The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-28
Street Car Transfer system.

Editor of The Times.
Sir;-I notice in The Times OF
this morning an article In the subject or
street car service in this city, which con-
tains number OF doubtless well de-
served compliments to the Traction COM
pany.
There is one statement in IT, however.
which would leave false impression and
which should be corrected.
The article says the company has not
only done all this. but with great lber-
atty and Notwithstanding its superior
construction and cars, II has come for
ward and offered 10 permit system OF
transfers all over the city on equal terms
with the Richmond Railway and Electric
Company"
The facts are as follows:
When the Traction Company first OBJ
tanned its franchise. the Richmond Rail-
way and Electric Company went before
the Street Committee and asked to lie al
lowed to electrfy its Broad street line.
agreeing. II allowed TO runs its cars over
the tracks Of the Traction Company on
Broad street from Ninth II Laurel sheet.
that IT would exchange transfers on a
basis OF mileage and would allow the
cars Of the Traction Company 10 go over
its lines on such terms as might be
dEIttQ upon 10y AIDlliuAioits
This was refused by the Traction Com
pany and by the Street Committee. and
there the matter Of transfers rested.
Latterly We became convinced that the
best interests Of the people and of the
two companies demanded that some trans
transfer arrangement should be made.
and on the 5th OF this month / addressed
a letter to the president OF the Traction
Company, suggesting transfers. and ask
ing that the general manager Of the
Traction Company be authorized by his
company to meet the manager OF our
company and negotiate proper and eGui
table system OF transfers.
In pursuance of this invitation and
suggestion, a meeting of the two general
managers was held and the proposition
Of the Richmond Railway and Electric
Company 10 give and take transfers, ac-
counting for the same on the basis CT
mileage was rejected the Traction Com
pany making a counter proposition that
transfers be given and received on an
equal division Of fares between the two
companies. This the Richmond Railway
and Electric Company likewise declined.
Some further discussion ensued. dur
ing which the fact was developed that
the general manager of the Traction
Company had misunderstood the offer
OF my company. and when 1t was ex-
planned to him that the offer to trainers
on the basis OF mileage meant mileage
Of the particular company from which
or to which the transfer was issued and
not our entire system the general man.
ager OF the Traction Company took the
matter under consideration.
1t is still pending. awaiting the arrival
of some information from the leading
street railway journal Of this country
as to the method OF transfers which are
usually adopted by competing compa-
MES. which information was asked for
by what was practically joint letter
We very much hope that the pending
negotiation may result I'm a complete sys-
tenn of transfers between the two compa-
MES, which will enable the citizens of
Richmond 10 have the benefit OF trans
fers on both lines by the payment of enc
fare.
IL will be observed that, however
great the credit may be to which the
Traction Company is entitled in other re-
spects. at least the Richmond Railway
and Electric Company should receive the
credit Of having been foremost but in
fact the only company trying 10 bring
about a transfer system.
Respectfully.
a. PIZZINI. JR.
Richmond. Va. April p, 1897.