The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-29
GOULD INTERESTS
WILL ASK COUNCIL
FOR FRANCHISE
Would Surrender All Exist
ing Rights for New Con-
tract With City.
THINK SERVICE CAN
BE GREATLY IMPROVED
Annexation Will Bring On Prob
lens Both of Taxation and
Transportation.
PLANS NOT YET COMpIETt,D
'rico CompAny's Lighting Fran.
chise Now Worthless, Never
Having Been Used.
PLANS NOT YET COMPLETED
Henrico Company's Lighting Fran.
chise Now Worthless, Never
Having Been Used.

coincident with or shortly after IN,
PRONUNCIATION OF the anneyation ord,
nance on November g. the Virein,s
railway and Power Companv vii
apply to the City Council for neu
"ianket franchise to supplant the sev.
ises under which the various
street railway lines owned by the com.
pany In this city are now opernted
se'eral principal factors IL is stated
enter INTO the movement for "a nev
! franchise. II IS the desire of tho Vir.
GINA hallway and Power COMPANY m
elect long planned economics. in the
transportation system by the eltminu-
tion OF needless parallel lines whose
operation has been compulsory under
'ne franchises through which they were
/ nDsorbed by the present company.
ANNEXATION RAISES
PROBLEMS OF TAXATION
The second big factor In the move
'nent OF taxation IL the fmpendtn9 an
heHauon and the considerable track
mileage now operating in the county
"hicii the Enlargement will throw into
,he CITY proper. This shifting of the
mes from suburban into urban terri
tory complicates tho problem OF taxa
ton. since the city imposes a gradu
ated franchise tax carrying from az TO
~ per cent of the gross receipts from
traf'fc. while the county imposes ONLY
an AL vaiorem tax on tho physical
p''pCitS VI Snt TOAQ.
1t IL the desire OF the Virginia Rail
':ay and Power Company. 10 simplify
inc taxation problem b. bringing all
the lines together under one blanket
franchise. making the whole system
subject - :. uniform franchise tax. The
conpanEs street railway system Is nov.
operated under five separate franchises
each bearinge different date Of e1pira
tion.
WILL ASK COUNCIL E-OR
THIRTi-YEAR FRANCHISE
IL is the plan of the company TO
secure. If possible. q blanket. franchise
for the whole system which win be in
lorce th'rE years from the date OF
ratification
SIN another factor that enters into
the movement liz the early sale OF the
Richmond AMI Henrico Railway Com
maE's property. While II Is under
stood that this property Will eventual
iy be absorbed by the Virginia Railway
ana POWER Company. the terms OF it's |
disposition will have an important bear |
Ing upon the form OF franchise that |,
viii De ask ed for
AZ the Offices Of the Virginia Railway !
ana Power Company directing authori-
,ies we're disinciined to discuss in detail
nc plan that Will be laid before the
Council. The scheme II was stated,
aas s,ill in it's formative stage, and
las not yst taken definite shape
'ARfING PROVISIONS
CAUSE CONFUSION
Henry w. Anderson. vice president
md general counsel tor the Virginia
galway and Power Company, made the
ollowing statement:
The Virginia Railway and Power
'ompany has had under consideration
ONE revision OF tho existing franchise
onditions. which are In state OF
'reat confusion. owing to the varying
PROVISIONS OF the franchises in the city
nd III the annexed territory and the
inercnt dates OF expiration. II is be-
eved that complete revision Of the
ranchiSes to meet modern conditions {
nd 20 enable the company TO estab-
sh adequate service along the natural
mes OF travel in the greatly enlarged ,
erritory now In the city. would be of
dEantage to the whole community, as
ell as to the company. All OF these ,
latters are now being considered, and 6
Is probable that they Will be pre- s
'nted 10 the Council In the near future. ,
VI no definite conclusions as TO the /
odlhcations OF existing franchises. I
men VIII be suggested. have yet been {
.ached. nor is the company In a posi-
on as yet to state Just what will be
roposed.
With regard to the Richmond and 7
anrico Railway. the company has G
aver owned and does not now own T.
~ interest in this property Whether q
VIII De purchaser or even "A bidder q
Inc sale, II ts impossible now to say. =,
pc company has always taken the b
'sition that the consolidation Of all h
e street railway lines In q community 7.
this Kind was necessary, in order to e,
sure a satisfactory service, but TO n
nat extent. if at all. the sale or pur-
ase or the Richmond and IIenrico u,
ie WIN aftect the franchise plans Of W
is company, cannot be known unt,I r.
1T S1te actually takeH place'
wv HOLD MANY -
-, VARYING CONCESSIONS a,
! ne company's railways on tho north or
le or the river are operated under ar
re- iranchises granted by the Council: &C
me franchise of the Richmond Trac itr
~ Company. approved August % of
20. which expires by limitation on ~
nuary ]. 1926. ,,e
mo franchise OF the Richmond Pas tb
10 e. ana lower Company. approved vi
lltaton on+January 81, 1881. ~,
The franchise OF the WesthamDton -
Tx Railway Company. covering only ',
right TO cross the city Boulevard rio
proved August II, 1901, which is W
united !, a., as TO duration. but is sub r.
to revocation by the Council. ~
u ADDITION to these the Virginia Rail -,
} and Power Company operates on
Southside. the Hull Street line
ier franchise granted to the Rich
hd ana Manchester Improvement
npany; and the Forest Hill line
Ter franchise granted to the South
Railway and Development Com So
NRICO LIGHTING FRANCHISE ,
;, ~ NOW WORTHLESS ,or
ne Nichmond and tienrico Railway
npany's street railway franchise cx.
IS by limitation In 1882 This COM ,;n
y owns also light and power 'o
nch,se which expires on December ,,n
i92f This franchise. however. has ~
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