Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-06
street CAR COMPANY
WANTS 5-CENT FARES
Petition Is Filed With City Council
by President Thomas s.
Wheelwright.
CANNOT MAINTAIN SERVICE
Also Asks Skip Stop on Main Street
Line--Jeter Proposes Rerouting OF
Oakw0od and Main Street Line,
Now Duplicating Service.

increases In all operating costs the
company could not continue to main
tain its present service In Richmond
unless some relief in the way OF in
creased revenues is made possible.
President Thomas S. Wheclwright. Of
the Virginia Railway and Power Com
pany, petitioncd the Common Council
last night to suggest what remedy be
given the company. The matter was re-
fcrred to the Finance Committee. as re-
quested by the company.
In councilmanic circles. the petition,
which was filed with City Clerk Ben Il.
August yesterday afternoon. was take
to mean the first step In a straight /
cent fare in Richmond. Several months
ago a similar paper was introduced in
tho Council. but was defeated in the
Finance Committee. 1t is expected that
counsel for the traction company will
appear before the committee when che
paper Is considered.
OPERATING MORE CARS
THAN FRANCHISE REQUIRES
President wheclwrlgh, declared that
the company, to meet traffic conditions.
was forced to operate many more cars
than Is required by rs franchise. I'm
less the revenues of the company are
increased. he said, the operation Of
these cars cannot be continued. and The
travelling public must be content with
fewer number of cars.
), Some months ago the Virginia Rail-
way and Power Company abolished the
use Of "six-for-a-Quarte-" tickets in
Norfolk and Petersburg, and electric
car patrons in both cities are row pay
ing straight 5-cent fare. Franchise
requirements in Richmond. however.
stipulate the sale Of tickets. and their
use cannot be discontinued without
the approval of he Council
The traction company is, apparently.
open to practically any solution of the
problem which tho Council may sug-
Sest.. AT its request the petition Will
be considered by the Finance Commit
tee. which will report what relief can
De granted. and upon what conditions.
In certain quarters the statement was
made last night that action looking
TO the granting OF Il blanket franchise
should be taken. in order that the rclu-
lions between the company and the
4, city might be closer.
WOULD INTRODUCE
SkIP-STOP SYSTEM
In companion resolution, the Vir-
tinia hallway and Power Company also
petitioned the Council to be allowed to
Introduce the "skip-stop" system on
The Main Street line for a period OF
ninety days. This same suggestion was
before the Council several months ago,
and was defeated. 1t is planned to
give the new system TRY out" west
of Foushcc Street and cast Of Twenty
second The resolution was referred to
the Committee on Streets
Councilman John II. Jeter offered an
ordinance providing for conference
between tho street Committee and
tho traction company looking 10 the
rcrou.ing OF the OaKwood and Main
street line. Officials Of the comDany
contend that there is little use for this
inn ,,r,I
arrangement OF The equipment now
used
AFTER lengthy argument. the Coun-
eli voted 20 amend the present traffic
ordinance. increa sing the maximum
speed limit in certain sections of the
city, and providing graduated speeds in
special sections. Considerable opposi-
ton TO the amendment arose, and IL
was only after lengthy discussion that
the measure was finally adopted by a
vote OF II 20 5. Those opposing the
ordinance on roll call 'vc7. Messrs.
Laid. Moore. Powell, Seaton and UNI
lauf.
FIFTEEN MILES IN
CONTESTED SECTIONS
The amendment pro vides for a maxi
mum speed of fifteen miles in the sec
ZION bounded by Adams, Nineteenth.
clay Streets and the James River:
TO the corporate limits, Seventh Street.
south Richmond. and Brook Avenue
from broad Street to the tracks of the
Scatoard Air Line Railway COMPANY
in font IF school buildings, when
children arc enjoying recess or are
going to and from their homes, the
speed Is set at ten miles. which is
The same rate prescribed for city marks
twenty mics is the limit established
Tor all other sections of the city.
councilman Seaton opposed the
amendm> mt, on the ground that the in
creased speed would be dangerous to
children. w!o, without backyards, were
forced to- play on the sidewalks, and
because 40 per cent Of those driving
cars would not respect any law. He
declared that the lives of children were
or more value than the necessity for
speeding. and said that the city had
nothing TO guide il but past exDeri-
F. encc
Mr. Moore thought that the amend
mcnt YVES sought simply because the
police had been enforcing the traffic
ordinance, and said that since IL had
oee1 in operation only since May, it
should be given fair trial. Efforts
were apparently being made. Council
man Powell said. to whir the Council
into changing the law. and he wanted
10 know why street cars had not been
tiSPc' sSo. HcEc WAS Il STATE law re-
curing them to operate at speed not
greater than twelve miles, he declared,
yet not a single car was operated
within the law. and not single report
had been made by the police
OPPOSE CREATION
OF NEW OFFICES
Another matter that caused cons!d-
cradle discussion was the motion of
councilman Sullivan for n reconsider
alton of the body's action at the SEN
TENDER meeting in defeating a resoIu-
ton transferring $500 from the cx-
pense account of the Fire Department
10 its payroll fund. The money was
needed for the employment of E. stem
osrapher to the secretary of the board
for the remainder OF the present fiscal
year. in order that a cost system might
be maintained.
Captain Morgan r. Mills again op-
posed the motion. for reconsideration.
fie said 1t was no time to create new
Offices, and that the services of an as
sistnnt were not needed in the office.