The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-12

OF the property but by arbrators The capital invested
IN tese tracks poles and conduts is large must be
carried by the existing company, is uncomfortable
that any arrangement be made by which fair pro-
portion OF that investment will be borne bv the new
company he result is that the new company comes
III 10 take the business of the existing company free
from the handcaps which conditions have imposed in
the construction OF these works This is not fair conn
petition.
The present company Is carrying an enormous amount
OF Improbable construction in the outlying districts "a
the city and suburbs necessary the proper growth
anu oeVeloPment on the community but Improbable To
the company To Offset this loss profit must be de.
from the power contracts and business in the cen,
Ua district This company has at present IA miles "A
wire in the suburbs of Richmond outside of the corpor
ate limits, but little of which Yields the onera+ng 40
Pense The same condition exists as to railway tracks
what advantage has come to this community from,
ene construction OF the Richmond and Henrico Raiwaya
hey are operating on the tracks of this COMPANY or
on tracks and parallel thereto and thew are render
ing no service OF practical value which the existing COM
pany not already rendering with the excent;o 90
the vladuct on Marshall Street This companv Dro,oeed
10 construct such vaduct Broad Street and would
have done so if the Richmond and Henrico Con,,.n,
dd not oeen IN the field, and the vaduc if constructed
woua nave been tree and not toll bridge Every dol
lar OF toll paid this bridge is part of the nr;ce +b+
the people of Richmond paying for this connet;+;o
he new road is admittedly operating at loss Tba
people, therefore, have their streets dug lid and Oh
sructed with this duplicating service they thew were
"ieaoy getung from the existing company and the only
eneet Is waste OF time and waste of money IN op-
Grating unnecessary and every dollar of loss to the
Virginia Railway and Power Company imposed h., M.
competition crppes it that in its efforts to ex
tend its lines and to develop the community What is
the profit from such competition?
lhc same result will follow the duplication of the lines
Tor light and power service The present service both
railway and light and power, is adequate. 1t meets
every reasonable requirement of the community 1t is
operated broad and liberal lines There is no assure
ance OF reduced rates continuing competition
To duplicate that service beyond the needs &c +bs
community only means economic waste The loss
may fall upon one or the other company for time but
ultimately history will repeat itself and both companies
Will be owned by interest and the burden Of the
additional and unnecessary capital investment and losses
in operation will be borne by the community for all time
to come.
1t is the history of such competitive enterprises that
they have often become such menace to existing enter
prise that they have been sold profit to the pro-
motors, but it would be difficult to find case where
they have produced any profit the community served
these are some of the which we have pre-
scented to the committee why these franchises should
not be granted The interests Of this comnan, aud 80
the city OF Richmond nscparably interviewer the
prosperity OF one the prosperity of the Others
the GRIPPING OF one means the injury OF the other.
other communities have adopted the broad and econ-
oiAN POey vi reasonable regulation and
control Tor disastrous expensive and impossible mettods
OF competition The people of Richmond have this
power OF regulation and control They must determine
whether they will profit by their experience and that
OF other communities, or continue course which is
alike disastrous to the city and to invested capital
We are asking that these franchises be refused be.
l. There has been and is absolutely no need for com.
petition IN either railway light and power service in
Richmond; the duplication OF plant and service only
means additional cost to the community in the end
ne service both railway and light and power,
OF tins community is adequate, liberal given at rea-
The company needs all its resources in the devet
oPent OF Its properties and in making improvements
ana extensions to keep pace with and contribute to the
growth and prosperity OF this city, and does not desire
TO waste its resources in useless competitive warfare
IN the purchase OF other properties which only mean
waste and burden to the community
a. This company and those in control have invested
their capital freely and have dealt fairly with the people
OF Richmond and they entitled to fair or even lib
eral treatment from the city long as they continue
to properly guard the interests of the city and to render