Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-11
PREVENTS CAR REDUCTION
UNDER SKIP-ST0P PLAN
Street Committee Requires Traction
Company to Continue Same Num-
Der Of Cars in Operation.
DELAY ACTION ON 5-CENT FARE
Public Hearing to Tako Up Matter
Is Set for June 27-Inquircs Into
lakewood and Main Line Discon-
tfnuance.

After hearing further argument on
the proposed ordinance establishing the
skip-stop system on the various trolley
lines Of the city. the matter was re-
fcrred back to the City Attorney by
the Council Committee on Streets at
its meeting last night. with the re
quest that new measure be drawn.
Incorporating all amendments which
have from time to time been added to
the original document. 1t is expected
that final action on the matter WI;
I've taken by the committee at its next
regular meeting.
Although the adoption OF the skip
stop plan has been agitatcd by the
Virginia Railway and Power Company
for some time. the proposal had not
met with favorable consideration until
II was urged hy the United States fuel
administration as a conservation meas
utc. Experts OF the administration had
estimated that its adoption on the var!-
Gus lines OF the street railway in Rich
mond would result in 4 saving of at
least 1000 tons of coal per wear and
Tor the purpose of aiding tho gov
'rrmcnt In any way possible the mat
ter had been reported favorahly 10 the
Common Council.
TRACTION COMPANY CANNOT
REDUCE NUMBER OF CARS
~ the meeting OF the Council on
June :. however. II developed that the
saving 10 the company in labor would
more than outweigh the systems ad-
rantaCcS as Il conservation measure.
unless the ordinance WAS drawn in such
a way as 10 prevent this possibility
for ii was pointed out that with tho
Increased speed which the skip-Stop
would give tho company would be able
10 maintain its schedules even with
some OF its cars withdrawn.
AS amended by the committee las,
night upon motion OF Mr. English. thu
ordinance viii hc presented for adop
ton. as follows:
That the local traction company
shall be permitted 10 adopt the skip
stop system on it's various lines IN this
city. the number Of stops authorized
being not more than ton or less than
six 10 tho mile. effective in the bust
ness district as we'll as in the suburbs.
THAT tho life Of said ordinance shall
terminate automatically AT the close OF
the present war, and. further. that "
at any time previous thereto the CITY
Council shall sec fit to amend. alter
or repeal the measure. such action ma. !,
DC taken.
That should the skip-stop system
be approved, the company shall no, tie
cars IN operation on its various lines
IL was pointed out by L. w Traf-
ford. Superintendent of tho City Elec-
tric llani that the skip-stop system
in Itself did not necessarily imply
great saving in fuel, for the success
OF the measure is to Il great extent
in the hands Of the man at the con-
troi!er. lie stated that the city had
no assurance that tho motermcn were
TO be depended upon to exercise the
necessary Judgment.
STRAIGHT FARE MATTER
SET FOR SPECIAL HEARING
When this phase of the matter was
put up TO c. B. Buchanan. general
manager OF the Virginia Railway and
fowcr Company. who was present at
the meeting, he stated that the moter-
men could he depended upon to do
their part. as economy in the use of
curren; was an axiom that was drilled
INTO the men in the company's en-
ploy from their first day on the lob.
as IS we'll known" said BIZ. Buch-
ahah. the pracS.ce Of coasting wher-
ever possible. is great asset to the
traction company in the amount OF
current required for the operation of
It's cars. An inspector always accom-
pan!es the new man. TO point out 10
nm the points where such saving
can De affected, and Il check is kept
on this branch of the work In fact
special rewards OF merit are given
the men turning In the best work. and
AT present from - to % per cent of
the distance covered by car, oper-
ated BY skillful driver. is effected
without the use of power The adop-
non OF the skip-stop would only serve
10 increase the practice of coasting.
made possible by the increased speed,
ana II would naturally be to the COM
pahy's' advantage. as well as the gov
crninents. to save much in the cost
OF operation as possible"
No action was taken In regard TO
the proposal to increase the fares on
the street cars to straight scent
OASIS. but special meeting has been
called for consideration of this matter
on Thursday night. June 81. at S
o'clock. The meeting will be open to
inc public and those interested should
make 1t point to be present at that
time.
II having been called to his attcn-
ton that the street railway company
mad discontinued the operation Of cars
on IT'S lakewood and Main line. Coun-
Gilman Moore moved that the City
Attorney be requested TO advise the
con&nittec by what authority this
change had been made.
HENRY hMnEPcOM hppIucc