The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-27
URGES LESS TALK
Continued from Page one.)


Mr.. Easley said that on May 81,
1913. the chamber asked the owners
Of the line, II they did not intend 70
operate the system themselves, to sell
out at junk price to someone else
who would run 1t. The chambers ef-
forts, he did, did not meet with sue
cess. At that time, the Gould in
terests wanted $4,000 for The prop
erty, which local interests consid eced
too high. The owners stood pat
and the proposal died aborning.
Property owners along the line can
presented to snip through their Ringers,
Mr.. Easiey said. They should De
willing to mortgage their property 10
the extent of from 10 to rs per cent
| and invest in, the bonds being solo.
The line. he said, Is important both
to Richmond and to Ashland, but Is
. of more importance to property own
ers along the line between Richmond
WHY LINE WENT UNDER.
Mr.. Easley detailed a few reasons
why the line. as did the Richmond
and Farmville and Richmond ana
Rappahannock lines. went out OF ek-
istence.
George Could, representing Frank
Gould, who was interested In the
Wabash railroad Intended to bring
the Wabash into Richmond and also
intended extending the Richmond.
Ashland line to Rappahannock and
also to Washington. One million COL
lars was spent in building a roadned
whereby these projects could nave
been carried out Three or four
times as much money as was neces-
sary to construct a line from Rfcn-
mond to Ashland, he said was spent.
and he was not surprised that II ala
not pay. This was the principal rea-
son il went under. Another was ex-
cessive operating costs.
When the Gould interests saw ,heF
were losing money. they asked per :
mission to reduce the number of cars
in operation. Patrons OF the lire
fought the proposal. whereupon
the owners told them that IT meant
lust that or to discontinue operations.
On top of all this, he said. the city
told the Gould interests they Wouio
have to lower the grade OF certain
sections of their property. wnicn
would have entaiicd a cost OF sZo'oeV
to $40 600. This was the last stra"
he said, and they threw up th"ir
hands and quit.
Mr.. Easley lis sure the property can
he operated at less expense IMAM
formerly, will be patronized more nd
orally and will stand better chances OF
success il it is owned by Hlchmoni
people and patrons of the line then~ :
selves.
CANNOT sANDBAG CORPORATIONS
Referring to the Richmond Ashland.
Richmond and FarmviIle and Richnnoho
and Rappahannock properties. Mr.. Eas-
lev said il spoke badly for the commu-
nifty to see these lines 90 out of bust
ness He closed by reminding ms
hearers that community could not
expect to sandbag public corporations
and have them.
Mr.. Anderson reviewed previous ef-
fort TO obtain an option, which was
,'preclufiet or account. OF Insufficient
backing The COMMITTEES which waited
on the Could interests was told that
Il talked beautifully but did not have
the necessary wherewithaL
Mr. Sands interest in the matter, Mr..
Anderson said, emanated from purely
unselhsh motives. He told of meet
incs already held at Greenwood. yell
low Tavern. Rock Hill. Elnsent and
| Ashland All OF these communities re-
port progress. They are doing their
part. and will do more IL II comes TO
pinch he said.
Ashland subscribed sf,4oo at meet
ing Tuesday night. carrying its con-
tribution to $4,000. Twenty-se
hundred dollars of this was obtained BY
| thousand prospects.
Are we to stand idly by and see this
| splendid proposition go by defauitF
he asked.
! Mr.. Tabh thinks il would be great
! calamity from u business standpoint
! for Richmond to throw up its hands
| aud pass up a million dollar PROPOSE
, ton when a mere 100000 or less was
/ involved.
The Hermitage club, with which Mr..
| Tabb Is. identified in an official capa-
! city, would be willing to mortgage a
part OF it's property in the interest OF
| the proposition. he sale.
MAKE .EM COME TO TERMS.
! MIR. Tabb thought it was time to
/ stop chewing the rag and get down
| tn business" He was Of the opinion
! that If the Gould interests would not
I come to terms. we ought to find way
! 70 bring them to terms"
I The proposition. he said is lust as
I4nuch OF a philanthropy as ftieiSatoTtts
! college. or the Jewish relief or other
| charitable causes.
| Mr., Long. Of Greenwood. tod OIL
| what that and other communities have
done in behalf OF the proposition. He
! told Of number Of "sympathetic" sub
! scriptions which had been obtained,
ranging in amounts from 500 to VOW,
| from small property owners who. in
come Instances. had to make s3criftcss.
| One prospective subscriber told him
| that since the line was discontinued. 1t
| hae cost him a dollar day TO keep
| a second hand automobile in condition
| to come to Richmond and that he
would sell the car and invest the pro-
ceeds in stock
! ri the proposition benefits Ashland
| one dollar" he said. lit benefits Rich
nond two dollars Richmond. he arr
| gued viii be the principal beneficiary.
! The biggest asset Richmond has. he
! said. is her suburban electric car lines.
| Greenwood, he said, expects and wants
| to be annexed to Richmond.
| John Stewart Bryan said 1t would
be blind. hopeless and eternal folly for
Richmond to allow the proposition to
"yo by the board" why, gentlemen. /"
he said. ''it looks like 4 First National
bank or Richmond Trust company gilt
| edge investment to me-"
Some one wanted to hcar from the
Hermitage and suburban clubs Mr..
Tabb said the Hermitage II a young
club ana had Lost. temporarily at least.
forty-ive men to the army and navy.
ana that its treasury was depleted. but
! IT would do what 1t could. as would.
he had been informed. che Suburban
club. ~ ..st...,,..s. ,..... g.. q, l.
Clubs do not build to sell" he said.
!, "aad enhancement of - their property
"a ouie not bensht themselves unless