Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-03
THE RICHMOND DIsPAToH-sUNDAY, MARCH 8, 1895.


From Chinborase - the DsulsvsrS.
There are two or three parties OF In
vestosv who ara seeking the privilege OF
building a street railway along Broad
street from Chimborsxo Park to the
Boulevard. All Of them propcse to use
electricity a. the motive power. and two
propose TO build q viaduct on which 10
carry the road across the valley OF
Shockoe creek.
Broad street IL the only street which
pierces Richmond IN a straight line from
east to west and II is at the same
time our widest thoroughfare. 1t 10 also
our chief retail street. and II Is the high
way to our OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Con-
sidering all OF these facts, tho Dispatch
has never doubted that the time would
soon come when Broad street would have
transportation line suited to the dignity
OF the street and the demands Of the peo-
pie. The mule-car has been driven from
every other street in this city except
Broad, and that sedate and sleek animal
would do well TO make the most OF his
present opportunity to appear In fashion
able society. since he will shortly have to
leave Broad street also.
a viaduct Is not Indispensable to the
operation Of street railway line on
Broad street, but it Is preferred TO any
plan for a surface road. Electricity Will
drive cars up the Broad-street hills. but
for this purpose great deal OF power
will be required. A great deal of power
Aal, For this
reason, as we are informed, II Ia de-
sirable TO carry the road over the valley
OF Shockoe creek on a viaduct.
To the building OF a viaduct on Broad
street there are many directors. And
their objections are two-fold-that the via
duct will injure much valuable pro-
perty, and that 1t will carry large
amount Of business. which is now done
in Marshall and Jefferson wards. to
Shockoe Hill.
The first objection could be removed
by requiring the company to which the
franchise is given to compensate proper
ty-owners for any real damage done abut-
ting property. We imagine that the
City Council will never consent to grant
franchise upon any other condition than
this. Richmond's experience with the
Tunnel Company has made the City Coun- |
ell wary, II not wise.
The other objection to the viaduct can |
only be removed by evidence and argu- |
ment that the position taken by the OBJ |
jectors is not likely to be sustained by |
actual results or that II well-taken II does
not afford sufficient ground for re-
fuslng the general public the great bene-
fits which would follow the building OF |
a viaduct.
We leave this viaduct question open for |
future consideration. So. too, as to wheth- |
err vladuct would not do as
well on Marshall street or on Grace street |
as on Broad street. All the points"
pro and con- will he brought out in due
time by those who favor and those who
oppose the vladuct scheme.
The Dispatch would like to see n via |
duct built: but we insist upon having the |
street railway from end to end Of Broad |
street, whether the viaduct is built or
not
Electric machinery can overcome the
pTOdQ-silttt dS SutNSSSidhy 40 ~
has overcome the hill one square east of
the Exchange Hotel.
Not only must we have a cable or
electric road on Broad street. but the best
one that can be built. We have no
thing but praise for the gentlemen who
gave Richmond its present system of
electric street-car lines. These lines have
hox |
ines and are managed well, but better
Ines can be built now than could have
been built when our present system was
introduced.
Let us require the latest electric or
cable system TO be introduced on the
line. If possible, let us have
/, line which will not require the use of
lnsghtly poles and overhead wires. II
he underground trolley is the success that |
Is claimed for 1t, why not use 1t?
At any rate. when we grant thr
franchises for a Broad-stroet line, let us
require an "up-to-date' line. extending |
rom Chimborazo Park on the east to
he Boulevard (Which Is some hundreds OF
Yards west Of the Exposition-Grounds) on
the west of the city.
1t would be the conventional thing for
is to close this article with warning to
he City Council to be very cautious In
granting franchises to persons not known
o be able to do what they undertake
o do But 1t isn't necessary to give any
such warning to the City Council.
The Council and the public have not
forgotten the Eighth-street tunnel iasco