Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-11
THE TRACTION WINS.
Street Committee Declines to Force Otnsf
Cars on Its Line
Scither side willing TO iieid-s"e
Committee Rejects the Ordinance
Th,, Lacked to Hut Two Sets oil
RsiIs-The Vote quite Close.

The Councu Commute Va
evening again wrangled with the ques''o"
If whether or not there should De TWO
,r four railway tracks on Broad street
rhere were present Chairman Alien ana
Messrs. Bahen, Blanks, Bloompeis' bur
ion D,acont. Ferrster, Page. and NC
Dowell and City-Attorney Meredith ana
ri,v-Encineer Cutshaw. Many represer~
natives of the railroad companies were
also I'm attendance
The Chairman explained, upon calling
HE BODY . order, that the object OF the
meeting was 10 hear and pass upon the
ordinance OF the Richmond Railway and
Electric Company, which had been pre-
cared by the City Attorney in accordance
with the direction Of the Street Commit
tee at its last session. Mr.. Meredith then
beean the reading of the ordinance, the
substance of which was published In these
columns. The Attorney had inserted such
rlauses as he thought necessary TO throw
the proper safeguards around the city.
Mr. Blanks moved that the ordinance
be so amended as to require the electrifi-
ration and extension OF the Laurel-street
branch of the Richmond CITY railway to
Riverview Cemetery. This was agreed to.
BOTH SIDES HEARD AGAIN.
Mr.. Ferrter moved that the ordinance
be rejected. Each side was allowed M
teen minutes in which to argue the
questions involved before the committee.
agtain Andrew Pizzini, of the old com
pany, was the first speaker. lie SAID
that this appeal for only two tracks on
Broad street had largely emanated from
the press and the committee OF Broad
street merchants. IL was because OF TINS
pressure that the ordinance under con-
slderatiOn was being discussed. lie sald
that his company had suffered from pre-
iudices brought about by some or It's
employees and others. who had tneir own
ends TO meet. Captain Pizzini SAID that
the delay of the Richmond CITY Railway
Company in electrfying Broad street had
not been wholly due to that company. lie
had been given 10 understand that the
city was not ready 10 have electricians
on Broad street until recently. lie as
serted that the company made 81 propo-
eition 10 the Richmond Traction Company
which, II he were representing the new
CORPORATION, he would not hesitate a mo-
uent to accept. Captain PizZini spoke of
the advantages of the ordinance TO the
traction company, saying that they would
be allowed the use OF his company's
tracks and the benefits Of transfers all
over the city.
CAUSE FOR PREJUDICE.
Mr.. n. NJ. Smith. Jr., representing the
traction company, said II was remark
able that Broad street, the most beauti-
ful and important street in the city, was
not ready for electricity, when Main
street and Frapklin street were ready
seven or eight years ago. 1t was true as
Captain Pizzini had stated. that the peo-
l,le of Richmond were prejudiced against
the Richmond city Railway Company;
but when this was found to be the case
thore was mighty apt to be some cause
for such prejudice Mr.. Smith averred
that the old company had never thought
of building an electric line the length OF
Broad street until the traction company
had come along and offered 10 Dulld a
track and a road twice as good as the
old company ever would have built. MT.
Smith argued that the Committee on
Streets in approving the ordinance be-
fore il was violating its contract with the
Richmond Traction Company. ii had
lust as well have given the old company
lie Broad.street franchise in the nrst
Mace. He pointed out what he regarded
10 be manifest injustice 20 the traction
company, saying that even II the ordl-
nance should be recommended that the
10 nav per cent. taxes upon It's gross
earnings and the old company only per
cent.
Mr.. Smith was followed in HIS argu-
ment by Captain A. 3. Gulgon. Of the
Richmond Railway and Electric Company.
Captajn Guigon said what the people
were suppOsing was that the Richmond
City Railway Company would carry us
passengers up 10 Broad street from an
49,. a
them out 10 j. Richmond Traction Com
pany. This the old company was not
wiling to do Captain Guigon said as
10 the preiudices referred to he knew OF
no railway company in the United States
which had been in operation upon the
streets OF city without having MADE
some enemies. He then detailed the po-
slt!on Of the city railway and explained
that the traction company in laying the
excellent track IL was putting down was
simply doing what Il was required TO
DO, and what every street railway COM
pany operating upon the streets of Rich
mond would have to do hereafter.
Mr.. Bloomberg took the ground that
the committee had already. approved the
ordinance and recommended II TO the
Council. directing the City Attorney TO
put il into proper shape. He ala not
think the committee could act upon the
It's previous action. Mr.. Ferriter dis
agreed with the Jefferson-Ward member,
and held that the committee had re-
fcrred tho ordinance TO Mr.. Meredith 10
be properly prepared and returned FOR
the approval Of the committee. This view
WIS held by the Chair.
Mr. Ferriter finally moved a reconside-
ration to simplify matters.
WOULD NOT BE GOOD FAITH.
Mr. Allen (AIr. Mcdowell In the chain
said that he trusted the committee
would reconsider the ordinance and re
jcct Il. II It did not IL would not be
acting in good faith with the traction COM
pany. The day that that ordinance was
passed Il would be "goOd-by competition
for all time to come" The whole ques-
ton had been gone over month after
month"; and the traction company was
given the middle of the street ana the
city Railway Company had been directed
10 remove its tracks 20 either side.
Mr.. Allen was loudly applauded when he
closed his remarks.
Mr.. Blanks said he thought the ques-
ton was neither understood by the City
council nor by the public. The City
halfway Company was not asking for an
anaiuonal franchise. or he would oppose
~ what II was asking was CONSOLE
uat,oh or the tracks on Broad street The /
Piouiem involved was whether or not the |
oonlin''lee should do away with the null
ne"Ne OF Tour tracks on Broad street and |
s.e the people a better service
Mr oacont did not want the idea 10
ger OUT mat the people Of Richmond did |
not nave sense and Judgment enough 10
go ou' OF me way OF q rallroad-car, II
49, SHOULD De four tracks on Broad
-..--.. Inele would be no city railway