Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-09
FIRST FRANCHISE HEARING
WILL Be HELD ON APRIL |.
Street Committee Names Date for
Initial Consideration OF Big
Question.
CLOSE LOWER PERRY STREET
Ordinance Is Recommended Allow
ing Southern Railway Company to
Occupy 15O-I'oot Section OF High
way Leading to Old Station.

Thursday. April ], at o'clock, WAS
fixed yesterday afternoon by the Coun-
ell Committee on Streets for tho nrst
hearing on the Virginia Hallway and
rover Company's application for Il new
blanket franchise to supplant the sew
eral distinct grants under which II is
now operating it's street railway and
light and power transmission lines I'm
this city.
Henry w. Anderson, vicc-prcsident
ana general counsel for the company.
informed tho committee that his com
pany Is now I'm position to join the
committee In the consideration OF the
franchise application, and asked TINT
u date for Il hearing be set. The com
bahy was represented also by Vice
PRESIDENT Fritz Sittcrding and General
Attorney Alexander B. Guigon.
Ar. Anderson presented to tho com
mittee twenty copies OF an s00-pagn
volume containing a compilation OF nil
the franchises granted 10 II and its
predecessors In title. With tho VOL
nmc the company supplied blue prints
showing the new track arrangement
suggested in the tentative franchise.
and diagram showing the gcncaology
OF tho present company and it's descent
from the companies and corporations
that preceded IT.
Alderman Fuller thought that tho
volume and the information II con-
tanned could not be digcsted by the
committee. excellent MS it's digestion
was. before the first OF next month.
hxed for April !. Alderman Gunst
asked that all hearings on tho fran
chise application be held in the even
ing. In order that all interested citizens
might nave an opportunity TO attend
them.
Tho committee recommended for PAS
sage an ordinance closing lower Perry
street. In South Richmond. Tho street
Is to be closed for n distance Of about
100 feet from the old Southern paHsen-
ger station. 1t was pointed out to tho
committee that tho street was useful
only az an approach to tho station. and
Slice tho Few passenger station has
been built on Hull Street. there will
be no further need for Its maintenance
Ihe ordinance allows tho Southern
Hallway Company TO appropriate this
strip. siSty-siN feet wide and about $50
rect lohS. ana to incorporate II as part
or It's south Richmond yards. City En-
E!nccr boiling told the committee that
inc stub end OF Perry Street. in Ques-
ton. WAS OF no use TO any one but tho
railway company. and that there was
no objection TO closing It.
The same view expressed by
councilman Carter g. Jones, of South
Richmond. who saw no need OF ,nnIn-
tanning the street as n public highway.
There liz no possibility. he said. OF cx-
tending II 20 the river, and II IS value
less AS AN avenue for traffic.
Councilman English objected TO pre-
scntinE the railway company with n
perpetual easement over the section OF
tho street In question, and thought il
was opposed TO good public policy He
offered an amendment 10 tho ordinance
providing that IL may he revoked Mt
any time ut the pleasure OF the Coun-
ell. but withdrew II when 1t became
evident that tho committee did not
share his opinion.