Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-06
MANY PATRONS SIGN
FARE-|NCREASE PETITION
Ask Council to Make Street Car
Rate > Cents Straight
Here.
FEAR OF IMPAIRED SERVICE
Motormcn and Conductors, as Well
as Stockholders, Circulate Petition
Which Will Go Before Street Com
mittccc OH Monday Night.

That the petitions to the City Council
which have been circulated by the con-
ductors OH the street ears and other
wise, asking that the Virginia Rail-
way and Power Company be permitted
TO increase it's fare to cents straight.
are signed by literally thousands OF
names was the general assertion heard
yesterday. The LOO employees of the
company and over 500 OF the stock
holders. II is said. have been Interested
in circulating these petitions. which
will be laid before the Committee on
streets Monday night.
y house to- house canvass also has
hcen made by those circulating the
petitions. The employees on the street
cars have asked every passenger on the
cars for the past four days to sign the
petition for the straight fare. and n
good percentage of those solicited have
responded. The petitions, of course
are addressed to the City Council. One
reads:
The Virginia Hallway and Power
Company is to-day charging us rates
for transportation that were >tiXcd
twenty years ago. or more. While
these rates have remained the same
the service has increased, although the
cost. every one knows. has mu!ll-
piled by leaps and bounds.
Under those conditions we deem It
hut just that the moderate increase In
fares-straicht 3 centS-shouId he
granted. and at once. The maintenance
Of our car service is OF the utmost con-
sequence t" all citizens of this com
munity, esnecially the working people
who are compelled to use street cars"
WILL. he LESS TITAN HALF
INCREASED COST OF, SERVICE
1t has hecn reported that the receipts
of the company will tie increased bv
S2"o.oNn by the straight fare after tho
payment of the state and city FAX: and
mat the company contends Nhc $3.50. 600
VIII ac less th:n half the increased
cost OF the service. The increase in the
pay Tolls has been s26a, 900. ana the In
crease in operating EXPENSES. S513Oon
or the companys employees G7S have
signed tho petition to the CITY Council,
Tor tho increase of rates Thomas <
w he'wriEht. president of the companv.
* much Eratficd by this action on tho
part OF the employees. and Is Of opinion
that many more would have signed
the petition had il been circulated IN
time. The petition is signed by thorn
IN THIS manner: forty-two cmplovccs
OF the line department, sos dispat.hrrs
inspectors. motermcn and conductors.
~" Shormen. siNty-scven men in the
power house. SiNty-nine trackmer and
eiEhty-siX men ia the general Offices
TINS petition suggests three reasons
t"r INC authority Of the company TO the
straight fare. >
PRESENT CONDITIONS
IMPERIL ENTERPRISE
They arc:
Il. That from daily observation ve
are seriously impressed with the alb
normal increases which our COMPANY
mas l" meet in the purchase of every
'hink necessary TO ma ntain the stree,
railway service OF Richmond:
:. Ihat II has haccme necessary
Tor the company TO increase our com
pensation. not once but several Times
In the past two years I'm order for us
10 meet our very greatly Increased lv.
ing expenses: and
j. That the future of our enter
prise must inevitably become imperiled
under the present unusual conditions
Which are apparently growing worse.
rather than better"
The petition from the cmployees CON
Guided with the following
We. therefore, earnestly renues,
favorable and prompt action by YOU
on inc c"mpany's request for relief i'm
the matter of fares. inasmuch AS il !;
ASKING tor the minimum increase.
namely. Il straight 5-cent fare. whereas
othtr cities all over the country are
nndihG 1t necessary to grant &. Z and
cent iareS, and some an additional
charge OF cent for transfers.
we make this request of you as
citizens who have the interest of tho
community. as we'll as that OF it's trans
nortation service. at heart, and OUT Of
spirit or fairness and justice to all
tom - ''fN GU