Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-19
AN INJUNCTION APPLIED ron.
THIS however. Applies 10 a Crossing
"nd Not to the Reunion Service.


This, However. Applies TO a. Crossino
ana Not to the Reunion Service
There may be another hitch IN the mat
Ter Of getting the desired street-car facili-
'es 10 the Exposition-Grounds for the
/ approaching Confederate reunion.
yesterday Mcssrs. Wyndham r. Mere
dith and Frank w. Christian. represent
! ins me Iuchmond Railway and Electric
company. filed with Judge Wexford. OF
the city Circuit Court. a bill asking that
the Richmond Traction Company he en-.
joined and restrained from crossing the
/ tracks OF the Richmond Railway and
Electric Company on Main street where
| X intersects with Robinson. The petit
TONERS base their appeal upon the al
/ legged ground that the act under which the
/ Traction Company is operating Is uncon-
sututionaL Judge Wexford. after brief
conference with Messrs. Meredith and
! Christian, OF the old company and MIR.
! John Skelton Williams. president Of the
/ Richmond Traction Company, named
/ Thursday morning at 10 o'clock as the
/ time he would hear argument upon the
| application
1t rs contended that this action can
! only stop the new corporation from put
son streets, and that all the remainder
of the Robinson-street road will be rapidly
pushed TO completion.
WHAT MIR. WILLIAMS SAYS.
President Williams. Of the Traction
Company. discussing this matter yester-
day afternoon said.
"The Richmond Railway and Electric
Company have come forward in petit
| ton for an Injunction 10 restrain the
ltchmond Traction Company from the
construction Of its koolnsOn-street
branch from the Exposition Grounds 10
I the reservoir. and 10 and behold, the only
grounds that the ingenuity and tnveu-
tiVcness of their distinguished counsel
can set forth is the claim that the Rich
I m0nd Traction Company was chartered
In accordance with an act of The General
Assembly passed in 1860. comforting upon
the city Of Richmond the power 10 incor-
pOratc street railway companies and
that this act Of 1860. through some techni-
caAty, is unconstitutional, nuli, and void.
Let 10 be understood that this act OF 1860
the COnstitutOndNty Of which tney now
attack. is the same under which both the
Richmond City Railway Company and the
/ Richmond Union Passenger Railway Com
Iany were chartered. and under Whlch
they operated for years and years. To
claim now that the Richmond Traction
Company Us not strictly leBal corpora
ton is 20 assert that the Mdln-stfeet
line, the principal division or the ken
mond Railway and Electric Company,
was operated without authority Of law,
and that the Clay-street line was also
nothing more than an alleged ana lie
gal corporation.
WOULD NOT INTERRUPT.
"a ridiculous feature of their petition"
continued Mr. Williams. rs The assertion
that the Richmond Traction Company
hy eros sing the single track Of the Main
street line at the corner of Main and
Harrison streets, would be a constant
interruption and interference TO the Rail
way and Electric Company IN the use OF
its tracks, causing damage Wnlch "
would be impossible 10 estimate and
would cause serious danger OF collision
between their cars and the cars of the
Richmond Traction Company, and
would create danger and risk TO the pub
lie etc, etc
"Such a statement" remarked Mr.. VIII
lams. with emphasis, lis readily seen
90 be fictitious and idle. when il is con-
s,dered that there are scarcely one third
as many cars which would cross our
track at that point as are constantly
crossing divers other points OF lne ltlc9-
moud Hallway and Electric Company
system.
TO TAKE AWAY ITS RIGHTS.
"The danger at this crossing and the
irreparable damage which they would
thereby incur, are the burden OF thGr
complaint which they now make. the
purpose of which Is 20 deprive the Trac-
lion Company of its well-esiabished ana
well-earned rights TO extend lts nnc from
the ExpOsitOn-G Grounds 20 the Reservoir
Park and increase the street-car adNan-
tages of the city. In other WORDS, tnty
rake up some old law, under Whlch the
street-car business of the city has been
conducted for thirty years and under
some alleged irregularity IN II seek 10
shelter themselves for their attack upon
the Richmond Traction Company eVinc-
inc thereby al the same time total as
regard for the welfare and convenience
of the public. and Of any other cOnsldera-
tions allowable in honorable compeu-
ton -.,....,..
OLD COMPANY'S POSITION.
Mr. Guigon was seen late last night by
Dispatch reporter, and asked what
ne had TO say i'm regard to Mr.. VIII
uams's statement lie replied that there
was really nothing TO say. as the wealth
er was too warm for such heated
controversy; and. besides, the Injunction
matter was simply a legal question, which
il was better to discuss quietly in the
courts than angrily in the newspapers.
eft has absolutely no bearing on the
question of handling the crowds at the
reunion. else it would not have been
sought at this time" said Captain Gui-
ron. referring To the Injunction.
I'm regard 10 the action of the street
Committee. Nr GuigOn said: we
had hoped that they would give us the
right TO handle our part or the crowd
in our own way by the Main-street con-
rection. but. as they thought different
Ia. we will cheerfully acquiesce. and 90
the very best we can In the method
tbcy have laid down for us. In the in
terestl of the reunion. We have for the
time being buried the hatchet with the
Traction Company and will earnestly
cooperate with them in the disposition
of the immense crowds expected"