Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-02
AS TO FOUR TRACKS.
BrOad-Street Business Men 10 Discuss
the Matter To- Morrow.
OF THE COMPANIES.
The Traction Protests Against
Taking Other Cars on It's Line
The Old Company Explains Why IL
Delayed EIectrifyfng the Road.

public interest. will be discussed in a
practical way at a mass-meeting to be
held in the Hustings-Court room to-mor-
row afternoon at o'clock
This meeting has been called by the
committee from the Broad-street Mer-
chants Association, and they invite all
persons opposed to having four tracks
laid on that thoroughfare to meet with
them and unite in TIE protest which it
Is proposed to send to the Council.
Below will be found two interesting
communications bearing on this very inn
portant subject. One presents the reasons
why the managers OF the traction COM
pany do not think they should be forced
to take the Richmond Railway and Elec-
trio Ccmpany's cars on their tracks; and
the other reviews the circumstances at
tending the Richmond Railway and Elec-
trio Companys delay in availing itself OF
the privilege. granted several years ago
TO convert its Broad-street line into an
electric road and defines its attitude in
the present controversy.
Statement from the Traction.
The statement Of the traction company
which was first handed i'm. was prepared
by the company's counsel, MIR. Philip B.
SHIELD. and reads:
/. The traction company desires TO be
sustained in the position In which tho
Council and the citizens of Richmond
have placed Il, which is, that 1t shall
be permitted to build and operate its lines
free from all interferonces by, or entan-
clements with, the Richmond Railway
and Electric Company, or any Of its
branches. The only relations that the
traction company wishes TO have with
the Richmond Railway and Electric Com
pany system is that of an interchangeable
transfer system, upon a basis of equitable
division of profits arising from that
source. What is an equitable basis can
be decided by a board OF arbitration.
q But In order 10 have harmony. the
traction company is willing and ready to
establish system OF interchangeable
transfers with the City Railway Company
10 be made at Eighth and Ninth and
Broad and Laurel streets. leaving the
matter OF the proper division between
the companies Of the profits arising from
such transfer business 10 arbitration; pro-
vided, the City Railway Company discon-
tinues its horse-car line on Broad street
DtAnN tH Aut polllS lutnlloutu. IL Is SIM
ply TO transfer at the three points eighth
and Ninth and Broad and Laurel and
Broad. where this conflict arises about
four tracks on Broad street. BY trans
ferring at points above indicated the
for continuing the horse-cars
on Broad street would be entirely done
AWAY with, and without any special dam
ige to the City Railway Company; but at
he same time would secure to the traction
company the rights which have been given
% 1t by the Council in granting to 1t a
and reaffirmed to 1t by the
passage OF the ordinance of December
9, 1885, requiring the City Railway Com
)any TO shift its tracks to either side
If the street, and giving the traction COM
)any the centre line, and the virtual re-
'usal OF the Council TO allow the City
Railway Company to e,ectrfy Broad
street
WOULD BE A GREAT WRONG.
3. The traction company will not. In
NV case. consent that either the City
Railway Company or the Richmond Rail-
way and Electric Company shall run
heir cars over its tracks. To allow the
unning of the horse-cars thereon would
'e to obstruct continually the progress
# the electricians. to break up the D.
minute schedule required by its fran
hise. and thereby interfere with the
peedy transportation Of passengers. 1t
you'd absolutely ruin the service between
ninth and Laurel streets There could
re no decent or proper operation OF the
Dad along this part OF the line, and 1
% not believe that any passenger would,
or a moment. tolerate the Inconvenience
Which would ensue IL such thing should
e allowed.
To allow these companies, OF either OF
hem. to run electricians over the trac-
lon lines would impose an irreparable
ljury on the traction company; no COM
ensation Sor trackage could begin TO
ven approximately pay the loss which
he traction company would suffer there
Y. In addition, 1t would be practically
flowing the old company to do what the
ouncil has refused TO allow them to do
wit. electrify Broad street. The Rich
lond Railway and Electric Company (or
'hich the city railway is a parD owns
very large system OF railways. It's lines
aaching Manchester, Forest Hill. Bar
IN Heights. Chestnut Hill, Seven Pines.
nd Fulton, none OF which points are
sached by the traction companys lines;
r are at present proposed to be reached
1t; besides the Richmond Railway and
lectric Company have the Clay ana
larshall-street lines, which run In direct
)mDetition with the traction company.
the railway and electric company is
lowed to complete its entire line by
Broad street serious, and.
believe. almost irremediable, damage.
ould ensue to the traction company,
hich may be seen by a brief sur
" or the situation: That
lie portion of Broad street which
e City railway now seek to electrlfy. Is
hat We deem to be the most valuable
trt OF the line. Much OF the trac-
pms Broad-street line must, for some
me, and for a greater portion of the
ar for, long time, be unremunera-
We. For Instance, what can IL expect
derive from that portion OF the Broad
rect line west OF Lombardy, except In
e warm weather? There will be scarce
any traffic in this direction at all:
ID this matter should be considered.
gain. the Church Hill end is valuable.
incipaliy because the traction company
ii be able TO take its passengers
pm Church Hill and land them on any
1T or Broad street on the west hill
IN dispatch, and return them TO
cir homes in the same way, without
lay or circuitous route. 1t is not Just
this connection that the traction COM
NY should be deprived OF one half or
ore OF the benefit OF that portion OF
Dad street, which is most valuable to
nor Is II Just that another COM
n.y. which could have had the Broad
rect line, and refused because II could
{ squeeze the city and get conditions
lich the city could not consent TO give.
ould now be placed In possession OF
e best portion OF il. TO the injury OF
e company which has I'm good faith
ken up this line and expended large
lounts of money in the construction OF
railway. That the old company
aid have electrified Broad street, II they
a pleased TO do So on reasonable
ms. is shown by an ordinance passed
ne p. 1888. which remains as an en-
ring testimony OF this fact. although