The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-21
rHE BROlD srREEr FRINCHIsE
What il Thought of the Effect OF the AZ
tion of the Common Council

The action Of the Common Counch !"
granting the franchise OF building u"
electric railroad On Broad street 70 'ne
Richmond Traction Company was
great surprise TO almost everybody ~
TO the tire when the meetluS ~. -,
on Monday evening u was genttans , oO,
coded that the Ilchmorf CITY hdh"ns
Coulrony v-ouIl Toe the succeSstul colh-
IttitOr. However. rcWeriui iou"y mm NJ
on hand. and an the strings were F"..,
IA the most deliberate manner III t.
interest of the new company anu u.i ~
the seven hours Of lie hot contest .l'
newcomers gradually gained tiouuu,
until they won the day by n'Jo'"y
of two votes. 49,. 49,,
Those who were present AZ the inee,-
irg as uncoyctrned Observers y'9l,i 4's
rather harshly criticised the presW'ht
OF the Common Council FOR the manner
en- which he champiOncd the cause ~
the Traction Company, and also Tor the
greater lenieucy shown on TINS occdslvl
in admitting outsiders 10 the privilege
of the floor while on former occasions
such persons have been kept outside or
the railing good deal OF comment
was also made yesterday on the acuon
Of some Of the members OF the touhci,
who for some reasons changed thclf
preferences for the respective companies.
Especially one member was IN certain
quarters rather severely dealt WIZ, VINO
only few days ago stated IN puunc
print his reasons why be would nave
10 vote for the Richmond city Railway
Company. while az the critical moment
hc east his vote I'm favor OF the Rich
mond Traction Company
The friends Of the latter company all
along the line and elsewhere were, or
course. jubNant over their success, ana
expressed themselves confident as 90 me
ability OF the company 20 construct the
road. ON the other hand. ~ seems that
ngrave doubts exist I'm the minds of some
.I... b.. H.f In 4.
Notwithstanding it's represented financial
ability Will be able 20 build the road
10 the satisfaction Of the city authorities.
lnasmuch as mp 20 the present time they
have not single practical railroad man
associated with them.
IL is also claimed that the cast-iron
conditions and restrictions thrown around
the franchise by the city authorities
make it almost impossible for new COM
pany % venture into tho enterprise.
Judge Henry W. Flournoy of counsel
for the Traction Company. when APP
preached on the subject. said. we am
tcipate no difficulty whatever IN st.uHS
the endorsement Of the Board Of Alder
men. our fight is practically won.
Captain Andrew Pizzini. speaking for
the cIty railway. said yesterday that ms
company would carry the hght Win ui-
diminished vigor into the Board of Alder
NE confessed that the city railway poo
Mo went 10 the meeting last NIGHT feel
ing fully assured that the FRANCHISE
would Doe awarded them. They believe
that they hat the majority OF the Conn
cI with them AZ the start. and attrindtf
their defeat 20 prejudice raised M me
proceedings against Mr. Fisher. the chlet
officer Of the company. Captain illlinl
added that his company hoped 10 remove
THIS prejudice when the matte was
brought before the Aldermen ana TO
eventually secure the privileges 10 when
be- contended. the CITY railway was Bet
ter entitled.
CAPTAIN Plzzlni expressed the o. mon
that his company. which was the pioneer
of electric railroads. not only I'm tlls
city. but in this country, was 80 nuch
more enabled thar any other COMPANY
10 give good and effective service auu
THAT he would ondcavor 20 Impress ihis
fact rpon the minds Of the members "i
the Board Of Aldermen at their me'tin-
next Monday evening. Furthermore, MS
company was familiar with the require
menfs made on the part OF the CITY I'm
glneer's delartmant 70 construclnS' thr
road. and new company would ma li
not an easy matter 20 do the work TO
the entire satisfaction of the municlptl
authorities.
I'm speaking OF the ability OF his COM
pauv 10 complete the road ar an early
date. Captain pizzini said that they We're
fully prepared 20 finish the construction
OF the road from the Exposition GROUNDS
% Laurel street I'm time for the coming
Exposition. even should the franchise Dee
granted them as late as september JUN.