Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-25
STREET-CARs.

Inc DlSpatcn belleVeS IL voices the
wishes of the vast majority of the PEG.
pie of Richmond in urging the City Coun
ell TO allow the cars now running on
Bank and Franklin streets TO be trans
ferred 70 the Main-street tracks.
This can be done without committing
chise, inasmuch as the Richmond Rail
way and Electric Company would be con-
tent 10 restore the cars to the present
route should the Main-street franchise
pass out of their hands two or three
years hence
Without doubt, the patrons OF the
Franklin-street line would be well pleased
with the change. Most of them have
business which calls them to Main
| street, and while the length of the route
woull be increased about two squares.
| the better grades and easier curves of
/ Main street would be more than an
! offset for the added distance. And then
| there would be a great gain in transfer
| conveniences. At present passengers
! transferring from Ninth and Main to
Ninth and Bank streets have to walk
that distance. So, too, passengers have
to walk from Franklin and Seventh
to Main and Seventh street. Again.
1t would be for the good of the
whole city to add to Main street
that hustle and business-like appearance
which it would have were the Church
Hill cars run on it instead of being hid
den away on Franklin street.
III the City Council consents to the
new arrangement, street-cars coming |
down Twenty-first street will continue on |
to Main and turn up Main and thence |
proceed to Seventh and up Seventh To
Clay, &c. Thus, all the transfers could |
be easily made, and the convenience of
the general public would be greatly in
creased.
lnasmuch as this change can be made
without committing the city to the re-
newal Of the Main-street franchise. and
without cost to our treasury and with
out injury to any person, we cannot see
why our City Council should have any
hesitation in giving the desired permit
But with two or three lines of cars
running on Main street. the people would
expect the cars of the different lines to
be boldly distinguished by lettering. by
bright body-colors, and by snowy lamps
at night
These cars are now deficient in those
respects. The signs are not explicit
enough. They give the stranger too little
information, and they fail to satisfy the
Richmond public. Particularly is this the
case with respect to the Marshall
street cars, which ought 10 L.
painted in distinct colors and be
labelled so as to tell the entire route c
ana they ought also to be provided with a
amps at night different in color from d
hose on the Main-street line. Confusio, I
trough exists nova fact as 10 which
he company cannot be ignorant. ana We =
therefore, presume it would be Wiling 70 h
'ratify public expectation bv more clearly S
Hs'lhsui shing the cars IN the event OF e
he proposed change a
Inc city Council might well reouire
he company TO distinguish much better d
nan 1t now does the cars of each line. D.
ut there are few other conditions that h
ught to be imposed. We need not begin So
ow the light over the question. Who Is g,
have the Main and Broad-street fran. 2,
hises few years hence? That question h
Ill come up in due season, and we can of
OF doubt that the city will then be able
improve her position and get more
venue from the franchise than she does -,
)w. ~
We look at the question OF changing 90
% cars from Franklin to Main street m
ON the standpoint of the public only b
e see how IL may do us much good ana h
fan to discover how we can be harm &
. We believe the great majority OF the q
irons Of the company would rejoice
see the heavy grades and sharp curves
Franklin and Bank streets abandoned bc
favor of the comparatively smooth
'in-street route, and. as far as we
ow, there are no interests on the pre- m
1t route that could be injured by the yo
ange an