Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-07
s1ovAL OF NJ STREET LINE.
IT WILL OPEN A BIG FIGHT,
Some Residents Refuse TO Sign Pa
per.-Former Petitions of Like
Nature Reca11ed-People Want the
Car. and viii oppose Proposition.

The Virginia Passenger and Power
Company is presenting the residents of
Church Hill with petition for relief
before the Street Committee, which, If 1t
ever comes before the committee will
cause one Of the bitterest: contests that
was every fought before that committee
Indeed. 1t has been pointed out that If the
company wins before the committee that
the warfare will be carried into both
branches of the City Council, If necessary.
to defeat the project Of the company.
The removal Of the new tracks on
Twenty-fifth street, NJ street, and Thirty
first street is the desire OF the COM
pany, and it is believed that deter
mined effort is going to be made to reach
the goal indicated
It was intimated yesterday afternoon
by resident Of Church Hill. who had
refused to sign the paper presented by
professional canvasser, that the petition
contained names of persons who are 100
young to sign legal papers. 1t is certain
that the petition is being carried all
over the Hill, and persons are signing 1t
who live far enough away from the lne
of this route not to care a straw whether
or not the street itself is closed up
When the petition is presented before
the Street Committee it will be investl-
gated by some of the members before any
action will be had upon it. Indeed, 1t is
believed that the -four members Of the
committee from Marshall and Jefferson
wards will fight the proposition.
It will be recalled that shortly more
than a year ago a petition was circulated
on Church Hill for certain electric rail-
way changes that were desired. and that
it was demonstrated that there were hun
dreds of names of children on the paper
who were hardly old enough to walk and
certainly not able to write their names.
This paper, or rather the various sec
tons Of the petition, were carried over
the Hill by persons who were literally
paid per signature. Inc Church Hill
people remember that one lady received
a check for 500 for her part III this
work. The people had their eyes opened
at the time, and the professional will
not have the plain sailing in this new
work.
MET A COLD RECEPTION.
It was stated yesterday that not a. few
of Church Hill doors were shut in the
face of the canvassers with Good
morning." or a Good afternoon" and
not mark made by the occupants Of the
homes.
When this new route was constructed
by the Richmond Traction Company and
completed just a short time before the
consolidate ton of the electric railway in
terests Of the city. not word Of dis
approval went up from the people living
along the line because everybody wanted
the cars and recognized that it was Civ
ing to that section consideration that
had been long due to it, The people
wanted the route then. and now since
they have had it for more tnan three
months they want it all the more
The canvassers with the petitions are
telling the people that the operation Of
the M-sreet line does not pay the COM
pany, and for that reason the people
ought to be glad to petition the City
Council for relief for the company
It is likely that when the petition is
filed and the Street Committee sets
date for the hearing Of the question that
there will be more Church Hnl people
in the City Hall than have been seen
there for many day.