Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-02

we're contemplated. AS TO the citizens.
,nis VIII plainly appear, from the petition
presented TO the Common Council, con-
aiming nearly 1900 names. and which
mentioned. among other things, the fol-
lowing: The city company (RIchmond
City Railway Company il part OF .
system which now owns and controls the
entire system OF street railways In this
city, and II the Council grants II
, further franchise for Broad street. the
said company will then possess an abso.
Lutte monopoly OF the street railways Of
the city for years to come" and that
experience has demonstrated that Il Is
to healthy and legitimate competition
alone that efficient and proper service
can be procured" The Broad-street mer-
chants largely signed this petition: there
were some 267 names. These petitions
asked for healthy and legitimate compe-
ution. IL the City Railway Company
Is allowed to electrify Broad street how
can that contemplation Of the xrhnting
Oh tne franchise to Broad street ever be
realized? In order 10 prevent the horse
car line from In any way getting on our
tracks, the provision was put In the
franchise declaring that no company not
using the same motive-power should be
allowed 10 use more than three squares
OF the traction company's routes and IL
was not supposed for one momcn. that
the power to use electricity on Broad
street would ever be given the City Rail-
way company, so gross an injustice would
- De against the traction company. The
Denet or the traction company I'm this
regard was very promptly confirmed. On
inc 18th day OF August, 1896. two DAYS
AFTER the traction company's ordinances
had oeen signed by the Mayor and be-
. ,Sse 'ns traction company had put up
Tue pond required by the city as a g,,ar-
snsee OF good faith, petition was nled
before the Street Committee bv the
CITY Railway Company. PRAYING thar the
ordinance OF June p, 1855. allowing the
use or electricity by II on Broad street
as motive-power, be recommended to
the City Council for re-enactment. This
appDcaton, on vote, was promptly re-
Jected. At the same meeting Il was
ordered by the Street Committee
tnat the tracks Of the traction
company be placed In the centre OF the
street, and that those OF the Richmond
railway company be placed on either side
rms action was taken before the traction
company had put up its bond or spent
any considerable sum OF money In carry
Dls out the enterprise. II the action
OF the street Committee at that time had
peen otherwise than IL was the traction
company people would have forfeited their
franchise, and not spent one dollar more
In building the road. This | knew at the
time, and so stated.
DID NOT OBEY THE ORDER.
But the City Railway Company did not
obey this order OF the Street Committee:
In fact, declined or neglected to do so
on the ground that the City Council was
the only power that could authorize the
removal OF the tracks. and that the
City railway could not so do OF its own
volition. not even on the order OF the
Street Committee. On November 10, 1896
the action OF the committee OF Angus,
18th was reaillrmed, and the matter sent
TO the Council. This matter was promptly
taken up by the Council, and the ordi-
nance requiring the City railway TO move
its tracks in sixty days was passed. and
signed by the Mayor on the 18th Of De-
cember. This was done as an earnest
OF the good faith OF the city towards a
company which had come In here. In
the face OF the immense opposition OF ths
Richmond Railway and Electric Com
pany, TO give good service and require
good service for the people at the hands
OF that company. To what extent this
ordinance of December 18th has been
carried out every man who walks Broad
street well knows Before the ordinance
of December 18th was presented to the
Council large number OF Broad-strees
merchants lover $50 In number) signed a
petition requesting the Council TO pass
such an ordinance. and stating, among
other things In that petition. that we
wish, as far az possible, TO remedy any
thing that has been done looking to COM
pelling the Richmond Traction Company
to allow the City railway to use its
tracks" and thad the Council, or Board
OF Aldermen, OF the city or Richmono
take immediate and Affirmative action
upon and fully carry out the report OF
the Committee on Streets, granting the
Richmond Traction Company the cehtrs
OF Broad street for its tracks, ana re-
curing the City Railway Company 10 re-
move it's tracks TO the SIDE
COMPARATIVE DIFFERENCES
The comparative difference In condi..
tions and requirements OF the two iran
ohlses IA very marked. will Simply
compare few points
(a) The traction company was requ,rs'
10 mt No a deposit of $4,000 or kieh-
n,ond civ bonds as an evidence OF good
faith. before Il was allowed to go 10
work at all. Neither the city railway
nor the Railway and Electric Company
has ever been required 10 put up any
indemnity, whatever OF good faith'
0, THE traction company Is required
10 nut down 95-pound girder rails ON us
entire lines within the city limits ana
to put in twelve inches OF eoncres
wherever the streets are paved or ma
cadamized The old company has here
tofore been allowed 20 put down s2-pound
aat rail without concrete. They now.
tt Is true. i'm some instances Tut down
tho same girder rail with concrete but
most Of their line, in fact nearly all OF.
il. Is the old cheap construction. and
will so remain. judging the future py tne
mast. for years; while all Of the traction
line will be Of the most expensive ana
anproyed construction, and the rails
alone. per mile, approxmating In cost
the whole track construction OF any mile
of the old line.
(c) The traction company Is re-
uulred. until the year 1900. 10
BAY per cent. 10 the city on
Its entire gross receipts. while the
other companies are only required TO pay
, per cent on their gross receipts for the
same period.
(d) The traction company Is re-
luired to sell six tickets for -
cents: TO carry school children be-
tween the hours OF s A. N. and
y. NJ. from Monday 10 Friday. in
elusive. at half rates. and 10 carry all
passengers between the hours OF and
A. NJ. from Monday 10 Saturday, In
elusive, at half rates. NO otner company
has such requirements In Its franchise.
(e) The traction company Is required.
n any event, to make a fye-minutes
schedule on Broad street. between Thirty
'ourth and Lombardy streets. and further
he Committee on Streets have the
power TO require quicker service, II they
ieem Il proper. The City railway Is not
-eauired 10 make any particular
schedule time, nor does II make q i've
minutes schedule. nor do any OF tho
Richmond Railway and Electric Com
-. tt,oa In ou fhsea and Ia many