Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-30
NORTHERN SUBURBS SEEK
BETTER CAR SERVICE
interests in Franchise
Discussion.
WILL ASK FOR ALL.NIGHT CAR
Car Development Has Been East and
West to Injury OF Those Living
North and South, Property Owners
Claim.

Plans for definite organization OF
citizens and property owners in the
newly annexed section of the city north
of Bacons Quarter Branch to consider
the problems of street car service Will
shortly be announced. Preliminary
conferences have been held between
Highland Park. Barton Heights and
North Richmond. and call for gen
cral meeting is expected to be issued
shortly. The move. il is stated, is not
antagonistic to the Virginia Railway
and Power Company, but is intended to
place this section OF the city in POSI-
tion to protect it's interests in the dis
custom of the proposed new franchise
which the street railway company is
seeking.
The area embraced IL, the four
towns recently annexed and the inter
vening territory. all Of which is now
part of the city, alreay has n large
population of substantial people. many
of whom own their own homes, and
with the improvements which will fol-
low annexation, 1t is expected TO have
a large growth in the next few years
Looking forward thirty years--the pro-
posed period of the franchisc-it liz not
Uncomfortable that the section north
of tile ravine may embrace one of the
largest and most thiclily settled resi-
Dental sections OF the city.
CLAIM THAT PRESENT LINES
ARE INDIRECT AND INADEQUATE
This area, embracing many square
miles and already with a large popu-
lation. is now served by two single
track car lines, the Highland Park line.
which crosses the Fifth Street viaduct,
and the line out North First Street,
which. after wandering through Barton
Heights and North Richmond. makes
Its way through other suburbs by an
indirect route to Gintcr Park. and
thence by Joseph Bryan Park to Lake
side.
Those behind the movement claim
that they are not unreasonable or
arbitrary In their demands. They do
not now expect n first-class double
track car service to every suburb, but
they do want to see that the franchise
is properly safeguarded. so that at the
proper time the city will be In q posi-
ton to require the construction or
double tracking of such lines as may
BIO necessary to serve the community-
in other words, that the car system
must grow with Tor little in adj
vance off the population. The sug-
gested franchise submitted by the com
pany makes n rearrangemcnt OF the
old corporate limits by using the tracks
OF the Richmond and Hcnrico Company.
out Fifth to Baker Street, n change
that is not objectionable, and which
seems to meet every requirement. OF
good service.
WANT FAIR GROUNDS
LINE EXTENDED
II is with the track conditions,
routes and schedules beyond the
viaducts that the citizens OF the. North
side will interest themselves. The sit
uation In Ginter, Park Is only partly
relieved by the rapid transit service
OF the Richmond and Chesapeake Ray
Railway. The infrcquent schedule and
the failure TO transfer to town lines.
however, results In the greater num-
Der OF people In this suburb having to
lose time on their daily trips to Rich
mond while the street car winds about
the narrow streets OF other suburbs
before coming into the heart Of the
city.
The company says nothing In it's
pending application of n plan sub
mitted two years ago and obstructe ed
by the Board OF Supervisors of Hen
rico County OF extending the present
Fair Grounds line along the Boulevard
over the railroad bridge to the a. p.
Hill monument and thence to Joseph
Bryan Park and Lakeside, thus giving
to the Hermitage Road section direct
car service In half the time and dis
lance COW occupied. While perhaps
the time is not yet ripe, it is the hope
OF Ginter Park that 1t may one dav
have line down ChamberIaync Ave-
nue. directly into the city, thus leay-
Ing the Barton Heights line to give
direct service to that suburb North
Richmond and the section lying directly,
beyond.
WOULD HAVE DEFINITE PLAN
FOR FUTURE EXTENSIONS
In connections with the Mayors city
planning ideas, il has been suggested
that competent traction experts and
engineers be retained by the city to
map off the logical line Of travel-thc
routes from one section OF the CITY to
another over which people would
naturally wish to go. and to draw the
proposed new franchise accordingly.
the new lines so outlined to DE CON
structed only when the City Council is
convinced OF their need to meet the
requirements or public service. the
company in accepting the franchise
binding itself to build such additional
routes when required, as n part of its
payment to the city for the general
grant. 't-
The immediate desire of the North
side citizens. however. is for an all
night service. Three "owl cnr'' SER
vices are now maintained from the eS-
IRENE eastern end OF the city to tho
West End, but there is no all-night
service north and south. With the
constantly increasing number OF night
workers in railway and other employ
ments. the demand ras constantly
grown.
WANT NORTH AND
SOUTH "OIvL. CAR
The company claims that. none of
the owl cars pny, but that they are
operated at a loss because OF franchise
requirments. AS condition precedent
TO new franchise, therefore. many
night workers in Barton Heights, Gin
ter Park and In South Richmond are
banding together in n petition to the
Council to include in the franchise a
requirement that an all-night chr be
operated from the head of Chamber
layne Avenue, In Ginter Park, to the
head of Hull Street. in South Rich
mondTsay at intervals OF an hour. or
mn hour and half One car it is
claimed, could readily meet this dc
Tnnd for an all-night service from the
extreme northern section Of the city