The Washington herald., 1911-05-28

hours. Another four hours should suf.
fee for the trip from Richmond to Nor
folk. With all the points Of interest
taken In by such line. the trip should
be one of the most fascinating In the
country.
Operating Between Three Cities.
The tri-city system, controlled by the
Virginia Railway and Power Company
before the merger, operates all the street
railways in Richmond, Manchester, and
Petersburg. The city Of Manchester Is
located Just across the James River from
Richmond. Of which capital 1t has new
become part. The Richmond and Peters
burg Railway, now called the Interurban.
ends at Manchester. where it connects, Of
course, with the cars running into Rich
mond. The completeness of this system
makes 1t convenient to make trolley trips
between any points in these cities or their
suburbs. The system comprises twenty
six routes. The tracks are well built and
maintained and the cars and equipment
are modern and the service is frequent
| and regular over all routes In fact. 1t
Is one of the best street car systems In
the United States, a fact which may have
much to do with public apathy in Rich
mond toward Gould's monopolization.
Were the service anywhere near so bad
as In most cities of its size, Gould and
his associates might have found 1t harder
to win favor at the hands Of legislature.
city council, and corporation commission.
There is real rapid transit between the
farthest sections Of these three cities, and
the passenger gets a variety Of long rides
Tor single fare. On these trips the tour
ist passes through localities where some
of the most notable engagements of the
civil war took place or events occurred of
Importance In the earliest history of the
colony. Manchester is connected with
Richmond by two. bridges for the electric
lines and three for steam roads. II Is
particularly we'll situated for manufac-
turing purposes and its industrial activi-
ties are increasing with remarkable rapid
ity.
Through Historical Country.
twenty-five miles south of Richmond
Is Petersburg. on the Appomattox. 1t is
a wideawake progressive city. noted for
its large numbers of beautiful homes.
ln historical interest and tradition 1t is
one of the foremost communities of the
Old Dominion. One may trace the doings
of the early colonists as far back as
l6i5 from material records left in the
vicinity of this quaint city. The remains
of old Fort Henry, for instance con-
structed by few colonists sent out by
Gov. Berkeley about that time still
stand as mute tokens of those thrilling
days, and the story OF Pocahontas CEN
tiers around Petersburg. In the neigh
hood are number of ancestral homes
of such early families of the Virginia
peerage as the Harrisons, Randolphs,
Bollings BANDS, Lees, and Carriers.
In the civil war Petersburg was the
scene of some of the most important
OF which was the famed battle of the
crater, when there was exploded the
most enormous mine that had ever been
placed under the enemy's lines.
Has Larger Project in View.
That this section of Virginia alone is to
feel the touch of the Gould millions does
not seem probable. Indeed. rumor is al
ready connecting the name of the young
New York multimillionaire with several
other traction and power projects in the
State. There is. for instance. a plan on
foot to build an electric line from Rich
mond to Lynchburg. Lynchburg Is sure
that Gould is back of the project, but
nothing to that effect could be learned
at the Gould offices in Richmond.
At the some time II Is not likely that
Gould's Virginia Railway and Power
Company is going to let any opportunity
for expansion slip through its tentacles.
II there are to be any franchises or char
tiers for new electric lines in Virginia one
may confidently look for the fine hand Of
Frank Gould's cohorts in the transaction
The same may be said of new water
power concessions. Gould's name was
connected in the press last week with
the newly acquired water-power site on
the Roanoke River, near Weldon, N. c.
While 1t is denied at his Richmond Of
fees that he has any part in this new
project the denial must be taken with a
few barrels of salt. Fritz Sitterding, one
of the vice presidents or the Virginia
Railway and Power Company. is admit
ted to own one-third of the control of
this new power site. William C. Whit
ner, one of the Gould engineers, Is sup
posed to own another third. and the own
ership of the final share of this Virginia
and Carolina Power Company Is dark
secret. 1t is but natural to believe that
Gould is the real hacker of the project.
and that it is the preliminary step to-
ward the spread of his network of troll
ley lines from Richmond into the South.
A Talk with Gould's Representative.
Another rumor. and one that seems to
have little groundwork Of common sense.
is that Gould really intends to turn his
electric railways into a new chain OF
steam roads William Northup, presi-
dent of the Gould companies. declared to
The Washington Herald's representative
who was making a tour of inspection of
the Gould strongholds in Virginia that
such an idea was ridiculous.
Electricity is the motive power OF
the future for all railways" he said.
Sooner or later more powerful motors