Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-03
OUT FOR FRANCHISES.
POSITION OF THREE BIDDERS FOR
STREET RAILWAY PROPERTY.
The GROUNDS OF OPPOSITION.
A Long and strong Fight Before the
street Committee to Begin Next
Frfday-Wbat Each side Cihihs-
City Attorneys Opinion.


Members OF the Council Committee on
| Streets have reached an agreement
whereby a special meeting Will be helu
next Friday the Sth instant, for the
consideration OF street-railway matters
II has been further determined that no
petition or any feature Of the fight Tor
the franchises shall be referred to any
subcommittee, but that the matter snail
be dealt with. from first to last, by
the general committee.
The petition of the Boyd-Newton syn
dicate has already been referred by the
Council and Will be the first paper taken
up The petition Of the Virginia ran
| way Conduit Company, which proposes
| IN introduce the Jenkins underground sys-
| ter, has been drawn, and VIII be SUD
| r,itted TO the committee whenever inc
promoters think the time most oppor-
tune. and the Richmond Traction Com
panv has declared that 1t Will also come
IN "at the proper time
! It is an open race; II promises TO De
a long and interesting one.
The members Of the Committee on
| Streets say they villas IS their bounden
/ duty-consider only the best interests OF
| the city and her citizens. Sentiment
will not be allowed to interfere with their
/ decisions. and they VIII aim 10 choose
/ the best accommodations and the most
modern and satisfactory eQuipment,r
! THE BOYD-NEWTON SYNDICATE.
The Boyd-Newton syndicate, which mas
! come to terms with the Richmond RAN
way and Electric Company. and VIII
maintain all the lines owned by thaI
COMPANY. putting them into first-class or
/ der. asks for a franchise 10 op.rate the
( whole system for a period of forty years.
/ The company represents almost unlimlted
resources. end pledges itself 10 MAINTAIN
| any schedule that the city government
| nav require, ana 10 give an equipment
which shall be second to none In tue
| country.
others interested I'm it express the belief
| that a majority Of the members OF the
| Council are in favor Of granting this pc
/ tition The argument has been used
! AGAINST this syndicate that while II has
| contracted for a controlling interest Al
/ the company. Il may not acquire an lhs
/ stock. and thus Mr. Fisher and HI assoc
ciates may continue In touch win t"s
/ management. But a member n the syn
dscate assures the Dispatch that every
! share of stock is embraced IN me con-
| tract Of purchase. and when tins con-
! tract is nut into effect Mr.. Fisher VIII
! have absolutelv no interest I'm the conf
many The transfer is 10 be complete ana
| absolute. .,,.,-,,
THE CONDUIT COMPANY.
The Conduit Company. sometimes called
| the Jenkins syndicate. will only apply
for the Main-street franchise wheh II
/ lapses. Their petition will set iorth
! exactly what il is proposed TO 40 III lhe
matter of laying tracks and building con-
Quits. II will also contain a clause pro
viding for an exchange Of transfers win
any company. on terms to be laid down
by the City Council.
nv the terms OF the Traction Com
pany's franchise that company would be
| compelled TO agree TO such an exchange
and If the Union Passenger Railway
Company should refuse TO meet the oHer
Of the Conduit Company IN this regard
that difficulty could stiff be obviated, 1t
| is claimed. because a clause IN the iran
chise of that company provides that any
company designated by the City Council
| shall have the right to run It's cars over
the lines of the Union Passenger COM
panv and the promoters Of the Conduit
COMPANY would ask that this right be
accorded them
Among the advantages which the Con-
duit Company claims for its system IS
! immunity from all fear of elecuoiysls or
| danger from the breaking Of overhead
wires. Their track too, will be con-
| GREETED between the lines. and on account
of this they will. in their campaign, ap-
| peal [, the wheelmen Of the city for sup
port.
Mr.. Jenkins. the patentee Of this sys-
TEN. is a Richmond mechanic, and every
| labor organization i'm the city has en-
dorsed him personally and pledged its
support in this campaign. Mr.. Jenkins
| has been making the most Of his time
| since the capitalists who We're behind
/ him I'm his former fight for the Broad
street franchise deserted him. and has
kept the matter before the different mem
bers of the city Council. Then he was
1 supported by northern capital; now Re Is
| backed by local enterprise. and the lead
ers In the movement claim that this syn
/ dictate is quite as wealthy as the boyd-
/ Newton syndicate, and Is daily receiving
applications from persons DESTROYS Of
| coming into the arrangement.
GROUND OF OPPOSITION.
One of the principal arguments being
used against the granting Of the Conduit
! Company's petition are that the system
| is so far untried; that IT would take a
very long time to inaugurate the system
even were the tests satisfactory, and,
/ further. that the company would only
operate the Main-street line. and the
situation as regards the other lines Of
the Richmond Railway and Electric Conn
pany would be left practically unchanged.
whereas the Boyd-Newton syndicate
would step in under the terms OF It's
agreement with the Richmond Railway
! and Electric Company and give first
| class service over the whole system.
The Traction Companys petition will
| be met by both Of the other companies
with an objection against the granting
| Of a monopoly of the street-raiway bust
ness to any one company
/ WHEN THE FRANCHISES FALL IN.
The opinion of Mr. Meredith. then City
Attorney. as to the expiration OF the va
rious franchises held 10y the Richmond
! Railway and Electric Company. which
was asked for by the last Council and
/ rendered October l5 1897. is pertinent and
/ interesting in the light Of recent develop
ments: IL reads as follows:
/ To the Committee on Streets:
| Gentlemen,-I am I'm receipt Of your
communication submitting to me the fol-
/ lowing inquiries
/. The date OF the expiration of the
| ---- ------
"A Word to the