Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-01-13
FIGHTING THE GIN
CROW" STREET CARS.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

| lected Board Of Directors: J. G. Ma
pier, Preston Taylor. r. II. Boyd, T
G. Ewing. w. T. HightoW or, J. W.
! Grant. William Beckham, G.. W
| Henderson, j. G. Merrill, Robert
Robertson, ". d. Chappelle, Luke
| Mason, Evans Tyree. c. V. Roman.
| II. T. Noel, A T. Landers, II. A.
| Boyd
The Board OF Directors, after re-
ceiving the charter, proceeded to
draw mp laws, and elected J. c. Ma
pier. Chairman of Beard OF Direc-
tors; Preston Taylor. General Man
| ger; and r. II. Boyd, Chairman OF
the Committee on Management.
The capital stock was divided into
$500 shares at $1,000 each. All
citizens are allowed to take any mum
Der OF shares not exceeding 1000.
The larger portion OF the stock was
subscribed for almost Immediately.
rs asherwomen. servant girls, and
day laborers Joined IN with business
and professional men until 400 peO-
pie had already subscribed for stock.
The Committee on Management
proceeded at once 20 correspond
with different motor vehicle compa-
mics. both in Europe and America.
The Recording Secretary. Henry A.
BOYD was sent 20 New York, Phila-
delphla. Pittsburg. Detroit, Colum-
bus. Cleveland and other leading CT
ties 20 confer with manufacturers.
On his return the Committee on Man
agement decided TO try steam wagon
cites manufactured by a locomoblle
company Of Massachusetts. At once
an assessment on the stockholders
was made. and Rev. r. II. Boyd,
chairman of the Committee OF Man
agemPnt was selected as purchas-
ing agent for the company. and sent
TO New York with power to act AT
ter seeing the locomobilos successful
~ operated on the streets Of New
York. he purchased five of these
steam waeonottes OF 14-passenger
capacity. for which he paid cash,
and had them shipped 90 Nashville
I'm the meantime tho company de
Ci5ed 90 build for the reception of
these cars a two-story brick garage;
with repair shops. and an amuse-
mcnt hall above; also TO prepare a
waiting room, and put in a cafe for
the accommodation Of passengers.
To tho surprise OF the company.
and the regret Of al the colored
citizens OF Nashville, it was found.
after the waconcttes arrived iu Nash
Vile and were put upon the streets,
that on account of the unusual
grades. high hills on every street in ,
Nashville. and on account OF the
rough sandstone rocks. the steam
wagOnettes were not a success. I
These wagonottes would run at a
speed OF from twelve 90 fifteen miles F.
per hour on level and well-paved F.
streets. but when striking long
grades 90 was necessary 20 stop
from three to five minutes 20 raise
an extra pressure of steam Ga order I.
90 ascend the grades. This was We
ry quickly decided 10 be Unsuccess- /
ful.
After a careful consultation IL /
was decided 20 employ a civil engi- /
ncer Of experience and skill to sur
vey the grades G. the city. and esti- .
mate the energy necessary TO oper- /
ate q motor vehicle on the streets
OF Nashville. A man from Detroit,
Mich representing the Gasoline Mo
tor Vehicle Company consulted with
the Committee on Management La
ter a Mr.. William Fay, special en-
Einccr and manager OF the Worlds
Fair Automobile transportation Co.
who was so successful ia managing
the auto cars during the Fair at St.
Louis made two trips TO the city
and spent from three 10 Eve days
each trip In looking over the situa-
ton. He then met the Board OF Di-
rectors and made a proposition to
furnish electric storage battery auto
cars OF twenty-passenger capacity.
guaranteeing that these cars would
successfully run on the streets. at
speed of from six 20 eight miles per
hour. But he further informed the
directors that on account OF the un-
usual high grade ana rough sand
stone paved streets. tie cars would
have 90 be equipped with large doub
le Westinghouse motors, with two
storage batteries, Weighing from 1,
500 TO 1000 lbs These storage
batteries were TO be interchangeable
so that one set of batteries could be
charged while the other set was op
Grating the cars. A contract was en-
tered into with Mr. Fay for fourteen
of these auto cars with twenty-eight
large storage batteries. Two OF
these auto-cars arrived in Nashville
recently.
On the 18th day Of December, ev- /
erything being In readiness, the
Board OF Directors and a number of
stockholders. male and female, to
the number OF forty-twO, boarded
these cars at the garage and made
successful trips all over the seven /
routes laid out by the company. /
Each of the round trips required
from thirty TO forty-five minutes. /
On our return to me garage, a vote
OF thanks was rendered the PTesi- T
dent, General Manager. and Commit
tee on Management, and the pro-
ject was decided to be q success, so
far as the ability Of the cars to oper 1
ate was concerned. The first in
stallment of this contract was paid,
and the remaining twelve cars Will
now be ordered at once. and the IN
ion Transportation Company is now
a living reality.
The Directors. stockholders, and /
Committee on Management OF the
Transportation Company deserve /