Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-20
THEY TALK VIADUCT.
THOSE FOR AND AGAINST The
SCHEME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
Tho whole Matter Referred Amer Free
and Full Discussion->News
Of the Courts.

The Committee on Streets at It's mee''
ing Yesterday afternoon took up the aues-
ton of granting the Virginia Electric ana
Railway Company permission to consruc'
a yiaduct on Marshall or Broad streets
The members Of the body in attendance
were Messrs. Curtis chairman, Aiieh'
Bahen, Boykin. Brauer, Gray, haro"""''
Carter. Thomas. Turpin, stratton' anu
White.
After brief informal discussion MT Car
ter, OF Marshall Ward. moved 'nat
franchise for such structure on Mar
shall street be granted. Mr.. Turpin saiu
no Thought the committee was about 10
deal hurriedly with a gigantic matter. lie
did not believe the body reaiized Una. VIC
petition also asked for permission 10 '"''',
both a vladuct and railroad. NUM- Va
the facts as to the character OF 'he pro-
posed viaduct were before the commit
tee. and they appeared TO be soihs "'o
the question bllndly. Mr.. Turpin SAID ne
did not think the city needed SUCH wa
duct or any more railroads. and he was
opnoscl to giving the franchise. This new
scheme was but "thumb-screw' upon
tb, old company, and would eventually
have 10 he bought up by that corporation.
He suggested that some Of The representa-
tives Of the Virginia Electric and Railway
Company, a number Of whom were pres
oni. should explain to the committee
exactly what they desired TO do.
Is NO THUMB-SCREW.
Mr. Il. a. Catlin. Of the company, first
denied Mr. Turpns statement that this
corporation was 10 be a thumb-scrcw
on the old organization. The company
had been organized from pure business
incentives and for the reason that such
means Of transportation were needed on
Broad street. The company. he said. had
gwen up the idea OF a viaduct on Mar
shall street. They considered now that
such n scheme would be impracticable.
Mr.. Catlin went on to tell who were
connected with the company. They were
good. honest. businessmen OF this commu-
nifty. who did not enter the scheme as
"fakirs" lie spoke of the exclusive right
granted the present Broad-street COM
pany. and said this might lead to some
litigation were the petition granted But.
Mr.. Catlin continued. he had been in
formed that an exclusive grant was un-
constitutional. As To the matter Of in
. domnity Mr. Catlin thought the city En-
ginecr and Attorney and a small sub
committee from the Committee on Streets
company and reach a mutual agreement
with regard TO this question
CAPTAIN COKES INTEREST.
Captain John A. Coke also spoke in
favor Of the petition. He would connect
himself with the company If the priVi-
leces were granted. He did not know
anything that tended so much 10 the pros
perity Of tie city as the rapid transit
that this corporation proposed 10 furnish.
II did not think il should De the policy
Of this or any city to require a company
to build road in any such way as would
not give rapid transit. He said the
present roads were not adequate. one
third Il the people who would go 10 the
suburbs on Sunday were not able 10 do so
on this account. He added that by the
proposed line trains Of cars could be at
tachei 10 one motor and everybody could
ct th" free, pure air of the suburbs every
Sabbath.
Mr. j. r. d. Myers, Jr spoke also Of
tn advantages such a line would give TO
ri ciWond. and outlined the proposed plan
II erection.
VOICE OF OPPOSITION.
Captain John VI. Higgins. representing
those who attended the recent jefferson
Ward mass-meetins appeared in oppo-
st.on To- the viaduct IL said such
bridge would do incalculahle injury TO
the property Of jefferson Ward. and spoke
Of the great cry against ii 10y the pro-
PERFORMERS ana voters Of that vicinity.
l.- urged the committee not to grant the
privilege.
Mr.. Julian Bryant argued the great
benefits the people Of Church Hin would
derive from the enterprise, and thought
such a vialuct and road meant great pos
sioil!'iss for Richmond
on behalf of Trinity Methodist church.
Captain John II. FrischkOrn spoke against
any such a movement His church. from
tn, pastor down to the sexton. had voted
unanimously against the granting of
sgch "a franchise. The church property
Was worth $1,000, and would be ruined by
viaduct over Broad street
Captain l.. r. Christian as a private
property holder. on Broad street. made
an earnest and vigorous protest against
the petition. and Mr.. Shields. another
owner of real estate on the same tho
roughfare said that there was $4,000
worth of property on Broad street be
tween Fourteenth and Twenty-second
which would he deprecated by half.
THE SUBJECT REFERRED.
At this juncture of the proceedings Mr.
Stratton moved TO refer the whole ques-
ton to a subcommittee, consisting or
the chairman and sub-chairman and the
CIV Engineer and Attorney.
Mr.. Turpin made vigorous fight
against such a motion He read pc
tition from the First Baptist church.
which was presented through MIR. George
B Davis, and also petition from the
First African church, appealing to the
committee to deny the request from the
railway company. Mr.. Turpln said lie
thought the committee ought not 10 reier
the matter at all, but should vote 1t
hl "a
IDEA that the money for the materializa-
TO, Of such a scheme was in sight.
There was some further discussion ana
Mr.. STATIONS motion prevailed by vote
OF to 3, as follows:
Ayes-Messrs. Allen, Gray, Stratton.
Thomas, White, and the Charman-6.
Noes-Messrs. Bahen, Boykin, Brauer,
Carter, and Turpin-5.
A CHURCHS REQUEST.
Mr.. Il. T. d. Myers, Jr, presented
petition on behalf of the Church OF the
Holy Trinity Moore MemoriaD for a GER
tain encroachment on Laurel street. and
for permission to construct an archway
over the alley by the church. The mat
ter was referred to the City Attorney
for his opinion TO the committees
right TO make such n grant.
The body then adjourned
City Hall Courts.
The Circuit Court has adjourned for
the April term.
The Hastings Court was engaged yes
terday in trying civil cases.
In the Court of Law and Equity Carlo
Onesty and Guilo Alright. natives of
Italy. were admitted as citizens OF the
United States.
Dull Day With the Justice.
Justice Crutchneld yesterday morning
sent Robert Colemen (coloreD TO the
grand jury Of the Hastings Court. on the
charge OF feloniously breaking into the
Auo % Nit Del