The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-21
Is Again Tied up by the Council
Committee on Streets.
THE BOYD-NEWTON FRANCHISE
Is Considered aud Important Changes
Inserted-To Reserve Right to Re
quirc Joint Use of Tracks on
Broad Strcct-Ercc Trans
pOrtation on Street Cars
as "a Right.

The conduit matter and The street fdll-
road franchise question were before the
Council Streets Committee last evening.
Mr.. Ebel said that when the Virginia
| Electrical Railway and Development Com
pany secured its franchise the under
standing was that poles would De used.
and il was not contemplated that gcner-
al conduit franchise would be given.
The question Of the right of the Council
TO delegate to the Committee the assign
mcnt Of locations for conduits was raised.
Mr. c. V Meredith. o. counsel for the
Development Company. said it was the
first time nc had ever heard the question
brought mp as 10 performance Of minis
teral acts by committee.
GOES OVER AGAIN.
city Attorney Pollard concurred in Mr.
Meredith's opinion but Mr. Bloombers'
of the Committee desired written opin-
ion ON the subject. and adjournment was
had until $3.50 o'clock Monday evening.
The members present We're. Mcssrs.
Allen. Pollock Whttet. Gibson. Ebel,
Bioomberc. Lawder. Woody, Peters, Bur
! ton. Bahen and King.
Before the conduit question was taken
up the opinions OF the city Attorney and
CITY Engineer asked for at the previous
nights session. were read:
! Air Pollock states that the Develop
mcnt Company. as successor of the Nir-
GINA Electric Company. of Baltimore is
fully authorized. under the ordnance ape
proved. December g. 1891, 10 construct
conduits and run wires along the streets
OF The city lie IS further of opinion that
/ 90 is optional with the Virginia Electrical
Railway and Development Company. pre-
vious C. the expiration OF a period OF hNe
years from December %, lS5i, "helhef
it will place it's wires on po.es
erected on the streets. or whether b. viii
place its wires in conduits under the
streets. subject 10 important limitations.
COL. CUTSHAW's REPORT
Colonel Cutshaw the city Engineer re-
ported that maps had been submitted to-
gethor with the plans of the Company
in regard TO materials and the manner
Of construction.
Ee states that he has been informed
that the number OF ducts VIII be from
seventy-fve to one hundred per cent in
excess of the capacity required for I'M
mediate use by this Company, so that
annie provision is made for others 20
arrange with this Company TO use their
cOnduits.
II other conduits should be built here
after there IS space enough 10 bulId
alongside this present layout
Tho conduit ordinance provides Tor
form OF fifteen years. The special ordi-
nance OF this Company makes me "Aoie
pri,.lere thirty years No provision IS
mode bv which the city can purchase
these ecuduits should IL be iouno ne.e~-
s,r,, 70 have municipal ownership of them
hereafter. .....,,,,,,,-
TRACTION CO.'S PETITION.
r-to committee then proceeded Win thc
consideration of the BOyd-NewiOh syhuI-
cate franchise ordinance.
Mr. a. Y. Meredith. counsel for the
Tranction Company asked leave TO SUD
mit "A petition which was received.
motion TO have the petition ieau was
made. g..
penv should offer an ultimatum and not
come al every meeting with new pfopo-
Nfr r,bel said while $1,000 looked Ike
o. no oner he believed that in the long
run the oner of the Boyd-Newton syndi-
cate would be found most valuable 10 the
Nir. Meredith said he put the matter on
"a business basis and said the Traction
Compapv was naturally deslrous Of MAX
ina. The best terms possible. The amount
thev would hoe willing go give would de-
nand somewhat on the terms OF the franz
cblse This petition made AN offer asking
thst the franchise be offered and tne
Traction Company would guarantee ihat
line CITY would have not less than $4,000
Al the same terms are given as are rm.
bodied in the Traction Company ordi-
nance. This was "a request he said, 90
open the market To- bidders
THE REQUEST.
\ motion 90 hear the reading OF the PEE
ution was adopted. Ihe petition makes
this request:
"First That your committee will recon-
mend TO the Council that II shall only
consider the granting OF q franchise as
10 those lines which will terminate In
1909 viz-the Main-street line, Laurel
street extension and the lines on Eighth
and Ninth streets.
second. That your committee viii re-
commend that IL Is 10 the interest OF the
city not to attach 10 the granting Of "a
franchise for those lines the grant or
renewal OF franchises as TO any other
line or lines connecting with them. such
as the Union Passenger Line, the Klch-
mond and Manchester Company the
Manchester Improvement Company. the
seven Pines Company, or the FairmOunt
Company and others.
Third That your committee will
recommend that IL would be against the
interest Of the city 10 grant at present
TO any particular company or association
of persons. the franchise TO the said lines
so pxpiring I'm 1g1
Fourth That it viii be TO the interest
OF the city to adopt an ordinance offering
those lines 10 the highest bidder, which
shall be satisfactory TO the city.
THE OFFER.
Fifth. That your committee WIN state
that il is prompted to make tho above
recommendation because you have an
offer from the Tractiol Company that
they make bid for those franchises Of
not less than $4,000, II granted upon
terms burdens and conditions substan-
lialy similar 10 those now borne hy said
company.
Appended to the above and embodied in