The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-12
Statement from the Virginia R'y and Power Co.

has refused application for competitive franchise of
pany the ground that would only lead duplication
vice and loss inconvenience the public where the evidence
failed show that adequate that
unreasonable and could be controlled through regulation
This principle of natural monopoly controlled through regula-
ton has been adopted III substantially all foreign countries and
all the Northern ground that competition
public encumbrance of the
Inconvenience to the public for rendering duplicate
which render and
duplication while better results be accomplished
less through reasonable regulation and control of public
vice corporations.
The this principle could be ocbly
aed than the experience of the city of Richmond in the past
twenty where competition resulted in
and in serious depreciation of public service properties and
the service rendered to the public
Under the laws of the State of Virginia the Council of the City
Richmond and the State Corporation Commission clothed
this character and the franchise under which this company
Council Of the City Of Richmond the right impose such
other regulations conditions and requirements it from
time, deem proper If the existing laws found de-
ece in respect they can be easily remeded by legislative
action.
In the pending hearing the application for light and
franchise the counsel for the Richmond Henrco Railway Com
pan admitted that the service both railway and light and power
furnished i'll Richmond by this company good and
to direct inquiry admitted that he had heard practically no COM
plants.
The question having whether the charged for light
and reasonable this company offered
the investigation either by other communities
by such other method the committee might adopt The
ne called of both parties furnish evidence
whether Richmond reasonable and fair
compared with other cities similarly situated After
months Of investigation the Richmond Henco Railway
Company presented the in only five cities and admitted be-
Richmond be fair This company presented the
large number of cities throughout the United States from which
demonstrated that the Richmond lower than
other similarly situated with few exceptions based upon
peculiar conditions which do not obtain in Richmond
The Richmond enrico Railway Company then stated that
willing accept franchise prescribing base
with the discounts allowed by the Virginia Rail
x Power Company cent base but when the
proposed apply this scale OF reduction to both light
and power and all service they earnestly 6esonght he
committee do and the amendment }oted do7oh The
franchise b0bod therefore, bopdes for loaey rates
d than the present schedule Of this company.
These hearings have demonstrated that the Richmond
both railway and light and power adequate and fully the
needs the and that the charged reasonable
below the general schedules other
similarly situated. Can the people of Richmond ask more?
The Virginia Railway and Power Company has sought
properties improved highest efficiency we'll
advance of the public needs of this community Since
the reorganization 1900 the company has expended
and has Under
ton improvements in Richmond follows
Addition to power station. 0OO,O0OOO
New office building commandments. 30OOOOOO