hear voices raised 20 loud pitch and
see hands flying in the air and No. 10
shoes stamping the floor with some de-
gree of enthusiasm, but to gain anything
ineligible under these circumstances
was of course, out of the question. and
so we had to watch and wait patiently
till the wee sma' hours. occasionally