The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-16


branch lines in every direction, so tnat
they may gather passengers from or
send them TO every part Of Richmohd
and Manchester. and the surrounding
country. Is not this fair?
3. We have already agreed with the
Traction Company that they shall run
their cars over our tracks on BrOan
street from Twenty-fourth to twenty
ninth street, and from Harrison 10 Han
cock. I'm accordance with the PROVISIONS
OF the franchise OF our Clay-street line,
which is in that respect Identical Win
theirs. and thus. without n light or
protest. have allowed them to 20 six
blocks OF orr tracks. in spite OF their
obstinate refusal 10 allow us the use or
any part of their track on any terms
Whatever. Have we not played fair
with this Traction Company. which pre-
tends TO be so considerate Of the rights
and the wishes of the public?
6. In addition to the terms we have
offered the Traction Company. we have
said 10 the city: IF you will give MS
what We ask and allow Us thus to per-
feet our system, we will give up all our
special rights on Broad street; we will
give up and take up all our tracks on
Broad street between Ninth and Laurel;
we will electrify the Eighth-street and
Ninth-street connections. and the Laurel
street extension, and will extend the lat
ter to Riyerview Park, we will electriiy
the Marshall-street loop, and then there
VIII be no more horse cars in Richmond.
and we will also issue and sell, good over
all our lines. 5 tickets for 25c., school chill
dren's tickets at half-fare. good during me
school week, and half-fare tickets good
from TO in the morning every DAY
but Sunday.
faf In
sions great benefits and advantages
to every man, woman, and child In
Richmond?
The only answer made by the Traction
Company to all our offers Is that they
will listen to no proposition put our
giving up our rights and tracks on
Broad street, and dumping all our pas
sengers, drawn from every quarter INTO
their laps. This, OF course, We cannot
do. We will compete with them 20 the
end. on equal terms, II We may; on UNI
equal terms If We must. We Will not
give I'D our BrOad-street franchise and
leave them monarchs OF all they survey,
and IL they think we will, they are sadly
mistaken.
&. When we appeal 10 the Council TO
require the Traction Company TO allow
us 10 run on their tracks. I'm accord
ance with the provisions OF their own
franchise and on the terms set out IN
the third section of this card, they hoid
10 their hands in holly horror and claim
that this would be bad faith, and there
was an understanding" that the city
railway cars would never be allowed 10
run over their tracks.
Now, the public generally may not
know that the seventh section of their
franchise occupies more than page
of print in providing how the city may
at any time allow any other company 10
run its cars over the Traction Company 3
tracks. IL begins thus.
Seventh. The privileges herein grant
ed are given upon the further express
condition that the said company shall
permit any other company or companies
when authorized hy the Council, 10 use,
in whole or in part. the above described
routes or lines, upon such fair and rea-
sorable terms as may be- agreed upon 10y
the said company. and each entering
company" &c. &c, and then goes OIL
10 provide that If the companies DO not
agree. the terms shall be settled by arbi-
3 tration-
o. But the Traction Company people
/ say there was an understanding that n
| spite OF this provision. the city Railway
} Company should never be allowed 10 run
! over their tracks. Who was it that hac
| this understanding with them by Wnicf
! IL is sought 10 limit and correct the terms
! and provisions OF their franchise; IL wa
} not with the Council or street Commit
! tee. for they speak hy their records, ano
J these records are silent about any cn
! derstanding on the subject, except a
! set forth an fhe franchise SO cheerfuN}
! accepted by Mr. John SHELTON Williams
! who waved his $4,000 check before in'
/ Board of Aldermen, and wanted 10 pu
il up before the franchise was ever
passed by that body.
1t surely was not the city Engineer
! for ne he cmphaically stated TO tho
! Street Committee, AT rs meeting on Mon
day evening, Feb 10th that there nevei
J had been any such understanding VIII
| anybody, but that, on the contrary, th'
question as 90 which company should us'
| which tracks had never arisen or evel
! been mentioned. until after the Traction
Companys franchise had been adopted
/ accepted. and approved by The Mayor
! and then only by the Street Committee
refusing TO reaffirm the city Railway
/ Companys old right 10 electrify it's tracks
and by the passage OF a resolution To-
eating the new company's tracks near
! est the middle OF the street. ana requlr
} ing the old company 10 shift IT'S tracks.
/ So il will De seen that this talk OF
q
! charge Of bad faith" must fall 10 th'
/ ground. The Traction Company took iu
1 franchise gladly and gratefully, with al
/ its provisions. and must stand to iu
/ contract without complaint
TO- This is business matter. We wan
/ 70 20 over n few blocks of the new com
panys tracks, and for this privilege w'
! offer good terms to the new company. an'
/ exceptional advantages and privileges u
| the public We neither ask nor Npee
any special credit or applause for this
! The Traction Company and the city have
us in "A position i'm which they can maxi
good terms with us. and We offer thes'
terms cheerfully and IN good faith. VII
the city shut its eyes 10 It's opporiuniiie.
and refuse the chance 10 DO away Will
nuisance and danger. while az The
same time it secures unusual advantage
20 IT'S citizens, and saves money % every