The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-27
WHEN WILL II NE nUIu.r7
= - Citizen Discusses the Prospects OF
an Electric Railway

Citizen Discusses tle Prospects or
an Electric Railway.
When will the Portsmouth street rail
way build its electric line? is q cues
tlon frequently and generally asked
anqulrlns from those supposed TO be in
formed we are advised that It will be
finished very shortly, but the indlca-
, Iiohs pointing 10 the building OF this
Inc are q long time coming, and we
were not surprised yesterday to hear
one or our prominent citizens sail into
Inc stockholders Of that road IN the fol-
lowing manner:
One Of the greatest eyesores 70 the
people or this community. one or the
greatest sources OF amusement to our
visitors, and the greatest drawback to
our CITY, Is unqueSrionably our SPECIALIZED
street railway. 1 have nothing to say
or It's management, because / am sure
those in charge do; the best they can
with the limited means at their com
mand, but when the Council of thi: civ
granted the original franchise il was
win the suPposlt!on that it would be q
dement, and not menace to Tie pros
petty OF the city. When the extension
OF that franchise over other streets was
Sked for owe. a year ago II was done M
de. specific promises that an electric
railway would be established with w.
nous other consideration to the civ
ana Yet what has been done? Absolute
> ho.li'i'S mas Dcen gwen III return blu [
promises, ana what believe the gen
tle1nen who reprc!cnt the PENNSYLVANIA
syndicate OF purchasers in this CITY Will
admit TO be nothing more than Il third
! class horse car line Of street ears,
nelthc: profitable u the owners. nor
oI!Ag'Es 10 The city the income expect
| eu When the extension of the franchi:,
was asked for, and not adequate to the
needs Of the travelling p,lrl;c. 3I
II Is we'll understood the stockhold
cEs OF This railway are no poor men
! Struggling to improve their line as fast
~ ther finances would pe:mit. do
not mlnce matters when go 50 far y :
10 state that, that aside from the littlr
1riction that occurred about tho class Of
raj that should Ne put down. the gen
tlemen interested In this syndicate have
met Win no obstacle in the way OF max
ing thc'r prora$cI improvements. They
can now pear no ha,d feeling; towa,..
citizens Of the city il they are accused
OH The ;rects of having secured WIN,
they considered a good pocket franchise,
~ which they could Keep the road run
n'ns IN lis present shape. trusting ,ha,
population would enable them 10 sell
out nj an increased profit
we nave been told the bond. could
not be Heated. or course not. an cleo
tile line OF about fifteen miles can be
equipped for say $l5O,0GO, and yn, th,
$5oo,oo9 How was the Port Norfolk
Electric railway, Which is used simply
as feeder for the development OF me
property ri thai company. built. and
why Is there no stock now on the mar
kct? 1t must be paying. and TO the Or
dinafy observer its patronage Is double
| this year as compared with the previous
year.
'srake "trip over to Berkley and TO-
| day you will see hundreds Of wGrkmen
! engaged In laying one OF the most SUB
S.antial electric road beds in the ST ale
ihey do not squab3'e about the class
OF rail Flat rail is placed on the main
thofoughfares and IT rails on the roads
How is 1t that Berkeley. with one-,hiril
me population or Portsmouth, can build
It's electric line. and ,hc Itch syndicate
that now controls the Portsmouth street
railway cannot?
1--WE are always glasl to encourage
capital, and the past shows that our
people nave never taken advantage of
! Their contracts. Thousands and thou
sands OF dollars have been invested in
suburban y: operty on the promises ma de
that we would have first ciass street
railway facilities. The immense i'm
provements now being made at Primers
Polnt and IN the city and suburbs de-
| mand better street railway service I
understand next Week there will be a
meeting of the di!ectors OF this railway
looking to the construction Of a first
class electric railway. IF they do not.
then the City Council should demand
| at once fulfllmcnt Of the promises
| made by these gentlemen, ana falling
to DO SO annul the Franchise and place
It on the market to the highest bidder.
We need all the revenue we can get 10
keep our streets In order. They have
been seriously taxed by the inferior road
bed laid down by the street car line,
This matter should be taken up by
not only the City Council, but The
Board Of Trade, as but few OF us who
nave had friends visit this city have
| not heard the expressions OF amaZement
the explanations Of amusement aud the
faint tinges OF sarcasm with which they
referred to the so-called Street car line
OF Portsmouth"
While the above was expressed with
some feeling because the gentleman
had shown friend from a distant CITY
around our city by the sea, yet we BE-
iieve 1t VIII find u responsive echo in
the mind Of every man. woman and child
IN Portsmouth, who cannot understand
why that electric line cannot be built:
No doubt. the City Council will take ac-
ton at its next meeting. 81