Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-02
AS TO FOUR TRACKS.
CONTINUED from Page Thirteen.)

CONTINUED from Page Thirteen)
OF the people. Is II the desire OF the
people OF Richmond to break up SO saiu.
tary an influence?
g. 1t has been stated by some mem.
bers Of the Society for the Prevention
OF -Four Tracks on Broad Street thai
| in no city OF the Union OF any size
were four tracks allowed on the street
know these gentlemen were under
that impression, but they We're Had
viscd. In New Orleans. New York. and
| Atlanta there are streets that have four
| and even more tracks. All OF these
streets are immense arteries for trade
and traffic, vastly more people and We
hicles passing than in the city OF Rich
mond at any point or at any time. except
possibly. In a great parade. The trac-
ton company thinks that the Broad
street merchants. In view OF the fact
that not only the citizens of Richmond
but they themselves. asked for. aided.
and abbetted the investment in the en-
terprise. should be willing TO bear with
even what may be, but we believe will
! not be, an inconvenience. If II proves
/ TO be an Inconvenience II viii only be
temporary one. expiring by limitation
in 1900.
But the Richmond Railway and Eiec-
trio Company can relieve the city OF
the additional tracks. and themselves Of
the heavy expenses OF removing its
/ tracks. by accepting the liberal terms OF
transfer offered them by the traction
| company, which terms are for the benefit
| of the citizens.
| Railway and Electric Compnny's
Position.
The card from the Richmond Railway
and Electric Company follows:
| To the Editor of the Dispatch:
It has been made very manifest TO me
OF late that the general public does not
understand the railroad situation on
Broad street. and with your permission
/ will briefly Get out a few facts which
will explain It.
In the first place. the Richmond Rail-
way and Electric Company has been very
much blamed for what is considered its
disregard Of the public wishes in not
| having long ago electrified the Broad
street line. This would have been done
long ago but for the following facts:
About the time that we We're ready TO
exercise this privilege of electrifying
Broad street, during the early stages Of
the erection Of the City Hall. Colonel
IL
would be desirable for the City Railway
Company, controlling Broad street, to de-
fer any change until after the completion
of the City Hall, so that the old track OF
the Richmond. Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac, which was suitable for the carry
ms OF loaded cars, and which was one
Of the tracks used by the City Railway
Company, might be utilized In the hauling
OF cars from the western end Of Broad
street TO the City Han.
This request was in addition 10 a con-
" no al huH xuffh ha
Railway Company. TO allow the use OF
the track until after the completion OF
the CITY Han.
IL is perfectly manifest therefore, that
up to this last date the electrifying Of
Broad street was an impossibility.
A SECOND DELAY CAUSED.
When the building was completed. we
again were about TO electrify the road,
when we were approached by Major Gin
ter, who desired the use of a portion of
the track for the hauling of cars to the
new jefferson Hotel, and this was also
permitted by the authorities. as evil
denced by an ordinance OF the City COun-
Gil. Thus the electrifying of Broad
street was again delayed in consideration
of the best interests OF the city
When the jefferson Hotel was COM
pleted, and the track no longer necessary
for that purpose, we again approached the
city authorities and asked anew for the
privilege OF using electricity In the pro-
pulsion Of our cars but In consideration
OF the fact that during all this period
our franchise was nearing its conclusion,
and there was not enough time left to US
TO warrant so great an expenditure, We
asked that our franchise be extended for
a period OF twenty-five years.
This seemed eminently fair, and think
1 may make the assertion that the Street
Committee was prepared to grant this
extension on certain terms, such as in
creased taxes and the like. which We
were prepared TO accept. Before final and
definite action was taken, however, the
committee was asked for delay In order
that Mr.. Julian Bryant might bring be-
fore the committee plan which he rep
resented for u new company OH Broad
street.
TRACTION ENTERED THE FIELD.
This delay was granted, and lasted
several months. Mr.. Bryants plan did
not materialiZe. but i'm the mean time hIr.
w. f. Jenkins and his friends brought
plan for constructing an electric road on
Broad street with underground conduit |
trolley. which idea Immediately beeaR |
popular, and the franchise asked for vs.
granted. Owing 10 some dlsagreepht
on the part OF mis- associates, this sai
was not carried out, but in the seah
by Mr.. SHIELD. appeared upon the scehs
and effected a coalition OF the friuus OF
the last-named two companies. -.
The traction company receiver lItn-
chise Tor thirty years, our appuA'o" W
il win thus be seen that I no time
within the past five years ias 81 II Deen
feasible for the City Railwy Company
or its successor, the Richrond Eall"ay |
and Electric Company. = ,elecirhy us
service; and "heh ~ ~ re-
membered that there VS. no electteity |
In the propulsion OF crs in Richmond
longer than eight yeas ago, mink ~
will be seen that we nave not peeh IN |
default, so far as Troad street Is con- 9
oerned. :
THE PRESENT SITUATION.
Az 10 the presep- situation. whether or 6
not the CITY Attorney IS right IN view !
hat we have lot the Ilsht 10 eIeet'ihy
act remains tat We have Il franchise I
or five wears pnger for the use OF Broad I
street with or tracks and service, ana [
sc shall cert.inly studlously endeayor by r
endering satisfactory and edequate SER
ice TO Drosure an extension OF our fran !
.hise at It's expiration. -
There IS no power i'm the city govern
nent TO 5orce our tracks on Broad street.
If TO require us to allow the joint use
f these BrOad-street tracks for five years
o come. and yet, with a view to harmo-
izing the conditions existing between the
wo companies. and with the purpose OF
ding all In our power 10 AVOID the necrs-
I'M OF the dangerous and ruinOus nuisance
r four tracks upon the citys most beau
Iful thoroughfare. we offered lrst TO the
racfion company to build the two tracks ,
ecessary on Broad street along our en-
ire rlght of way, allowing them the
pint use OF these tracks upon reason
HE cOmpensa ton, to be determined by
This was declined. Doth by
he traction company and the Council
In the very nature or things. occupying
raclts remote from each other, az We
oW do, Il Is impossible for us 10 oner The
-action company the use OF our tracks,
Ut as the only feasible plan by when
'e could meet the demands OF the mer- I
hants and property-oWnerS on Broad
,.rat ne lax-o oforol TO the traction 4