Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-22
A NEW ELECTRIC LINE,
jenkins Underground System to
Build Experimental Track
TO RUN ON STRAWBERRY ST,
Richmond Capitalists Subscribe the
Necessary Funds.
p,c PLANT MAY BE CONSTRUCTED.
70 the system Proves Economical, Ii
.. More Than Likely That the Syn
dictate VIII Enter the Field for the
Nnin-Street Franchise.
p,c PLANT MAY BE CONSTRUCTED.

Richmond is to have another street
railway
II will be built within the next sixty
davs and will run Just one-quarter of
mile.
II Is 10 be equipped with the Jenkins
underground trolley system, and Is mere
" an experiment of that system win
view TO demonstrating the feasibility ana
commercial value of Mr.. Jenkins's IN
vention.
All Of this was agreed upon yesterday
in q conference held in the office OF MI
Andrew Pizzini, on Bank street ana II
e., no demonstrated, which now seems
bigblv probable. that the system Is teasi-
III stock company with a million dol
lars of capital will be organized ior'"-
with and the company will estaphsh 1t"
Immense plant in this city and begin the
,,,rrfactrlre of the machinery Tor the
co,s.rpction throughout the world of un-
derground railways.
THOSE INTERESTED.
The gentlemen interested in the enter
nrise are Messrs. A. Pizzini, Charles -
Williams John p. Branch, W. 5. FORBES
u Patton. Pascal Davie, William II.
Palmer. Charles A. Blanton, kopert ~
Lancaster. and A. Hoen. These gehtie-
men met some time ago for the purpose
~ considering the ACCESSIBILITY of forming
q company for the promotion OF Mr.. Jeh-
kins,s system. and the plans, as outlined
IN, Mr. Jenkins, were submitted TO an
electrical expert for report. This ge"''e-
man has concluded his report, and 1t was
laid before the meeting held yesterday at
noon.
The report was favorable in the eN-
trome. After dealing i'm generallties as
TO the feasibility Of underground eiee-
trical systems. as demonstrated In WASH
ineton and New York, the expert says Vi
the Jenkins system that by it any degree
Of insulation might be secured, ana III
connection herewith he asserts that tI'is
t. the paramount feature of electrical
nronuIsion. Concerning the cost or con-
struction. the expert refers to the fact
that the Jenkins system calls Tor only
one conduit where other underground
systems require two, and he asserts II as
his opinion that the cost of constructor
will be moderate, and that the durab'llty
and efficiency Of the system are beyond
question. He not only concludes that the
system is commercially feasible, but tha'
IL is most economical
THE MONEY SUBSCRIBED.
After reading this report, the gentle
men at once agreed 10 subscribe the
money where with 10 build quarter-ot-a-
mile track beyond the city Tor expert
mental purposes. and authorized captain
p,z1ini IA secure car wherewith TO
make the experiment. A tract OF lana
n, strawberry street, between Cary ana
pevorl, streets was secured for the pur-
nose and Mr.. Jenkins was instructed 10
nreuare his patterns at once. captain
pizzini will secure a car either from New
mort News or stanton, and II Is expected
that the line will be in operation by the
LIST OF October.
ON the operations Of this car, or, rather
this line. will depend the fortunes OF the
system. If il IS demonstrated that the
line can be operated on an economical
basis. the gentlemen already interested
pledge themselves ~ SAb9NAAHS ~'fNNNfN~N
to organize the company.
THE NAIN-STREET FRANCHISE.
II the system proves feasible and eco
nomicaI. the gentlemen Interested may
nrove factors I'm the fight TO secure the
franchises of the Richmond Railway ana
Electric Company which are soon TO be
dispoged of by the city. NO DEFINITE ac-
lion has been taken by them as yet. but
II is understood 20 be their purpose, IN
event of success in their short line, 10
bid for the Main-street franchise ana
offer to equip it with the Jenkins UNDER
ground system.
Mr.. George f. Fisher, OF the Richmond
Railway and Electric Company had Of
fered "a let the Jenkins Company use the
tracks of the Mairf-street line from the
Reservoir 10 the car-sheds and had
further agreed 10 furnish car for the
exneriment. but on last Friday. when in
the CITY. he withdrew his offer, saying
thar we're the system to prove a success
II would be used by the syndicate in
control of II 10 upset the plans Of his
company TO have its franchises turned
over to the Boyd-Newton syndicate.
STREET COMMITTEE TO MEET
4 call will shortly be issued for the
Council Committee on Streets to meet IN
the City Hall on the evening OF Septem-
her Sth TO take under CONSTELLATION Inv
bid OF the Boyd Newton syndicate for the
street-railway franchises. AT that time
IL is probable that other syndicates VIII
enter the field, and an interesting night
for the privileges will begin.
The Traction Company Will enter the
lists IL is said. and will be formidable
rival OF the aforementioned syndicate.
The Jenkins syndicate has made an
offer TO the Richmond Railway and Elec-
trio Company, which secures the bond
holders of that corporation, and other IN
debtedness 10 the amount Of s5cOOO. The
plan OF reorganization presented by TINS
syndicate was so satisfactory TO ine
bondholders that the offer Of the Boyd
Newton syndicate was held on Tor seve-
raj weeks. and at one time II looked as
il the Jenkins syndicate would have been
given the preference.
The consideration OF the disposition OF
the franchises promises 10 occupy the at
tention Of the Committee on streets Tor
some time 20 come. II is impossible 10
gauge the sentiment OF that body az TINS
time; all the members seem to be open 70
oil ~. t,la a la