The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-29
APPLICATION REFUSED
FOR A STREET-C4R LINE on FIRST
AND CARY SThkEIs.
Lengthy Discussion Before the street Com
nIttee-A Tie votc-Poles for
Telephone Wire"

Ebel. Foster; J. J. King, J. NJ King
Mountcastie. Pollock, and Woody.
There was large number Of citizens
present as spectators who had come IN
consequence OF the invitation issued py
The committee that all persons interested
in the granting OF the franchise 10 the
Richmond Traction Company for the con-
structiOn OF a double track for rs cleo
trio line through First and Cary streets
TO Hollywood. should appear before the
committee and submit their views.
The question OF granting this franchise
was. on motion OF Mr.. Ebel, first taken
~ under the suspension OF the regular
order OF businsse. On motion " MI
Woody each side was granted thirty
minutes 10 present their case. Clerk
Jacobs then read the proposed ordinance,
which provides that the branch line ~
the Traction Company be constructed
| from the corner Of Broad and First
streets through First through Cary.
through Beach street. thence southwardy
on Beach to Beverly street. thence east
wardly on Beverly street 10 Cherry. and
through the latter TO Hollywood.
On motion Of Mr.. Bloomberg the reso-
luton was then rescnded while hlimited
the time OF speaking for each side 10
! thirty minutes
Mr.. WILLIAMS SPEECH
Mr. j. SHELTON Williams. president Of
the Traction Company. first addressed the
committee and gave q brief history Of
the work done by the company. lie
stated that HIS company had within the
past twelve months expended in the
neiebborhoOd Of S400.c,9 on the road upon
the implicit faith that the city would
grant the company AN privileges asked
for in compliance with the provisions OF
the franchise. II provided for branch
route from Broad street TO Hollywood
as feeder 10 the main lire. In April
last the company applied for the privilege
or constructing its line on Madison street
Dui this was rejected and the First-street
line substituted. The Laurel-street Une
had been suggested. but the franchise
provided that an entire new double track
should be constructed by the companv.
10 allow the Othe- company the use
| of their tracks would be somewhat risky
FOR II would be extremely doubtful wheth-
er they would ever receive anv eouivalent
I remuneration for their services from the
oid company. II had been said that the
completion would infringe on the fran
chise OF the old company. which
pald 80 per cent. taxes less
than the Traction Company. He
| old not think that the construction Of
ihe Inc would damage the adjacent prop
eIty. In the larger cities strect-cars
| were running through the most fashion
able streets. but no complaint had been
/ raised That the abutting property was
damaged. He thought that the Richmond
Runway ana Electric Company was al
the bottom OF all this opposition. and
'HdN one or the opponents a property
owner on FIRST and Franklin street. who
had Been IN close conference with one
| OF MS patients was showing his LOYALTY
90 h's friend and patient in continuing
his opposition.
Dir. Williams thought First street would
serve the public best for the construction
OF TINS route 1t was the widest street
between Second and L0mbardv street
There was some objection TO the use
OF Shafer street and the other cross
streets were also undesirable for sorious
reasons. First street was sixey-nve feet
".de' and 1t was an ideal street for street.
car service. Canal street was impracti-
cable from strect-car point Of view on
account OF its steep grade.
NIX. REDDY REPLIES
MT. William il. Reddy, who was the
next speaker. congratulated the .rracfi,n
company for the construction OF It's road
As a representative OF some. nron.rfv-
owners on First stree. ne opposed the
81 secstco line. He alluded TO tb, oues-
ton OF taxation. and pointed ont that
the Traction Company vas paving higher
taNrs. because the City Council bad SO
ordered The rivalry between the two
companies was partially the caus. for
tIs APPLICATION. and FOR that reaeon Tie
public mad mad street-Car traifc for
breakfast. dinner ana supper ever since
the Traction Comp-<y bad been IN ex-
i~.ence. L. VS. feasible for the Tracti )n
company to use the Laurel-street line.
bat IL was. perhaps. Objectionable on ac-
count Of The competition between the
two companies
First street was more Objectionable
than any OF the other cross-town streets.
because II had moro private residences
fronting on that Street There were
tweny-six private residences fronting
on FIRST street from Franklin 10 cary
street. and all Of these property
objected 20 this line Madison street had
been nrst selected but there were hardly
amy private residences fronting on that
street. ana il had been stated that the
opposition there had been raised by the
churches bug their services would not he
dlstlrned by me car traffic. 10 was a
wel-known fact that centrally located
property was injured by the construc-
ton OF railroads.
PROPERTY OWNERS OBJECT
Mr.. " D. Chesterman appeared as n
resident and property-owner on cary
street, in opposition % the scheme. cary
street Was a narrow street. and the heavy
naunng on u between Belvidere and
rlrst streets vas simply immense. as
could be affirmed by the City Engineer
10 add the strcet-car traffic would i'm
crease the objections ana would decrease
the value OF the property. There was no
need for a street-car hne on Cary street,
So close 20 Main street
MIR Chesterman then read letter from
Nr. ". G.. Fair. one or tho property
owners on Cary street. VINO protested
against the construction or the road Ob-
,ect,ons TO the proposed franchise were
also made by Mr. Charles Philips Mt
vtmam A. Waring. Sir. \. Il. Clarke,
an nrouertv-Owners on Cary street. MT.
clarke said he was In favor OF puoho I'M
,-oronents. but ne was opposed 70 ms
eneriaI proposition. Nnhe S'ro'1-odI
,ipes would improve the value OF property
~, h,,stness streets. u certainly W"uld
1s,,riorate the value on residence streets
NJ O l.. Cabell. property owner ON
60 street spoke IN favor OF sIti'Hls
~ ,-anchise, which was necessary ID" $50
CO.. ,bo southern portion OF the city. ne
1.,,,,,e-t mat property would De sllEhty
t,,ro.e,a,ed on Franklin and cary
streets but r would enhance the value
80 ,ronertv on First street. During ths
1t.r,,ss.on Mr.. Cabell admitted, when
NA''N'' XNariug that he did