Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-11
THE TRACK REMOVAL,
Streets Committee Recommends
an Ordinance to the Council
RESTRICTIONS VERY BINDING.
Conditions Under Which the Changes
Nay Be Made Explicitly Defined.
ADOPTED by BUT ONE 51AJORITY.
The Committee Nearly Evenly d.
vided, and Vigorous Opposition is
Ahead-views of City Engineer and
Attorney-Text of the Ordinance.

Eleven members of the Committee on
Streets met last night, and decided, by
the narrowest possible majority, TO re-
commend the adoption by the Council of
the ordinance to allow a change of part
of the route df the Richmond Union Fas-
senger Railway Company
The ordinance was amended in very
many particulars. and in its present form
it undoubtedly contains what the City
Engineer termed tart restrictions.
Those who voted for the ordinance were
Messrs. Bahen, Ebe King. Lawder, Pol
lock, and Whittet. Those who voted
against it were Messrs. Allen, Burton,
Gibson, Peters, and Woody.
The committee met at o'clock. and de-
cided at the outset that they had heard
enough argument from both sides. They
proceeded TO the reading OF the ordinance,
and amended the sections as they were
introduced. There was no discussion at
ALL and when the work was ended the
City Engineer and the city Attorney were
asked for their opinion.
THEIR OPINIONS GIVEN.
The former alluded, as above stated, TO
and said. after all. the issue was merely
whether or not the change would be for
the convenience of the city. The condi-
tions that he thought very hard were
those which would control the selling of
tickets TO students, imposing the heavy
bond, and altering the tax on the gross
receipts.
The City Attorney dwelt upon the legal
aspect of the ordinance. 1t was drawn
with reference to protecting the interests
Of the city, and he disposed of the argu-
ment that has heretofore been heard, that
it might be a source of endless litigation
TO the city.
Messrs. ~ w. Bowe and II. Selden Tay-
lor real-estate dealers. both sent strong
recommendations that the tracks should
be removed, on the grounds Of conve-
nience to the public, and the effect such
removal would have on property values.
protest from the proprietors Of the
Academy of Music was also submitted
ana read.
TEXT OF THE ORDINANCE.
The ordinance, which, even in its
amended form, has a hard road vet TO
travel, is as follows:
Be it ordained by the Council Of the
city of Richmond
l. That permission is hereby granted
TO the Richmond Union Passenger Rail-
way Company TO discontinue, under GER
tain conditions and provisions, the run
ming of their cars from Seventh and
Franklin streets, along said Franklin
street TO Ninth down Ninth street 10
Bank street. along Bank street to Twelfth
street up Twelfth street TO Franklin
street, and down Franklin street 10
Twenty-first street, and to remove their
double tracks from and along SAID route
2. To extend the double tracks OF said
company from its tracks at the corner
of Twenty-frst and Franklin streets,
down Twenty-first street 10 Main street,
and there to connect with the tracks Of
the Richmond City Railway Company;
and TO run its cars along said Twenty
first street 10 Main street, and along
Main street from Twenty-first street To
Seventh street, upon the tracks OF the
said Richmond City Railway Company
and along Seventh street to its tracks on
Seventh street. at Seventh and Franklin
streets, upon the tracks of the Richmond
and Manchester Railway Company; and
to extend its track on seventeenth street,
along Seventeenth street from Franklin
street to Main street, and there TO con-
meet with the tracks of the Richmond
City Railway Company.
SOME SPECIAL CONDITIONS.
8. The said privileges and permissions
are given subject not only TO the cOndi-
tions and restriction in the ordinances
Of the city authorizing the construction
and operation Of a street railway by the
Company, but also to the following ad
ditional conditions:
First. That within ninety days from
the passage of this ordinance the said
company will remove its present tracks
as TO which IL has above been authorized
to discontinue the running of its cars,
and restore the streets and paving along
said route in manner satisfactory 10
the City Engineer Upon the failure of
the company to take up said tracks
within said specified time, or to restore
any part of any of said streets, or the
paving thereof in a manner satisfactory
to the City Engineer within ten days af-
ter receipts of notice from said City En-
gineer that the said streets or pating
has not been properly restored the said
company shall be liable TO fine of not
less than s. nor more than 500. each
days failure TO be separate offence;
and in addition the Committee on Streets
may have such work of restoring the
street TO a proper condition done and
charge the costs thereof to said com
pany, which cost may be collected in the
mode prescribed for collecting taxes.
Second. The above permissiOns are
granted upon the express condition that
they shall I'm no manner affect the rights
or franchises granted on Main street TO
the Richmond City Railway Company.
If OTHERS GET THE FRANCHISE.
Third That said permissionS are granted
upon the express condition that, in event
that the present owners OF the said
TO obtain a renewal of them from the
City Council, or in event that satisfac-
tory arrangements shall not be made
with the consent of the city Council
with the party or parties who shall get
said franchises or rights on Main street.
then the said Richmond Union Passenger
Railway Company shall take up the
tracks and connections which IL may
bnild under this ordinance on said Twen-
tv-frst street and restore said street TO
n condition satisfactory to the city En-
pineer and shall rebuild the lines or
tracks allowed TO be removed under this
ordinance. and shall operate the same in
accordance with the terms of the several
ordinances of the city OF Richmond au-
thorizing the construction and operation
of a street railway by the Richmond
Union Passenger Railway Company.
Fourth In the event that the present
owners of the rights or franchises on
Main street shall fail TO obtain a re-
newal of them. thsn the said Richmond
Union Passenger Railway Company shall
have ninety days from the date OF the
massage OF an ordinance by the CITY
Council. giving such Main-street fran
cblses To parties other than the present
ovners. In which 10 make satisfactory
arrangements with said parties: and II