The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-11
.Street-Car Company to
Make Big Changesirl
Present Service.
HANOVER AVENUE
LIN 3 S SELEC TED
Broad Street Free Viaduct to
Be Dedicated to People-Re-
cords Show Loss on Half
Fares-Want Franchise
Tax Based on Gross
Earnings.

& i
Representatives. OF the Virginia Rail.
way and Power Company appeared be
fore the subcommittee on Streets las,
night. suggesting changes ia the pres.
cnt lines and the building OF new
tracks, which, with tho erection OF tllt
proposed viaduct over Broad Street
10 Church Hill. will place within tn.
reach OF nearly every section OF the
city an adequate street car service anc
greatly reduce congestion at various
places where now there is much
trouble and delay.
For reasons set forth in q pape,
placed before the committee, 1t was
also asked that all the franchises
which now expire at different times
be extended and the limit OF cxpira-
lion be paced at thirty years from
1910. Tho company claims that this
VII be Of advantage both to it and
the city.
The present rate OF taxation on the
several companies as they existed be-
fore the recent consolidation was
shown. and 1T was suggested that q
new franchise be adopted or the press
eHt franchises be consolidated and the
rate of franchise tax be fixed at 5
per cent. on tile gross earnings, re-
.sardIess of the amount within The
city of Richmond.
Lose Money on HnIf Fares.
While no definite suggestion was
made as 10 change in fares and trans
fers. It was shown that the company
was continually losing money. especial
- on the school tickets and 2 1-2-cent
rnrt tn, lon
was pointed out that the company was
subject to many losses from the pres
ent transfer sysem- Mention was
made Of the zone or mileage system now.
employed on many OF The European
lines. where each passenger is requIr-
ed to pay according to the distance
Travelled Qbjectiops TO this we're raiE-
cd. lreweyc asS IT. stcyttts 70 prevent tile
deYelopmentF OF suburb ban districts.
II the zone or mileage system is
not adopted" read yice-Presldent And
ei.son. and the companies are requir-
ed to carry all passengers at the Eanc
fare, then they should be allowed TO
charge sufficient fare to give rea-
sonable return for service rendered.
based upon the average fare per pas
senger. A fare which was reasonable
Len years a go is unreasonably low at this
iimc. when the price OF all materials and
labor has greatly increased and taxes
and other public charges are much
heavier. while the service rendered is
bctter and more expensive to the CON-
pany than that required ten years ago"
Referring to the transfer service. he
read: I'VE would earnestly suggest
that the company give transfers only
AT the time of payment OF fare, to be
good only at points of intersection.
which would not restrict the present
number of transfer points but would
enable the company to control THE
abuse of transfers; and that the com
fer on transfer, a custom which re.5
suits In great injustice to the company
and has been abolished In many cities,.
yiaduct Proposltlon.
AS to the yiaduct. the last point
taken up. the company makes the fol-
lowing proposition:
In connection with the proposed
extension and consolidation and modi-
tication OF existing franchises, this
company proposes as consideration
to the city for the benefits which 1t
has asked. that 1t will construct Via
duct upon plans to be approved by the
city authorities, the same when COM
pleted. TO be the property OF the city
and free highway to the public with
the exclusive right to the company
TO operate Its cars across the viaduct
during the life of its franchise..,
II was stated that the actual cost OF
the viaduct would be approximately
100000. Dut that the company had
not yet completed any plans.
After listening to the reading OF the
paper, which was illustrated with
maps. and brief statement by Mr..
Anderson emphasizing certain points.
tho committee, on motion of Council
man Pollock, decided that further dis
5cussion should be postponed until the
members were more familiar withSthe
proposed changes. 1t was therefore
decided to meet Friday afternoon at 2
O'clock for the purposeof going over
all the lines proposed. The trip will
be made in automobiles furnished by
the company
Change In Car Lines.
Most interest is centred around
changes in Tho various lines which,
AS MI. Anderson said are designed
to&relieve the congestion in the shop
ping districts of Broad Street and in
the business and factory districts or
Main Street Account is also taken
OF the spread of population in the
aNNESt S1Hill'. etGlllSi.6s Is SpIHe sdlleTullOn
in the routing OF all trunk lines, bur
the most far-reuching Is that Of the
Broad aud Main. which, according to
plans exhibited. will. instead OF going
over to Broad Street along Robinson
as it does now, turn down Hanover
Avenue. thence to Park Avenue, and /;
out Harrison Strcetstn Broad
Instead Of turning from Main Street
at Eighteenth Street, this line will
run doW.n2Sto Twenty-first Street on
the return trip these cars will turn
up Ninth to Broad Street. The Clay
Street line MIL extend to Twenty
Gig 18th Street instead OF turning at
Street, as at present. 4
i Briefly, he proposed changes are
ms olloWs: Il y II u S:
Z Main street Line, The Carss.to lie
operated as ut present. except the
change in the loop at the Reservoir
and the route to he from the Reservoir
via NIulberry,s Beverly. u m ~ n .es-