The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-03


power franchises now owned ~ ycns
!, petitioner ~ aforesaid or BY the Rich
! mond and Henriee Railway Company
} | II would seem to he obviously 10 the
interest of the city Of Richmond te
consolidate ali of such rights within
the entire city into one modern fran
ehiss contract ia the erd that the
/ rights of the city and Of the company
In the entire territory may be clear
, and consistent. and thus facilitate ad-
ministration by the city and opera
tion by the company to secure an
efficient public service. and also to pro
, vide for the expiration Of all such
rights within the corporate limits oil
the city OF Richmond on one date.
Has Prepared As Ordinance.
In accordance with the general or
dinance OF the city Of Richmond. yeur
petitioner has prepared form of or
d,nance which IL Is believed will ne
complish this result and which is pre-
scented herewith This form of ordin-
lance Ia only rough draft and con
tains some provisions which your pc
utloner believes should not be inserted
in an ordinance OF this character, but
In the preparation of said draft, your
petitioner has endsavored To conform
as far as possible 10 the provisions of
existing ordinances and the draft so
presented win constitute a basis for
discussion and consideration by the
proper committees and by the Com
Gil
Change of TNrnckngw and Rout~n.
Both the electric railway and light
and power tines in this territory have
developed through competitive sys-
TENS which are now consolidated ana,
as a result, there has been construc-
OF the requirements and without due
regard 10 the convenience Of the com
tnunlty. many tracks or lines beinT d.
rectlv parallel and only one block
apart This duplication OF trackage
leads to unnecessary obstruction OF
the streets, excessive car mileage and
other burdens upon the traffic, and
produces no corresponding benefits to
the public The growth of the city
and change of centers of population
has resulted In modification of the
natural lines of travel and many of
the present tracks and routes In this
city are not adapted TO the require
rnents Of the traffic. thus causing un-
necessary embarrassment md expense
TO the company and preventing An
efficient 1nd convenient public service.
Pv ~earranEement az traekage and
reroutiug Of ears TO meet existing con
dere1 with iess obstruction to and dis
! t,rrbsnce of the streets and public
highways Of the community and much
If the present waste In operation
avoided.
IN the draft of ordinance accompany
ing this petition, the trackage pro-
posed to be maintained and new track
aga to be constructed 20 accomplish
this result appears In detail and K
baf all tracks Capgrei
by the provisions of said ordinance
now existing In the city OF Richmond
shall be removed as therein provided.
Included In thia reerrangement OF
tsackaEe Is the trnckage OF the Rich
monG and Henrico Railway Company
which, under arrangements recently
perfected with the holders OF the bonds
OF said company. should said bond
holders ne the purchasers of said prop
srty can be reediusted to conform to
the proposed new system OF tracEage
in this territory and so much of the
tracks OF said company as cannot be
used as a part of said new system are
to be removed
The present franchises provide GER
tain specific routes upon which the
ears shall be operated throughout the
terms of the franchises and certain
: schedules or Roadway for all cars on
strated and 1t must be obvious upon
consideration that It Ia impossible &c
Ak the routes of cars or the schedules
for a period Of thirty years. or any
other definite period. to meet tbs
changing requirements OF traffic 1t ii
suggested, therefore. that In any new
franchise the company be required &c
: furnish an adequate and convenient
: service 10 the public, having regard
= to the changing conditions and re-
; quirernents Of public travel, and resery-
, ing to the city the power to require
the company. by penalties, further le-
r gislation or otherwise, to 1.-Two up tc
said requirements. This Is essentia
X fn order to provide for that elasticity
? In routes and service which will en-
able the company TO conform to the
2 changing traffic conditions, both as tt
routes and schedules.
Taxation.
The present franchise ordinancei
under which the lines OF this com
! pany within the city of Richmond ar
V operated, contain provisions requiring
the company TO pay to the city. ri
compensation for the use Of the streets
a certain percentage of the gross earn
ings. such percentages varying witt
| the different franchises, The com
DAnN lS Also FeIulFtu 70 pay II tSCeNS'
tax for doing an electric light ans
power business within the city and I
= pole tax on all poles OF the !. sht ant
power department
In addition "a these special nunic'
: pal taxes. the company ia REQUIRED I,
= pay the regular property ;ct md paw
- and keep In repair the stre~ts occ4
:, pied h. Its tracks. and TO sprinkle fh'
u streets AS q result Of these require
ments the company paid TO the city o
. Richmond in taxes. or expended for tn
purposes aforesaid In the year 1911
the following amounts:
y Tax on real and personal
. property ...,5 ,..,,.-..'- 43.f6S q
= Tax on railway earnings as
compensation for use Of
the streets ............. 7e,o42 |
street paving and repairs 42.s30 3
Shrinking streets ....... 6.291 7
. Pole and conduit TAX ....,.. T.S43 b
,, License tax on light and
J. power Observation-Disclosures. 1900 o
= Rental On free bridge $50. 1900
a Total ct. al 1870 :
or an amount equal to interest at tn
rate Of per cent per annum tthe cit,
rate) on approximately $4,000, 600.
Sell Tickets Below Cost.
In addition to these taxes AM
-. charyas the eornuany is REQUIRED by tn