Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-14
GENERAL SK|P-STOP PLAN.
STRONGLY ADVOCATED
Ordinance to Be Prepared on Basis
OF Eight Stops to Rule in
Business Section,
URGED BY ADMINISTRATION
Its General Introduction in This
Country Would Save 100000
Tons of Coal Per Year, Expert
Tells Council Committee.

Following the request Of the United
States Fuel Administration that the
universal skip-stop system be inaupu-
rated on all street car lines of Rich
inond for the conservation of coal. the
Council Committee on Streets Yesterday
afternoon directed City Attorney II. r.
Pollard to draw proper ordinance
carrying into effect this measure The
ordinance will be drafted with the as.
sistance OF City Engineer Boiling and
City Electrician Trafford, and will be
considered BY the Street Committee
May 81. at which the public is invited
TO attend the meeting.
Representatives Of the fuel admins
tration appeared before the committee
and told OF existing conditions. the
situation as It developed last winter
and the probable shortage this year un-
less preventive steps were taken The
skip-stop movement, which would re-
duce the consumption of coal by about
one-eighth, is being advocated in every
section Of the country by the adminis-
tration. and has already been adopted
in many cities.
No definite instructions as to the
stopping points under the new plan
werc sent to the city attorney 10 be in
cluded In the ordinance. The Federal
representatives suggested that the
stops be worked out according to the
distance between each, with not more
than eight stops to the mile in the ,busi-
ness district and ak In the residential
sections. The stops and other details
in the plan will be worked out with
the assistance of Mr. Boiling and MIR.
Trhfford. with Clarence Renshaw. of
the conservation division Of the Fuel
Administration. who appeared before
the committee yesterday afternoon,
giving them any possible help. Mr..
Renshaw Will return to Richmond In
the next few days for that purpose.
NO ONE APPEARS IN
OPPOSITION TO PLAN
No one appeared in opposition
to the adoption of the system.
which Mr.. Renshaw declared must be
put In universal operation In both the
commercial and residential sections II
the greatest benefits are to be derived
Members of the committee felt, how
ever, that another opportunity should
be given citizens to be heard before
taking final action. The ordinance will
be drawn by the city attorney on the
motion OF Councilman John W. Moore,
of Madison Ward. and stipulates that
1t is for the duration OF the war only.
and is subject to revocation by the
council at any time.
In addressing the committee, Mr.
Renshaw outlined briefly the great
work being done by the Fuel Admin
istration and the need for corporation.
He said that II the skip.stop plan was
adopted throughout the country, ap-
proximatcly 100000 tons Of coal would
be saved annually. while street car SER
vice would be made more uniform and
the running time between terminals
greatly reduced. The saving in Rich
mond from the operation Of the plan.
he estimated, would be between 1000
and $500 IONS of coal.
Members OF the committee askc d
numerous questions and called in City
Electrician Trafford. The matter was
discussed for nearly two hours before
action was taken. During the discus
sion Mr.. Renshaw named the cities In
which the plan has already been
adopted. and the saving which has re-
suited. The savings he cited were:
Columbus. 5000 tons; Toledo. 1900:
Cincinnati, 10000; Detroit. 10000; and
the Connecticut company. operating
practically all lines in that State, 10
per cent.
The committee recommended to the