Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-17
OUR sTREET-CARs.


Men OF affairs must recognize the d'n-
Guilty our City Council will have In deter
mining what price should be fixed for the
street-railway franchises soon TO be dis-
posed Of In the form Of an annual TAX
tho Council will ask bidders to pay FOR
the privileges granted them IT also VIII
no demanded that the successful company
shau do n certain portion OF the paving
of the drveways on streets WHICH '"o
Council orders 10 be paved.
Quite naturally, those who desire 10
cure the franchises wish TO pay as ht'o
as possible. on the other hand couno'
men want 10 make the best bargain they
can for the city. But We take 1t that
there are reasonable men on each side Oh
the question. and that they can get 10
gether" after investigation and discussion
have disclosed what Is the earning Gu
pacity OF our lines and what Is inc ave-
rage requirement in cities or our c'tSS'
There must be a happy mean. we nope
:, will he discovered, and that the iran
obises will be disposed of to good. trusty
mon az means. who not only have the
ability 10 give us satisfactory service, put
who will take pride in doing so.
We do not wish to see the new iran
chises placed in the hands OF persons
who will have to be whipped and spurred
whenever a grievance is to be corrected
or any little improvement is asked lor'
A prerequisite to a proper understand
ing of the value Of these franchises -
correct information as 10 the earning ca
pacity Of the lines in question floA'
what wa hear most OF our SUBURBAN
lines have been Improbable. 1t Is
luxury 10 city people 10 be able 10 take
the suburban cars and ride into the couh-
try on hot summer days; but usually IL
4 afforded at the expense OF the mann
lines I'm the city. 1t doesn't pay. Ihese
suburban lines have done much 10 al
vance the value of East and West-Enu
property. but II will be a good while yet
before they can be relied upon as paying
Investments. Nor would the public hear
of abandoning these lines. 1t will be IN
sisted. as far as Richmond has a VOICE
In the matter that they shall be Kept up
Such being the case. it would seem 'ha'
there ought to be one rate Of taxation TOT
main lines and another rate for other
lines-or, II that be impractical, that al
average should be made which recognizes
the undoubted fact that some of the lines
are Improbable
Again. when comparison is made OF the
taxation imposed by various cities the
statement should show how much track
ope I'm each city is in the city proper
and how much is on the outskirts OF
suburbs. Certainly, II conditions prevail
elsewhere as at Richmond. lines In what
may be called the metropolitan dlstrlo'
are able to bear greater taxauon IMAM
lines beyond that district.
The stand taken b. those gentlemen
who withdrew from the syndicate has
made an impression upon the pubic
Their Sntelligence, character and puoic
spirit cannot be questioned. They De-
lieved the demands of the Council com
mittees were unreasonable. Ihey were
unwilling TO assent to them. Now, 1t may
be that further investigation mas con-
vinced councilmen that justice to all con-
cerned requires n moderation OF inc
terms proposed. II is TO be hoped that
basis of agreement will be reached when
will give Richmond fair compensation for
her franchises, and yet prove suthcienty
attractive to capitalists TO enable a new
company to be formed with ability ana
disposition to renew and reinVigora'e
lines which are now fast falling into
decay