The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-04-02
Claim Set Forth by the Rich
mend Interurban Com
Il pany.
FRANCHISE NOT VIOLATED
REGULAR CARS ccHAReE JUST
Ia WHAT FRANCHISE PROVIDES
LIMITED CARS DO VIOLATE
FRANCHISE.

! Because of the discussion that has
arisen during the past week relative
to the legality of the fares charged
by the Richmond Interurban Company
Between Richmond and all points in
this county connected by the line, 1t
might be interesting to know that err
roneous ideas have prevailed as to the
provisions In the franchise granted by
the Wayne county commissioners. An
inspection of the franchise recorded in
the books of the board of Wayne
county commissioners shows that the
Richmond Interurban Company is not
overstepping its rights, excepting in
the matter OF limited cars, where ex-
ira fare is required from all passen-
gers.
Instead OF being permitted to charge
a rate fare equal to one and one-third
cent mile as many have been led
to believe by the discussion of the
past week, the franchise clearly sets
forth that the company may charge
a rate of one and two third cents
mile. This Is the contention of the
company In reply to charges that the
franchise has been violated.
Sections of the franchise which
have bearing on this phase of the
question follow:
BE 1t resolved by the Board of
County Commissioners of Wayne
County, Indiana, that the right and
privilege Is hereby given to Jno. M.
Eontz and Perry j. Freeman, their
successors and assigns, to construct
maintain and operate a railway line
to be operated by electricity or other
motive power, steam excepted, for the
purpose of carrying passengers, bag
gage. express matter, mail matter and
freight, along and upon the public
highway known as the National Road
from the west corporation line of the
city of Richmond to the west line of
said county of Wayne. The rate of
fare to be charged on said line of
railway shall not exceed two cents per
mile for one passenger for one con-
tinuous trip. Providing that said COM
pany shall not be required to accept
any fare less than five cents for one
continuous trip. Provided further,
that at the expiration OF two years
from the time said railway is COM
pleted and running its cars regularly,
the said grantees, their successors and
assigns. shall not charge more than
one and two-thirds cents per mile for
each passenger, the minimum fare to
be charged to be five cents for one
continuous trip
Under the provision of one and two
thirds cents mile, the company
ofYlcials assert that not only is the
company keeping within bounds of the
franchise but as an actual fact is
charging a less rate in some instances
than could be demanded legally. The
distance from Richmond to Centerville
is six miles and the fare at the one and
two-third cents rate is 10 cents. That
is the fare in force. The distance
from Richmond to East Germantown
is fourteen miles and the rate of fare
charged by the company is 20 cents
At the basis of one and two-third
cents mile the company could leg
ally charge fare of % cents and a
fraction. Thus the fare to East Ger
mantown Is in reality more than three
cents less than the franchise provides
may be charged
Cambridge City is sixteen miles and
the fare under the terms of the fran
chise. one and twothird cents a mile
would be approximately 81 cents. AS
q matter of fact, however the fare to
Cambridge City is % cents.
To Dublin and Milton, each eighteen
miles, the franchise rate would make
the fare thirty cents to either place
and thirty cents is the fare required
by the company.
II Is evident from this. therefore
that the company is not violating the
franchise IL the distance as given by
II between Richmond and other points
on the lines are. correct There can
be no question. however that the
Through" cars to indianapolis which
the company terms limited" cars VIC.
late the letter of the franchise. Be-
cause of the fact that these cars
make much faster time than the regu-
lar cars, an extra fare is required by
the company for this special service.
The extra fare, though small, makes
the total fare per mile In excess of
that which the franchise STIMULATES.
IL is admitted, however. that the COM
pany putting on limited cars with
higher rate of fare, have done so to
meet the demands of those patrons
who wish to make Journeys in less
time than the regular cars would
carry them and for this extra accom-.
odation are called upon to pay the
slight excess.