The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-26
SEEKS
TO DEAL JUSTLY
PRESIDENT wHEELWRIGHT SAYS
WOULD DEAL WITH CITY
WITH ILBERALITY.

President Thos. H. wheelwright. Of
the Virginia Railway and Power Com
pany. has addressed the following
communication to the Administrative
Board. relative to the charge made by
the railway companw for the use OF
January %. 1915.
ITO the Honorable Administrative
Board. Richmond. va.
Notwithstanding this company
has received no direct complaint from
the Administrative Board our atten-
ton has been called to various news
paper articles in which the board Is
reported as protesting vigorously
against the charges made by the
NorthMde viaduct Company and the
Brookland Railway and Power and
Improvement Company for tolls for
the use by city departments OF the
viaducts on First and Fifth Streets.
We feel that II these newspaper ar
ticles correctly report tho position OF
the board. IL must be due to mis-
understanding OF the situation.
THE Virginia Railway and Power
Company owns the majority of the
stock of the Northside Viaduct Com
psny. which owns the Fifth-Street
viaduct. and ma Jority of the stock
OF the Brookland Railway and Inn
provement Company. which owns the
First street viaduct, the remainder OF
distributed in the hands OF private
owners.
Built Without Cty's Aid.
Both OF these viaducts were con-
structed with private capital without
any assistance from the city or any
other public source, and the capital
so invested Is solely dependent for a
return uron the toll derived from
these viaducts.
The fact that the corporate limits
OF the city have been enlarged so az
to embrace these viaducts does not
! OF course, change the character OF
the property, or the property flEnts
/ with respect to the same, although
1.-The increase Of the burden upon the
| property as o result OF CITY taxa,ioH
| Is very considerable.
we do not suppose that II would
/ re suggested that any rriVats prop.
erty constructed with private 'sapita'
| Should he open to public use with.
! ont compensation merely because u
! has been brought within the corporate
/ limits Of the city. and there IL NJ
/ more reason for extending to the CIT!
the privilege of free use OF this prop
ertv than there is Cor extending to the
/ city the right OF the free Use OF any
I other property OF this company. OF
1 OF any other Individual in the city
/ The management OF this company, al
/ trustees for the owners OF this prop
| erty. have no right to surrender III
/ revenues without some compensation
1 therefor.
4 Seeks TO Deel Justly.
4 This company has always pursued
the policy OF seeking to deal JUST!
and even literally with tho city In al
OF its relations We understand thu
I city attorney has given an opinion tt
the effect that the company in cnarx
4 fnK toll fer the Use Of thass yiaducfi
In acting strictly within Its lega
I rights. and this would seem to be toi
clear for discussion.
4 III any reason can be suggested
why finis property should be open fo'
the free use Of the city any more
[ than to the free use OF sne citizens
this. company would be glad TO give
the matter due consideration.
As you are aware. the rnll Is no
collected from the representatives O
the city departments using the via
ducts at the time of such use. but
1 record IL kept OF the uBe and bills arr
/ rendered monthly. There Is, there
Il fore, no delay nor Interference witt
Il the respective functions OF the citl
officers and employees
III the present regulations in TIM
regard are Objectionable. the company
would be glad TO receive any sugEes
| tions fer tho modification thereof IL
| order to facilitate the discharge q
the duties of the respective city en
ployes"
Respectfully.
Il THOs. 8, wiEELwRTGHT
|, President.