The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-02
BROAD STREET TRACKS.
STATEMENT OF RICHMOND RAILWAY
AND ELECTRIC COMPANY.
why tho Company Has Not Electri0so
tho Road Long Ago-Joint Use -
Tracks.
(Communicated.)
To the Editor OF The Times:

not understand the railroad situation on
Broad street, and, with your permiss
sion | will briefly set out few FACTS
In the nrst place, the Richmond Rail-
way and Electric Company has been very
much blamed for what Is considered lie
disregard of the public wishes IN not
having long ago electrified the broeos
street line This you'd have been done
long ago. but for the following facts:
About the time that We were ready 70
exercise rhs privilege Of electrifying
Broad street. during the early stages O
the erection OF the City Hall. Colonel
Cutshaw gave us to understand that "
would be desirable for the city Railway
Company. controlling Broad street. 10
defer any change until after the. com.
pletion OF the City Hall, so that the oiv
track OF the r.. +. and p. which was
suitable for the carrying OF loaded cars.
by the City Railway Company. might Be
utilized In the hauling Of cars from the
western end of Broad street to the Guy
Hall
tract w..ch the city had with the CITY
Railway Company TO allow the use o. the
track until after the completion Oh tns
City Hail. 49,.
up TO this last date the electrifying OF
Broad street was an impossibility.
When the building was completed xe
again were about TO eiectriiy the .osn,
| Ginter, who desired the use or Dor.
| ton of the track for the hauling OF cars
| to the new Jefferson Hotel. and this was
| also permitted by authorities, as svt-
| denced by an ordinance OF the City
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 necoe-
sary for that purpose, we again approach
| ed the city authorities and asked anew
| for the privilege OF using electricity IN
| the propulsion OF our cars; but. In con-
| sideration az 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 period OF twenty-five
| years.
| This seemed eminently fair, and I thinn
| ! may make the assertion that the otteet
| 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 tnal and definite action was
| taken. however the committee was asked
| for delay in order that Mr.. Julian Bryahe
| might bring before the committee q
plan which he represented tor he"
This delay was granted and lasted sew
| cral months. Mr.. Bryants plan did nos
| materialize. but In the mean time MY.
|
to the attention OF the committee their
| plan for constructing an electric road on
| Brcsd street with underground conuut
| trolley. which idea Immediately became
| popular and the franchise asked for was
| granted.
owing to some disagreement on tho
| part of his associates, this plan was not
| carried OUT. but In the mean time tne
| Traction Company, represented by MI
| SHIELD appeared upon the scene ana ell
fected a coalition OF the friends OF tho
last-named two companies.
| The Traction Company receiver a l.an
| chise for thirty years, our appncauoh
| being rejected.
| II will thus he seen that at no time
within the past five years has II been
feasible for the City Railway COMPANY
| or its successor, the Richmond Halfway
| and Electric Company. to eiectrify us
| Rrcad-street service. and when IL IN re-
membered that there was no s s,eSsr,c,eS
| longer than eight years ago, mink ~
will be seen that we have not pesn IN
| default. so far as Broad street Is con-
| cerned.
As TO the present situation: Whether Or
| not the CITY Attorney is right In Ms
| view that we have lost the rignt ~
| electrify Broad street by this lapse Oh
| time the fact remains that we have
FRANCHISE for five years longer for the
| use OF Broad street with our tracks ana
service, and we shall certainly studioussy
endeavor. by rendering satisfactory ana
|
OF our franchise at It's expiration
There is no power In the city govern
| ment to force our tracks OF Broad street.
| or TO require US TO allow the JOINT use
Of these Broad-street tracks for i've
| wears to come, and yet, with view 10
| harmonzing the conditions existing PC
| tween the two companies, ana win nv
purpose OF doing all In our power 70 svV oasA
| The necessity of the dangerous ana rum
| ous nuisance of four tracks upon tho
city's most beautiful thoroughfare. W
| offered hrst to the Traction company
| IN build the two tracks necessary ois
| BROAD street along our entire right os
| way. allowing them the Joiht use u
| these tracks upon "A reasonapie compeh>
| sation 10 be determined by arbitration.
| This was declined Dotn ny INC iiaeHo's
| Company and the Council.
| In The very nature OF things, occupying
| tracks remote from eacn other' as We
now do II is Impossible ior US 10 on n',r
| Inc Traction Company the use OF our
| tracks. but. as the only feasible plan ~
| which we could meet the demand OF tns
| merchants and property owners on p, ,,a.
| street we have offered 10 tne lfaeuos
| Company for the use or their tracks lot
| the PROPULSION OF our cars by eiectricity
| from Ninth street west. that We VIII
remunerate them not only In money out
| I'm either OF two ways. ., no
First. We would allow their cars 20 pe
transferred 10 any or all OF our RACKS
| i'm every direction, the respective paynens
| 70 the two companies for the respective
! privileges TO De deCiucu ny ai'iei $500
| accordance with the provisions OF tno
| Traction Company's franchise. or
Second. We would grant the oriviIege
| NJ transfer TO the Traction Company
nasseneers TO any or all OF our lines. IN
anv direction. remuneration therefor ana
| dIyisIon OF the transfer fares to be ieIt 10
arbitration. based. OF course upon reiA-
| tive mileage. IT,. =, ,h. rroad-
| street Association TO give a oenhi.e
| answer 10 these proposition, they oIsiII
daciined them and offered instead, thht
A. we would practically give up our risnts
and franchises on Broad street. .nsv
would kindly accept, ~ Oh o., o. m
comnass. prnvided that se WOULD uenv&
,ba,p al tarsA points eD ttcir line, ana
| ,hev woult faN< them over tneir rosn.
raceiving. of cops se. their pro rata OF
| fares. .n IN. tain,
In other wfrsss. We propose ,ne ,oint
use If these tracks. which VIII insuT~
~ beneaciei results OF healthy COM
neti,ion' and W. Y:opose TO pay Tor IL ~
| ,,snsferrins ttcir passengers or cars over
| Cur lines offending In every direcum
for many miles. as they may prefer
They propose so occupy the posiuon o.
the one great trunk me- hha put us ~
pitiful appeal II being made TO pro-
,.nt what they call the vested rights
| ~ the capitaiists who have put tneir
norev In this new road. and who snoulo
he protected, regardless OF the best i"-
| terests OF the city and citizens.
| a matter OF fact, these capitausu
,,s'as,ad their money upon the faith OF
franchise. ia which. al section !, mere
g. .arv distinct and detailed PROVISIONS
saservine 10 the Council the rignt 10 re-
ouire the Traction Company 70 anow sny
company or companies 70 .,,nr ncc,,nisS