Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-22
ASHLAND TROLLEY
QUITS OPERATION
Car Service on Chesapeake Bay
Railroad Is Suspended
at Midnight.
RAILS MAY BE TORN UP
Property Owned by Frank Gould
Said to Be Improbable.
Commuters Left in Lurch.
RAILS MAY BE TORN UP

Operation OF trains on the Richmond
this city and Ashland. a distance Of
fifteen miles. ceased at midnight last
night, after permission to dissolve had
been granted the company by the State
Corporation Commission Dissolution
or the electric line and the discontinu-
ance OF trains. although anticipated in
certain quarters for several months.
come as a distinct shock and caused
wide discussion. Commuters returned
TO their homes. between Richmond and
Ashland, for the last tno on tho cleo
trio limo last night. and how they arc
To return 10 the city this morning IS
problematicsl.
Counsel for the railroad company pc
titioned the State Corporation Commits
zion yesterday morning to allow the
dissolution OF tho corporation. and the
order was entered several hours later.
Tho commission had no alternative. it
was stated. the recent decision OF the
Virginia Supreme Court Of Appeals In
tho Tidewater and Western Railroad
case clearly setting forth tho principle
that the governing body had no con-
troll in this connection over public
service corporations.
HAS BEEN OPERATED
AT A LOSS FOR YEARS
According to statements recently
made by officers OF the Richmond and
Chesapeake Bay Railway Company. the
railroad has been operated at a loss
for years. From tho time It was first
placed in operation. about ten years
ago. II has been an unsuccessful
adopted to remedy the situation. but
without material results. and AZ a las.
resort the company sought 10 reduce
It's train service about twelve months
ago. Because Of great opposition on
the part of patrons OF the line. no
action to reduce the service was taken
by the commission.
George II. Taylor. president OF tho
railroad company. issued tho follow.
Ing statement last night:
The. charter OF the Richmond and
Chesa peake Bay Hallway Company
was obtained from the State Corpora :
ton Commission in 1906. and imme :
ciately thereafter construction worl.
was commenced. The total cost OF
acquisition OF property and the con-
struction OF the road and equipment
was approximately $4,000. The work
was completed in 1907, since which
time service has been continued from
Richmond TO Ashland upon substan-
tally hourly schedules.
NO INTEREST RETURNS
MADE TO STOCKHOLDERS
During the period of operation reg
ular service has been furnished TO tho
people. and the state. the city Of Rich
;ol,
property Is located have received in
taxes the sum of s+7.325. During the
ten years Of operation. however. the
money invested has received no return.
but the accumulated interest charges
have amounted to 100000.
Under these conditions. with no re-
lief In sight. with increasing cost OF
operation and no chance OF increased
revenue or reduced expenses. the d.
rectors determined that it would be
advisable that the company be dis
solved. and the stockholders have
unanimously consented TO this.
The discontinuancc Of the service
will no doubt subject the former
patrons Of this road. or some OF them
at least, TO inconvenience. but they
must realize that the service which
they have heretofore enjoyed has been
at the expense of those who made the
original investment in the property.
and who have borne the burden dur
ing the entire period through which
tho service has been rendered with
out remuneration
WILL REALIZE BUT SMALL
PART OF ORIGINAL INVESTMENT
mo return in interest or dividends
has been made OF can be ever now real
ICED on the original investment and
bat small proportion. under the most
favorable conditions OF salvage and the
sale Of the property and equipment,
will be paid in liquidation upon the
original investment
"It will be recalled that more than
twelve months ago this company sought
to lessen the current losses By rcduc-
ing the schedule, and made application
10 the State Corporation Commission
for permission SO to do. The people
who had been enjoying this service at
once objected. employed counsel and
earnestly protested against the grant
ing OF relief, notwithstanding the fact
that il was perfectly obvious from the
evidence submitted that the owners of
this property had not received. and
were not receiving. returns from tho
investment. No order i'll the case has
ever as yet been entered by the com
mission. In tho meantime, the burden
of operation with the full schedule has
been continued"
OPERATION Of TRAINS
CEASED AT MIDNIGHT
Announcement was made early in
the afternoon to tho newspapers that
tho operation Of trains would cease at
midnight, and to-day's papers carry
this announcement To tho public. Tho
company also announces that all un-
used mileage will be redeemed by tho
trustee In liquidation. il presented to
his office. No forecast OF the dssolu-
ton OF tho company was made. and
Its own operatives received their first
Information OF tho corporations re-
tiTcment from business In afternoon
(Continued on Third Page.)