The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-10

To Editor o The Times Dispatch
Sr&s former citizen of Richmond, and a continuing tax
payer taken the discussion which
on in your city for some time past the subject of competition
between public service corporations
have disposition break the discussion remembering
do the fate of that ndscrete who undertook
peacemaker in family fight But Richmond may
the experience of Newport News in this competition
and so / publish this chapter history.
When Newport News began city the railways
young. but the city and electricity developed
Newport Hampton Old and the interyen
territory offered inviting field for exploitation
the brief history Of the Shpbudng city there have been many
operations much competition and long of financial
disasters.
The begun a land boom fake
than half mile of track laid and the road operated
But there finally Hampton railroad builder
he built real line of road from Old Point Newport News This
the late j. s Darling The company which he
operated this road without competition until w Payne beiev-
ing that the lower Peninsula was to see great development secured
charter for road parallel the Darling lines Before
Mr. Payne began build opened up
companies Mr. Payne
purchased the Darling lines the lighting plant Hampton
consolidated them under the Of the Newport
Old Point Railway and Electric Company.
The we'll backed. financially Mr. at
proceeded rehabiae the property He built power
station of 100000 which regarded
plants of that He replaced light
rails with 9nch 9opound grder rails quauped the equipment
paved which passed Of
something like 100000 Mr. Payne company good
and promised be blessing the community. Notwithstanding
that pretty well loaded down with bonds and preferred
But year later troubles began. local company secured
franchise Tor competing line from Newport News to Old Point
Mr. Payne company thought cheaper buy this company
before had been he paid gave
owners so have heard, profit of $4,000
Bu all In 1901 another company started
mp competing electric lighting enterprise plant erected
and the company did business Complaint had been made that the
Of the city lights and lower
the old had been charging Competition
sharp and the old company the
The plant finally sold Pittsburg concern but
the course OF eighteen months went into receivers hands and
said that he salvage from plant that had cost 100000
about $4,000 The result the city another failure and
duplicate of poles and wires which ncumhered the streets
for years before they finally removed
company utterly dead competition
formidable form again pang Tho Newport News and Old
Point Railway and Electric Company was heavily in debt as
have said OF local who knew the situation
il capitalization Of 100000 this
ay at1 make money how much more coud new COMPANY
with capitalization 100000 prosper the Hampton
Roads Railway and Electric Company chartered 10 build line
Newport Old Point and Baekroe Beach by
Boulevard" along the Hampton Roads
shore The line partly built but it Of few days and full
trouble beautiful along the front, and
had but it weak
both financially physically power plant scarcely able
pub heavy the elevated railroad bridge aud the
lost much patronage account OF the constant delays
the bridge The snews OF war finally gave out and this
company the of its predecessors and fell into recel
hands
BY the issuance OF receivers certificates funds were obtained
which complete the road 10 Old Point but ITS doom was
took enough money to
~ GENERATING exnenses to saw nothing of fixed harges 1t was
agreed sale and TO $1uoooo OF
with interest cent for four and Il per cent
the bonds he guaranteed by the Newport News and
Old Point Railway and Electric Company
The bondhde purchased these bonds at So but as they were a
which finally
dollar The
receivershp in
Old Point 100000
of the original 100000
result the Jandyce little
the
read The house dsmaned
bridge
All
original
he
competition running into the hundreds
All that
So, The
sould
lines squandered in lighting
wreck Not only
plant broke down day the
night frequently when the assembled theatres
public
had candles Saturday nights light
now 10