Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-24
Let Council Proceed Cautiously

! L gnia Railway and Power Company arl1s
at tho hands OF the City Council there Is
! much that admits of 10 honest difference
| Of opinion and should be granted as II mat
| ter OF right and Justice to tho public utili-
| ties corporation on which Richmond de-
| Ponds for transportation On the other
hand there are provisions which will bear
| and should have careful study and expert
! scrutiny OH the part OF Council before a
final decision Is made. Council in this in
| stance is the sole representative and guar
dian OF tho peoples rights, not only now.
/ but for tho next thirty years, and it alone
will be held responsible should It concur
in any provisions which conccivably might
work an unnecessary hardship upon them.
On the whole, the ordinance seems to
hnye been drawn with considerable care for
the cty's interests. Few will deny that the
company should nc granted a new franchise
covering all its lines Present franchise
conditions are unsatisfactory. result Of tho
present transportation system having been
built up through amalgamation or purchase
OF various small companies. This, and the
fact that the several franchises under which
IL is operating have but little longer to rum
mnquestionably has initiated against the
company in It's efforts to secure capital for
improvements and extensions. This condi
ton tho blanket franchise would remedy
and the company would be enabled to pro-
coed with the development OF its lines. re-
s,riction of which is now retarding Rich
mond, particularly In its outlying sections.
All that may be admitted without argu-
mcnt. but In granting the right to use its
streets Richmond should be al infinite pains
10 know just what 1t may expect to receive
in return. 1t is virtually giving away
franchise worth millions Of dollars 1t
should know, before il makes such a gift.
what it is proposed to do III the way OF
opening up new suburban territory, extend
ing transportation facilities TO already popu-
lous outlying sections. and in general
terms, what the company plans TO do in aid
o. stchm0nd's material progress. All this.
it may not be doubted, the company in Il
broad way, will be willing to outline
Richmond also should study the facts
carefully before it consents TO commit it.
self to G-cent fare with an additional 2
cents for each transfer, which for thousands
OF workers. particularly those who reside
in the outlying districts. means really al
S-cent fare. AT present G-cent fare is
being charged. temporary concession to
the company because of conditions growing
out Of the war, with no charge for transfers.
True II is proposed to make the fare fcxi-
bic, with scent fare and 2-ccnt transfer
the basis, final determination to be with
the city, but with fare guaranteed that
will permit an per cent dividend upon
the capital stock. thought OF future reduc-
tons may be dismissed now. Council may
well hesitate before il consents to fare
basis which will take thousands or dollars
each year out OF the pockets Of tho people
and necessarily check suburban growth
upon which solution OF its housing problem
depends and if such Il basis he found just
and necessary, then It should erect safe
guards for The future that are not apparcn
in the present ordinance.
Again. IL may be doubted il the people
generally desire that ji,neys be driven from
the streets nn which the street cars uper-
ate. They have established themselves as
mseful carriers they serve Il definite Geo
homie purpose. and whiln tho city has Tho
legal right !, is doubted IL il has the moral
right to drive them out OF business IN the
establishment OF a transportation monopoly.
1t should also he considered whether or
not the company should be asked 10 guar
hntce an owl car service on all lis lines.
With The spreading out of Richmond this
becomes more and moro essential Under
present conditions large parts Of the city
arc cut OF after midnight This in itself
has retarded suburban growth and added
to the housing congestion. Such service
now Is inadequate. and the Council will be
! rcmiss If III the nov franchise proper pro-
vision for lis extension is not included.
Tn" Times Dispatch believes that the
the franchise ordinance. one OF the most
important matters with which il has been
called to deal In years, and that it will
! proceed cautiously. fully desirous OF grant
ing the company all that justice demands
, and yet with an eye To safeguarding the
| public Lei Il be remembered. too that
| tn" Council is building not only for the
| present hu, tor thirty years in the future.
| and what il does now will b" the law for
! a city that may, before tho proposed ord:-
| nance runs its course have upwards OF
| 100000 people. dependent on this stree,
railway system for transportation
| North Carolina churchmcn demand /. uni
v"rsal blue sunday. Noting that 4, u-pf.s-
| sionai dry drafted the report thorc Ia req
| son 20 b"icv" they VIII got II
il it i'm, Tho Hison loagu. ina, l.. f,ns.
tlonins at Geneva w!li some ms ,"lI IA
whose league 1t Is?
Harding styles and return 10 no,lna!cy m
mems clothes encourage ono 10 hope ,h.r
us old blue serge will ias, another sca,.,
Famous musician who died in poverty
evidently failed 20 cash in h!s no,c.
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