Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-07
EXPERT TO ADVISE CITY
IN FRANCHISE MAT TER
Richmond Society of Engineers Rec.
ommends Employment of Trac-
ton Authority.
TO COMPILE PERTINENT DATA
Specialist With Training in Traction
Branch of Public Utilities Urged
as Adviser in Solution of Great
Problem.

The employment of an expert trac-
ton engineer to advise the city and
assist it in looking after its interests In
the granting of 4 new franchise to the
Virginia Railway end Power COMPANY.
is advised by the Richmond Society of
Engineers In n letter that has been re-
ceived from Arthur Scrivenor, presi-
dent of the society. by Chairman Fill
bert K. Pollock, OF the Council Street
Committee. before which body tho fran
chisc application is pending.
The committee has fixed. May II for
an initial hearing on the franchise pe-
tition. MIR. Scrivcror, on behalf Of the
Richmond Society OF Engineers, writes
Mr.. Pollock as follows:
"understandng that YOU invite tho
public TO offer remarks or suggestions
on the subject # the proposed grant
of new franchise to take the place
Of the several franchises under which
tho Virginia Railway and Power Com
pany is ut present operating the Rich
mond Society OF Engineers presents for
your consideration n suggestion, as an
expression of their interest in your
cndeavors on the city's behalf, and also
in the successful operation of the prom
critics of the Virginia Railway and
Power Company for the benefit of all
concerned.
EXPERT WOULD STUDY
LOCAL TRACTION CONDITIONS
"1nasmuch as the question before YOU
is of such great Importance, both to
the city and to the Virginia Railway
and Power Company. and the conclu-
sions arrived ut will be so far-reachiur
IN their effect the society believes that
1t Will be advisable to seek the assist
ance of an advisory engineer. who shall
, nave specialized In the traction branch
OF public utilities. Briefly, the duty of
this engineer would be to obtain for
you all Procurable and pertinent data
bearing on conditions which now. and
which in the future may affect tho
street railway system of the CITY. to
analyZe and tabulatc the data for your
use; and then. should you decide that
new contract is advisable, to assist
you In the preparation of one which
might he OF mutual advantages to the
city and to the company
othcr citics-for example, San Fran
cisco and Chicago-have had before
| them questions similar to that now be-
lorc you; and they have successfully
employed traction engineers to assist
in the consideration OF the many proh-
lens presented, such as n fair valuation
or The properties, the distribution Of
population. the re-routing of car lines
10 facilitate traffic, rates of fare tho
consideration of present and possible
future conditions Of traffic. desirable
extensions and future deyclopmcnt ctc
n successful solution Of which problems
is desirable SO that there may be Sc
cured the greatest efficiency of service
and the greatest good to the travelling
public.
EXPENSE WOULD he
MORE THAN JUSTIFIED
, IAN engineer who can competentlv
assist you will necessarily be one OF
large experience in the matters in
VOWED; but the society believes that the
cost OF his services. which would, of
course, depend upon the extent Of tho
assistance you required of him. would
be small as compared with the time
saved to you. with the value OF the
franchises, and with the value OF the
results obtained to the city
Should you desire to consider this
suggestion further, and have difficulty
IN learning OF competent engineer.
the society offers It's assistance in Sc
curing for your consideration the names
of available engineers. And the So
ciety Will be glad to assist in any wav
II properly can and may until happv
solution Is arrived at"