The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-02
TWQB|G PROBLEMS
BEFORE COUNCIL
Street Car Service to Wcsthamp-
ton and Seven Pines Sharply
Divides Opinion.
ANNEX LEAGUE TO FIGHT
Question Of Extending Eastern
Spur to Urbanna Depends
on Local Change.
ANNEX LEAGUE TO FIGHT

Two large delegations Interested In
street car matters were at the City
Hall last night. but as the Council
took up no business on account of
the death of Councilman Davis, the
delegations had no hearing, save in
tho lobbies after adjournment. One
was composed of members of the Clay
Ward Annex League opposed to the
,, new plan for the operation OF West
hampton cars. and the other was of
citizens living In the county along
tho route of the Seven Pines line IN
opposition to the sale of that line to
the syndicate proposing to continue II
to Urbanna, on the Rappahannock
River
The Northampton Plan.
The Westhampton plan has been
much discussed. and has the unani-
nous recommendation of the Street
Committee. 1t was offered Mt the In
stance of the Country Club of vir-
ginia. and provides for the operation
of Westhampton Cars down Broad, and
by lour to Ninth and Main Streets,
passengers to be transferred through
| to Westhampton for a straight scent
fare, without tickets. and with only
/ limited transfers eastward bound.
The city attorney. has Informed the
committee that under ITS franchise
the WesthamDton line may charge n
scent fare. without tickets or trans
fcrs, and that the city would have
no more right TO enforce ticket and
transfer requirements on that line
Than IT would to Ashland over the
| Richmond and Chesapeake Bay, <r 10
Fredericksburg over the steam road
the line being separate and distinct,
and operated under a special fran
chise granted by the Hcnrico court
The present transfers and tickets arc
therefore gratuity from the com
pany, which may he revoked at any
time, and tho Street Committee rep1m-
mends an agreement between the city
and company for operation of the cars
downtown. thus obviatinE the ncces-
sity of changing cars. with fifteen
instead of a thirtyminmtc schedule
Dnd n limited transfer eastward
Members of the Clay Ward Annex
League protest that this discrimInatcs
against them. making theirs the only
section in the city which has no gem
eral transfer street car rights and an
nounce that they will contest the or
dinance In the courts, Notwithstanding
the opinion of the City Attorney
Sale OF Seven Pines Line.
The Seven Pines proposition is of q
different character. according to Coun-
cilmen who have looked into 1t. The
promoters of the road to Urbanna an
| nounce their Willingness TO buy the
| line and extend 1t under certain con-
ditions as a through railroad whether
steam or electric. provided they are
/ relieved Of all requirements rs to SUI
| burban service nj city prices. making
! 1t railroad rather than n trolley line
! The Virginia Railway and Power Com
| pany has given an option for the sale
! of the line from Twenty .Sd r
| Streets, provided the Council will con
J.. sent
| There is no question hut that as at
| present operated. the Seven Pines line
may be required to accept tickets.
! school tickets, and labor tickets, and
/ to give and receive transfers. The
! transfer matter has been determined
! by the courts. and school children may
! now ride from Seven Pines 10 the High
: School. distance of eight or ten miles.
! for L. cents. Tie company claims
/ that the line is not n paying PROPOSE
I tlon. in view of the transfer and ticket
/ privileges and the promoters of the
Urbanna railroad Will not consider its
use If required to live up TO those
conditions.
Wants Some Guarantee.
A member of the Council, in dis
| cussing the matter last night, said
that in his view the question was not
| one of law, but OF policy, the greatest
| good to the greatest number.
| II some real guarantee were given
| that the line would be actually extend
| ed to Urbanna. he said he would favor
relieving 1t of It's present require
| mcnts, even though that might work
some hardship on IIenrioo citizens liv-
ing 1T Highland Springs and other
points along the present line. IT would
he greater benefit to Richmond. he
| argued. TO have railroad to Urbanna
than trolley line into Henrico coun-
| ty. Highland Springs citizens assert
that they have fought for their trans
! fer rights I'm tho courts, and won: they
assert that the cars are crowded. and
that there Is every evidence that the
| line Is paying. notwithstanding the
| compnny's statement. and that they
! are entitled for thirty years to come
TO all the BENEFITS guaranteed in the
| present franchise The formal propo-
sition permitting the separation of the
Seven Pines line from the railway sys-
tenn of the Virginia Railway and
Power Company. and its independent
4 operation by other interests, in which
the present street car company has no
holdings, will be offered In the Coun-
ell on Friday night, and will be re-
! fcrred to the Committee on Streets.
Il where nublic hear ring will he given IN