The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-11
Matter Of Notifications Of the Street Railway Franchises in Richmond

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I1tsstho cnsirman and Menhers OF the Subcommittee o the Committee o.
w srcets OF Tho nnhmona city Council
1 on Domnbsr O. 1909. tho Virginia Railway and Power Company as sue.
rresor to the Richmond Passenger nd Power Company and the Richmond
II ITracuons Company, by acquisition Of the pnprtes@a and franchises OF those
sscompanes at foreclosure sae presented. to the Common Council Of the city
ft Richnoada petition settins but the desrabiity Of certain notifications in
the present franchises Of thu streetr railways of this city and asking fol a
bfeerence TO q proper committee in order that the officers Of his mpan
might confer with tina. committee with respect to such proposed nodtncahons.
Tho petition wa duly referred TO the Committee or Streets which sui
speduenty refrredt the same to this subcommittee.
The conpany now desires to present for the consideration Of the sub
sssonmitee certain sussestons as to the notifications 10 the existing fran
@=ehses in the particulars which will be hreinafte more fully set forth
The several modacatons which are believed to De desirable and which
WIN be suggetedto our committee will be presented in eetan.
ou EXTENSION OF THE TERM OF THE EXISTING FRANCHISES.
g y ratwsvs il ,ms city are oneruea unde three rapch,.es rante
mby The. Council of the city:
~ oo Franchise II the richmond TRACTION Company, approved August IS,
ppls5 which expires BY limitation on the 1st day of January 1870;
rr OBJ The franchise of the Richmond Passenger IND Power company, a-
ns,ary. 1881;
phbny III right to cross the city boulevard. approved Angus. ii, 1901, which
GERS unlimited as to duration, but is subject to revocation by the councn.
VIII To present Constitution of this state permits the granting ~ municipal
.ssyyyounens OF franchises for the use or OCCUPATION Of the streets for a period
.iot exceeding thirty years.
Of 1t is obviously to the advantage of the city to Nave ar .nc franchise
ssnmssthin Its corporate limits expire on the sam date, as It gives greater
anialuo to any new franchise to % granted at the expiration Of the period INT
prsaves complications with respect TO exisins onpanies
ph In the recent reorganization through foreclosure sale Of the properties in this
thsity, it was nece#aryt to place upon the properties a new mortgage % secure
bet. new issue of bonds to provide for the acquisition o. the property under the
pleeorganizuio1. ant for futureb euernents extensions and improvements FOR
6LEY ell uHCeESloOu dnIuINll Iehohi ~ NS N"dh "pA"'S"oS ~ p"SSo V'
rhaphicns maturee in a shorter period than Twenty-Five years SION thu date Of the
furnortgagc. and even a bond of this maturity is not as popular as III for a
mAhnge- period. ##1aGM 8###|
that The bonds secured by this mnrtgage expire on Jul j. 1884. which is
gen,eyondS the period OF the existing franchises. This fatn not only proved a din
to sMy in connection viii the reorganization, but will be a constant obstacle
t ,uo ue sale ofto nd for provement at reasonable prices ad if these bonds
to bo sold at a large discount the company is thereby required to pay
conn gro ter rate Of interest for noney pecessary for extensions and improve
the anta with = corresponding increase in the burdens upon the property and
HonadHeehy upon the public served from which the revenue must b derived.
more For these reasons, 1T would seem obvious that al ex,enson Of the limit OF
pasahe aspiration of the. franchise fora period of thirty years from 1910 would
asks e 10 the advantage of the comnunt and oft the company. In fact the opera
s3e Ion of street. railways in a community of this kind is a neMsaryp part OF its
dshs ommerdall fe. inc if the city retains such reasonable contrlo over these oper-
q adHons as to insure a good service TO the public at reasonable COST then a log
nhhair ns 10 extend its ines and improved its service is to the great heneato o the
~ IL Dnc while it can have n oinmtous effect.
that IN addition to these considerations the existing franchises, granted az
~ sunfferent times ad Inconsistent in some Of their provisions are source OF
nma e1uch mbarrassne N difficulty in the operation OF the properties. and the
be- ppnsondaaon Of these fgaHchises into one new blanket franchise. would con-
emasseraton,
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Genes the limit of espratton can best be accomplished b an entirely new fran
couriaaise conditioned Upon. the surrender Of hose now existing. If a new fran
zee oAtse ISIS granted all Of the existing railway franchises in the city can be sur
80, snndGed subject only to certain small underlying dtvisnma mortgages securing
oonsid tstandingE bonds to an aggregate AMOUNT not exceeding $4,000 Of which
hin t160o9 gar value are in the sinking funds d first mortgage principal account
1wbchayEg petM1y outtanding $4,000 The new mortgage gives authority to the
nad nnpany. with. the consento Of the trustee to surrender these existing franchises
ana az exchange for a new generate franchise @
the Re-
uo is
sonh
on to d CHANGES IN TRAcKAGE AND ROUTES
suppor. The electric railway system in this city is the result of the consolidation
ne " a number OF small lines and the competitive conditions existing at various
ot Ines int tho development OF the system and especially from 1896 to 1902 re-
~ ~. pn1ted in sho obstruction of mileage far in excess OF the requirements of the
Ns Immunity man" tracksa being directly parallel only one block apart. Much
80 ~ ua this tmkage is unnecessary for the public service. resulting in n excessive
mileage with corresponding Instructions to tramc and burdens upon the