The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-15
THREE FIGHTS
THIS AFTERNOON
Matters of Great Public Interest TO
Come Before the Street
Committee.

Three matters of Importance come up
before the Street Committee at its meet
ing this afternoon.
The Bell Telephone Company presents
a communication, expressing regret al
the lack OF cordiality and warmth winch
has marked the relations of the com
pany and city during the past tive years.
The paper goes on to express the desire
of the company TO secure Il franchise
under which, to operate in future, and,
in general terms, states that II Il fran
chSe is granted, it will install thor
ouEhly complete and up-to-di,te telephone
plant The interests of the company will
be represented by General Il. z. Mean"y,
general manage of the company, and
Superintendent Chipley, of Richmond.
The Richmond Telephone Company
very vigorously resists the granting of a
franchise to the Bell Company. Their
interests will be in the hands of Captain
A. s. Guigon, and they have addressed
to the members of the Council and Board
Of Aldermen a letter setting forth the
position and claims of the Richmond
Company.
Another matter which viii come be-
fore the Committee is the ordinance re-
-QuiriuG the Passenger an. Power Com
pauy to install the Jenkins underground
trolley system. referred back to it for
consideration in the light o. the opinion
rendered on the Councils right to pass
it by City Attorney, Mr.. H. r. Pollard.
Mr.. Poilaris opinion ii part IS as fol-
lows:
Has the city right to pass the ordi-
nance? The answer to this question
must depend upon the fact whether the
particular system (JenkinS Electrical I'm
derground Trolley System), required to
be installed by the Richmond Pass niger
and Power Company by the proposed
ordinance, is a practical efficient and
economical system by which eectr'city
may be used motive power. If it is
a practical efficient and economical sys-
tenn by which motive power may be ap-
piled TO the propulsion Of street cars,
then answer the question in the affirma-
tive"
On the question whether the jenkins
system is practical. efficient and econonl-
ical'' the battle will be fought. The Pas
senger and Power Company, led by Cap
tain Guigon, will argue that it has re-
ceiVed no thorough test and is in an eN-
perimental stage as yet.
In behalf of the jenkins system Mr.. a.
Langstaff Johnson, a civil engineer. who
will appear before the committee. stat S
in a letter that the practical test to which
the jenkins system was put here was
successful in the highest degree, not
withstandinS it's having been operated
under unfavorable conditions of weather
the conduit being frer ruently filled with
water at one end. From the result
shown by this test, made under such m
Favorable conditions. I rogard the system
as having passed the theoretical and eX-
detrimental stage; and from an engineer
ing standpoint as heins eminently prac-
teal both electrically and n'echan cally." :"
Still another matter of Importance IS
the tarsfe on Eighth Street rssalt'ng
from the Traction Company's having a
two-track franchise and the other COM
pany tight of way for one track,
whereas the street is not wide enough fo-
more than two tracks.
The discussion of this matter will he
prsc;pitaIed by the request OF the Passen-
ger and Power Comnany that it may be
permitted to withdraw it's rernest to
abandon its Eishth-Street line, witch las
request has never bean grrn$ed an1
which in view of changed eandti tha
cowp7ny does not now want gra It d.
The Passnnse" end Power Cop NJ
will make appl'cation for the apro;,t-
ment of arbitra'ors to sott,e the terms
upon which this corporation and the
Traction Company shall have anf, eyer
else, the right o. the io'nt use of carta'n
tracks under the provisions of the oriTi..
narces already adepted Each conna1y
is entitled to name ore arbitrator. IN til !,
event these two sh.ll fail to asree. the
City Engineer is to name the third party.