The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-30
SUNDAY, DECEMBER so. 1900.
THE STREET CAR SITUATION.


The Times has heard of war and ru-
mors of war between the two Street-car
companies of Richmond. The Times has
also heard ramon that the two lines Will
be consolidated and operated under one
management AS The Times is not in the
confidence or in the interest of either OF
these companies it is in position to submit
a few unprejudiced remarks on the sub
ject-
We believe that the ideal method Of
carrying on u street-car enterprise in any
city is for the municipality TO own the
lines and lease them under certain re-
strictions and regulations to a private
corporation for operation. II is best for
the title to all such public utilities to rest
in the municipality, but when 1t comes to
operation the best results are to be at
tanned by i, corporation which has pri-
rats interest at stake.
The next best thing TO municipal owner
ship is the granting of the franchise to
private corporation under an ordinance
which reserves to the Council the prac-
rical control of the lines and the right TO
tions as will best serve the public inter
EST and convenience. Fortunately for
Richmond the Council in granting fran
chises TO the street railway operating
companies here has reserved TO itself
these rights, 50 that the Council has The
power to prohibit the railroads from max
Ing excessive charges to patrons and to
tyiy scr
vice. Although the franchises have been
granted to private corporations the C"un-
ell is still in control OF the situation, and
in response 10 public demand recently
granted the Traction Company the right
to run its cars over certain portions OF
the tracks of the Passenger and Power
Company on Main Street, while the latter
company Will be privileged to run its cars
pver certain portions of the Traction
Company's tracks on Broad Street And
so we shall have two companies operat-
Ing in the same territory and over the
same tracks AS result We are told
that one company is to make war upon
the other by a sharp cut in fares, and
that if the other company meets the cut
snish.
This, we think, is to be deplored. We
do not believe that the public interest is
10 be served by war Of this character
The public interests are best served when
the operating lines are profitable. These
fines are 10 be regarded il one sense as
local Industries They give employment
"a,
money for supplies. and they put great
deal of money during the year into circu
!ation. In this sense alone, therefore, it
is to the public interest that the lines
shall be financially successful. But there
is another and d broader view. What the
people OF this community desire most of
p!l is a first-class street-car service, They
want the best tracks, the most comforta-
BILE cars, and rapid transit This cannot
be counted upon for. long If the TWO com
panies In competition arc going TO have
rate war and a fight to the end. III
such fight each company would cripple
Itself, would impair. II not exhaust, its
resources. would lack for funds TO renew
It's equipment from time 10 time and keep
the lines and the cars IN repair, and
Whenever that state of things should
come 10 pass the service would necessa-
rily suffer
We believe that the final effect of the
regent action OF The Council In putting
the Traction Con-Iaay's cars on Main
Street Will be 10 bring about a consolda-
ton of the two lines. This consolidation
may como only after war has been de-
clarcd between the TWO companies and
carried on through one or more bloody
campaigns 1t may come, however, after
war has been declared, but before the
gehting has actually begun There Is bad
feeling between The owners of the two
companies. but in this sensible age sensi-
bic men do not usually carry their per-
sonal feeling into business. For years
and years large business interests fought
each other until they discovered that
competition. instead OF being the life of
trade, was the death of trade. Then they
made up their minds that II was cheaper