The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-06
POWER COMP ANY
MAY BUILD BRIDGE
Proposal to Increase Charge on
Free Structure May Have
This Effect.
COUNCIL is DISAGREED
Conferees Will Consider Rate
Within Few Days-Former
Proposals.

Both branches of the Council hav-
ing agreed to n conference over the
charge TO be made the Virginia Rail-
way and Power Company for running
cars on the Free Bridge, meeting
OF the conferees to be named by the
presidents of the two branches Will
probably be called within the next
lew days. AT present the street car
company is paying $500 a year. the
rate fixed by the old James River
Bridge Commission which operated the
bridge for the cities of Richmond and
Manchester Recently Councilman
Cease proposed that this charge be in
creased to $4,000 a year and the street
Committee so recommended
The Finance Committee. on the
other hand. recommended that the
charge remain at present. giving
as It's reason that within a year a por-
ton OF the street car traffic would no
doubt be diverted TO the new Mayo's
Bridge. and that plans would then he
on foot for a new Ninth Street bridge
The Common Council adopted the
fixing the charge at sl,S0O hence the
need for a conference committee be-
tween the two branches
Free to All Others.
The street car company represents
that 1t is the largest single tax payer
In the community. and that the bridge
is free to all other citizens for un-
limited use. The company. however,
does not object to the $500 charge.
as that amount. except in cases of
emergency. about finances the annual
repairs ne edcd
Discussion of the matter has revived
reports that the Virginia Railway and
Power Company may cree, it's own
bridge over James River, resting It
on the concrete abutments of the
power house dam which stretches
across from the foot OF seventh street
In Richmond TO point on the south
shore west OF the Coast Line tracks
and In line with Seventh Street cx-
tended
bridge Once Considered
Nhen this dam VAS constructed by
the Virginia Electrical Railway and
Development Company, the idea Of a
bridge for rapid transit between the
cities was suggested. After the Vir-
ginia Railway and Power Company
acquired the Petersburg line. 1t pro
posed TO erect the bridge and bring
those cars directly into Richmond. and
application was once made TO the Man.
chester City Council for the necessary
rights on the Southside. where tho
plan was opposed on the ground that
the street car company practically.
maintained the old Free Bridge. and
II II erected trcstle OF its own the
city OF Manchester would have TO in
crease its annual contribution 10 tho
bridge
omcials Of the street car company
state that there are no Immediate
plans on foot to erect such bridge
but operating officials admit that they
would be glad 10 see the company en-
ter into any arrangement which would
take the cars off the congested Free
Bridge and give them a straight. rapid
run over a private trestle. saving
much time between the cities.
Would Compel Tre.tIc.
Mr.. Cease states frankly that the
object of his resolution raising the
rate OF charge is to force the company
Of the Free Bridge and TO compel 1t
to erect It's own .restle across the
river. The Free Bridge. ne says. was
not designed for street car trafic. and
should not be subjected to such
strain. RE added that he would wei
come any arrangements that would
bring the Petersburg interurban cars
into old Richmond
Other members OF the Council have
expressed the view that the city
should take no pay from the street car
company for the right TO run cars over
the Free Bridge. arguing that with
all the propping that has been done.
the old bridge is none too safe. and
that were a serious accident to occur
the car company would escape dam
ages in the courts by holding the CITY
responsible for the safety OF the bridge
over which II rents a right OF way.