The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-21
FIGHT INCREASE
IN RAILWAY RATE
Attorney Tells How Virginia
Beach Promoter Bought
Himself Out.
ELECTRIC LINE LOST MONEY
General Sale and Colonel Stern
Take Stand i'll Opposition
to Advance.

Charges that the Norfolk Southern
Railway is attempting to make sub
urban All dtransent patrons pay the
interest on useless investments on It's
electric division. were made before the
State Corporation Commission yester
day by Colonel Waltor II. Taylor. OF
Norfolk. 1t was stated that In COM
putting tho cost Of operation OF tho
electric line. account was taken Of In
terest on tho bonds of the Cape Henry
division, which was once a competing
road. and is useless in reaching Vir
ginia Beach, since the south route an
swers the same purpose.
The commission heard the evidence
Norfolk Southern TO be permitted to
increase It's round-trlp rate from ~ to
40 cents per passenger between Nor
folk and Virginia Beach. The case was
submitted.
"Flint built tho Cane Henry line
said Colonel Taylor. 'in competition
with the road already operated to Vir-
ginia Beach. Finding at last that he
could not succeed in his scheme of
piracy and falling to force the other
road to buy him out. he secured n
controlling interest In the Norfolk
Southern and bought himself out"
Lawyers md witnesses.
Colonel William b. Rodman appear
ed as counsel for tho Norfolk Southern
Railway. while Colonel Taylor. of Nor
folk; former Judge A. j Ackiss Of
Princess Anne. and George A. Frick.
Of Baltimore, head OF the Virginia
Beach Development Corporation. APP
peared as attorneys for the protesting
citizens of Virginia Beach and OF Nor
folk
,rho roilro.d comnanv's Witnesses
were F. l.. Nicholson. chief engineer.
and G. =. Dugan, superintendent OF
construction for the Norfolk Southern
with r. r. Baldwin. real estate agent
of Norfolk. The officials produced
fgures to show that the electric divi-
sion of the road was losing money
having never succeeded In even pay
ing interest on It's bonds, the stock
holders realizing nothing. The real
estate man gave 'n estimate OF ne
value Of property owned By the rail-
road at tho beach.
For the contestants, the stand was
taken by Judge Ackiss and Mr.. Flick
Mayor p =. Holland and c. Dewitt,
OF the town of Virginia Beach; George
A. Parker Of Occana: Adjutant-Gcn-
oral w. " sale and Inspector General
10 Lane stern. OF Richmond.
All testified as to the growing trans
por,ation business on the road, and the
citizens told OF buying property at the
beach and al intervening ppl'AS NdS~'
on the rate of % cents for the round
trip.
The states Position.
General Sale said that the present
rate was n consideration In establish :
ing the State rife range ami camp site
near Virginia Beach. the cost of haul
ing soldiers being 4 considerable item,
Colonel Stern said the same thing.
Producing n copy OF The Times Dis
patch Of yesterday, Colonel Rodman
cross-examining General Sale. demand
ed II he was responsible for an article
appearing therein concerning the nigh
rate IL was proposed TO charge for
hauling the militia TO the camp in July.
Tho Adjutant-General replied that
while he did not inspire il. 1t was based
on information furnished by him to
reporter for the paper, who had made
inquiry of him concerning the facts
He was then asked about statement
In the article concerning the trouble
the state has had with the railroad, and
lie expressed Willingness 10 go into
that matter II desired. but the subject
was pursued no further.
Chairman Prentis, OF the Corpora
ton Commission. inquired OF Colonel
Rodman If. in the new rates. any con-
cession had been proposed for perma-
nent residents OF Virginia Beach and
OF other suburban points on the line.
to which he replied that that matter
had not been considered.