Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-11
GOVERNMENT To OPERATE
SEVEN PINES ELECTRIC LINE
Buys as Scrap Entire System 'or
Richmond and HappahannoCk
Railway Company.
WILL INCREASE FARE TO DINE
Assumes Control With Expiration of
franchise TU-Day-Virginia Rail-
way and Power Company May Di-
rect Line Under Federal Control.

Operation of the Richmond Seven
Pines electric line will suffer no in
corruption through the expiration of
me Richmond and Rappahannock Rail-
way Company's franchise tonight il
was stated yesterday afternoon by
Judge William +. Rhca of the State
corporation Commission. following re-
ceipt Of adviccs from Washington that
inc Federal government had decided to
exercise Its option to buy and operate
!ne road as an auxiliary to the muni-
liom plant at Seven Pines
mat new rate OF fares will be in
stituted Immediately - also an
nounced. The line will he divided into
TWO equidistant zones. each requiring
a fare OF cents. making the total
charge over the entire line 10 cents
INC present rate Of cash fare is
line. >''N
1t was because Of the low fares
charged that the Richmond and Kappa
hammock Railway COMPANY professed
inability To operate except at a loss.
even when traf iic over the line reached
the high watcrmark of $4,000 pas
sengers in July
OFFICIAL. STATEMENT
ISSUED ny CAR COMPANY
The following statement was issued
iast night at the general Offices OF the
Viarginia Railway and rowcr Com
pany:
The government. through the
agency OF the United States Housing
corporation. has acquired the railroad
ana equipment formerly belonging 10
The Richmond Seven Pines Railway
Company.
"A, the request of the government,
states Housing CorporatI ton and on its
behalf. the Virginia Railway ana
o%fr sSompany commencing at 1901
property for the period or the war
onder the arrangement so maac.
me iares Tor transportation on TINS
property will he under the zone sys-
tetn; one zone to he from twenty
nlnsh and Streets to Stop %. ana ono
zone z, TO be from stop ~ TO seven
VIII be charged from any point I'm one
zone to any point in the same zonc
ana an additional cash fare OF : cents
from a point in ono zone to any poini
IN the other zone"
WOULD Rave MOVED
TO COMPEL OPERATION
inc bare announcement that the gov
ernment would continue tho roads
operation was all tho information got
zen from Washington yesterday rhis
followed several days OF activity on
me part OF Judge Rhca and other mem
oers OF the Corporation Commission.
ana OF officials of the municipal and
lienrlco County governments Until
so ancc was had that the govern
mcnt would operate the road. these Of
nGlais were extremely worried over
What course to pursue. since there was
Doiit uouol mat Federal authorities
would hold that the line was csscntiaI
10 10 the operation of the muni,ion mani
me owning company. it was under
STOOD was happy over the expiration of
INC franchise and would under no cir
cumstances ask for an extension.
IL was suggested that the CITY Coun
cll ana the County Board of Supcrvis
ors Voluntarily extend the franchise for
period OF thirty days. Then. if Tho
company expressed Il desire to dis
continue operation. the matter would
De placed before the Corporation Com
mission. which. it is understood. world
nave ordered the company to con,in".
oprration until the merits OF III, ,.asc
could be looked into.
Inc governments dc,. SION however
Is beIfcNed to have obviated ncressitv
LOT any further fort in this dircc,jon
me property of the road will be bought |
according to the contract. as scTap' |
appraised by experts in junk n viii |
be operated either by the Richmond
and Seven Pines Railroad Company or |
tho virginia Railway and Power com |
pany as agent for the transnor,ation
and housing department OF the Federal |
government, There is no Cuarantce |
that it viii continue to operate after
the war ends and the Seven Pines plant
The road serves about 5000 citizens
OF fenrlco County, to whom il is tho !
only pubic transportation facility con-
Meeting them with Richmond