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

81 y
property keown - Fsecst HiM Psen
and sabjecf only - tass 2nexvirsA lsape
! for the aanuse1nent privileges a4eresaS4
FeseFytns snly the right 70 eeke gravel
from . present gravel PIT on saad prop
s4ty, to which tracks are new located,
for . period vt two years from And
after said eenveyanee.
InxeeeA MsIlfsn DsllaPs n valHe.
The properties which your petitioner
thus proposes to transfer and convey to
the city Of Richmond have present
value In excess Of enc millien dellars
~ ,O0e,0ee).
These proposals. are made In pur-
suAnee Of what your petitioner deems
to be sound peliey both for the city OF
Richmond and the Virginia Railway
and Power Company. The city should
oYH ana control all streets, viaducts'
bridges and parks within It's corporate
limits and the use of such streets. high
ways viaducts, parks and public places
should be under the control and resu-
lation Of the city and only In accor-
dance with franchise contracts for q
limited period as provided by law.
Perpetual rights In such streets. II
owned by corporations. however, ac-
CURED. and the right to charge toll
upon such vfaducts or bridges. are
sources OF embarrassment to the city
In the exercise Of it's functions as q
municipal corporation and constant ir.
ritatfon to the public. II Is clearly
to the interest OF the city that al
franchise rights to OCCUPY the streets
and public places for the purposes OF
rendering public service within 1t,
corporate limits should expire at the
same time in order that the authori
ties of tho city may be free to deaI
with the renewal of said rights upor
favorable terms. On the other hand
II should be recognised that tho pur.
pose for which your petitioner. as q
public service corporation. IL created
is to render an efficient public SER
vice at reasonable rates: the service
should be efficient. having regard tc
all of the surrounding conditions. and
the rate should be reasonable both to
the company and to the public. 1t H.
therefore. to the interest both Of the
city and OF the company that your
petitioner should be granted tho rights
to occupy the streets of the city Of
Richmond upon clear and definite terms
with ono grant covering tho whole ter.
ritory and expiring Mt the same tins
as to every section of the city served
and that the provisions of this grant
should bo NJ liberal a. 10 consiston,
with the public interests and the re-
tsntion Of proper control and super
vision over the streets to the end that
tho service may be rendered at the
lowest operating cost.
T1me Fur Action View.
Your petitioner feels that the time
has arrived when the action proposed
herein should be taken. BY the en-
iargsmsnt Of the corporate nmits. tbs
dtf!aculties arising from the indefinite
tAl~
franchises are accentuated. tho com
pmny 10 confronted by the rdestrue.
tion OF credit and economic confusion
now prevailing. the effect Of which will
be felt for many years. while the
growth OF the city. and the fact tina,
II has become a recognized financial
and comm ercial center. renders II i'm
perative that all inter sts should co,
operate to measure up to the require
ments OF and promote that growth
Your petitioner stands ready TO do iti
utmost In the important hs1d OF pub.
lie service II limitations upon and
obstacles to It's normal and economical
development suggested herein are re
moved.
Your petitioner therefore prays thai
this. It's petition. and the accompanying
ordinance, may be cd ana that the
matters heretn and therein set forth
may have the due consideration Of the
Council and OF its proper committee OIL
committees and that an ordinance may
be passed granting . franchise fol
street railway, light and power service
in the manner prescribed by law.
Respectfully sumbittsd,
VIRGINIA RAILWAY AND PowEF
COMPANY
BY W. R wHEELwRIGHT.
President.