Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-09
10 COME.
THE TRACTION CoMPANY's SIDE.
Manager HabIiston Replies TO the
Old Company's Statement.

Old COmpany's Statement.
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
A statement I'm the Richmond papers Of
August 9TH and Sth from Mr.. a. y.
Cuigon. representing the Richmond Rail-
way and Electric Company. attempts to
offer an explanation for the action or his
company in tearing up the tracks on
Broad street and putting a stop 10 the
running Of the through ears OF the Rich
mOnd Traction Company. Mr. Guigon
naturally desires to PALATE the action
of MS associates and wishes TO see an
excuse for It. but an unparalleled public
are not so blind as TO fail 10 see that the
pulling up of connections that in 10 man
ner interfered with their track or
travel was a malicious act: one In keep
ing with their injunction on Robinson
and Main streets. and that on lakewood
avenue, which they also insugated: and
is also in keeping with their course since
tho city Of Richmond granted, without
their consent the franchise TO the Rich
mond Traction Company. Their tearing
up Of the connecting tracks Is also Ia
keeping with their offer OF a pltifu sum
for the use Of the wires. power. and
tracks OF the Richmond Traction Com
pany on the Robinson and Broad-street
lines for the three days OF the reunion
HnEH lAfN klAfW lAdL we iAl ED4t ~
considerable expense on their account,
and when our action in thus giving them
the facilities OF our tracks enabled them
to make during this period probably
$500 or $4,000. The public Is only too
well aware Of the bitter and unjustifiable
fight made against our company by the
Richmond Railway and Electric Com
pany. A striking feature Of their act
was that they knew that an arrange
Al -
which expired August 4th, for the joint
use Of tracks between Harrison and Han
cock streets mad been signed land
agree on "a "a permanent arrangement.
to 20 into effect as soop as
the permanent track OF our road could
be put down. The public is only toe well
aware Of the great care for the public
comfort shown for years past by the
Richmond Railway and Electric Com
pany in their magnificent mule-car line
on Broad street, and their act in tear
ing up tracks which in no way inter
fered with their travel is in keeping
with their great consideration for the
public shown before the era Of the Rich
mond Traction Company.
The Richmond Traction Company hoped
that they would have their permanent
track down before the expiration OF the
contract for the temporary use Of the
EfuuU EREllOu Oh NOlAEEAlllk lI1Eh- Uul
the Injunction OF the Broad-street pro-
perty holders and the detention Of the
maps in the hands Of the Richmond Rail-
way and Electric Company made it i'm
possible TO complete the work before
August 4th. Request was made for the
use Of the track necessary to continue
through cars. Their reply was to tear
up our connecting track. The reason that
we had cars at each end was that we had
met with nothing but enmity and petty
annoyances from the Richmond Railway
and Electric Company; and, consequently,
we prepared for the worst. II was well
we did so, as their night action proved.
Their intention seemed to be to catch US
unprepared, while they delayed answer
ing our request for the use OF the con-
Meeting track.
A number Of the newspaper articles are
headed. Railway Companies Fight"
VIII the public please bear in mind that
In every case the Richmond Traction
been right when the fights have been
forced upon them by the organized effort
Of a foreign corporation to crush an en-
terprise organiz-n-and directed by num-
Der of home people, whose only offence
has been 10 give the city the best equip
ped car line in the South. We have had
to fight all along the line since the
start, ana altnoush tne pubic u H.
convenienced by the uncalled-for act of
the Richmond Railway and Electric Com
pany IL is our intention to have the in
convenience last the least time possible
Offering the pitiful sum Of 1853 for an
award OF over 81 900 made by disinte-
rested arbltrators. and the midnight
tearing up Of the track that In no way
interfered with their travel. are both just
and right in the estimation OF the Rich
mond Railway and Electric Company.
They tell the public IT Is so. Az well
might they say white is black Yours
very truly, W. NJ. HABLlSTON,
Vice-P President and General Manager
Richmond Traction Company.