Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-28
THE UNION DEPOT PLAN.
A COMMITTEE DISCUSSION.
haIor mrers Before the City Council Com
miiiee on strects-suhiect Referred 90
Sub Committee.

lhe City Council Committee on
Streets Generally met last night in the
Chancery Courtroom and heard Major
Myers in explanation Of the plans
and purposes Of the railroad companies
with reference to building union de-
pot on the property they now possess
on Byrd street, enlarged by the addi-
tion of the Public-warehouse site.
Major Myers said he appeared not as
the advocate Of the railroad. but as
citizen interested in securing for Rich
mond depot facilities worthy of her.
MORE ROOM NEEDED.
With all the property they now own.
including the Public-warehouse site,
Major Myers showed that there is not
enough room for the purposes of a.
union depot. Therefore they ask the
city to close Eighth street from Canal
t6<he bridge and Byrd street from Sc
venth to the race-way of the Richmond
Paper-Mill Company. The race is about
half way between Eighth and Ninth
streets. and Eighth street is now prac-
tically closed between Byrd street and
the bridge. So. in practical effect. the
city is asked to close Eighth street from
Canal to Byrd and Byrd street from
Seventh to the race-way.
WHAT THEY WILL GIVE.
In consideration of this action on the
part of the city the companies will
widen (along the Canal-street front of
their entire property Canal street thirty
feet. They will build handsome, COM
modious, and convenient depot, which,
it is expected, will not only meet all
demands Of the present. but for many.
many years to come.
Major Myers showed architectural
- studies " to the committee last night,
and guaranteed that the building to be
erected would in nowise be inferior to
those drawings. but he was not pre-
pared to say that these exact drawings
would be adopted.
The main front and entrance will be
on Seventh street. If you were to add
about - feet to the hcighth of the
irelght-hOuse at Hancock street (wcSt
Broad street. and add largely to Its orna-
mcntation and finish, you would have
something like an idea Of what the
Seyenth-strcct front would look like.
The building proposed is exceedingly
1o a,.I t,, nlltt..,, ftcp.t, ft.,..
to be a great many sheds; sheds such
as are seen in all the great depot> North
and West, and under which three or
more trains may be sheltered at one
time.
WHAT CAN THE CITY DO;
No objections were made to Major
Myers's plans in general. Some sug-
gestions were offered a. to interior ar
rangemcnts and entrance facilities. but
the question was at once raised, Has
the city the right to close the streets
named in the interest of the railroads
and depot" Then. d" pom what con-
ditionS and terms should the streets be
closCl:"
Colonel Cutshaw suggested that the
use OF the streets might be gwen the
companies. reyokablc az the pleasure of
two succcssivcly elected Councils. He
asked Major Myers if he did not think
that that would be satisfactory?
Major Myers was afraid that it would
not be. The gentlemen who proposed
to make this investment were not resi-
dents here. What they want is aper-
manency. Major Myers stated that the
city charter specifically gives the Coun-
ell the right to close street.
TIE IDEA.
Major Myers submitted the follow
ing as a suggestion -:
Whereas this committee has aScer-
taincd that certain railroad companies
have by purchase acquired the larger
proportion of the area upon Byrd
island bounded by Canal street on the
north. Ninth street on the east, Over
ton street on the south. and Seventh
street on the west, with the IN
tcntion of improving such property
for railroad purposes by build
ing proper passenger and freight
dep0ts thereon and whereas 1t appears
to this committee that such improve
mentS are well-nigh essential to the
prosperity of the city; and whereas
this committee is satisfied that lifting
provision for the comfort and conye-
nience of the travelling public and of
shippers of freight cannot be made
within the limits of any one square.
but necessarily requires the entire use
Of certain portions of Eighth street and
of Byrd street, the former throughout
the distance from Canal street to the
James River bridge, and the latter from
Seventh street to line at or near the
present race-way Of the PaperMill Com
pany now. therefore, be it
Resolred, That this committee
recommend TO the city legislators that
permission be given to the Richmond,
fredericksburg and Potomac aud the
Richmond and Petersburg Railroad
Companies jointly to occupy the streets
aforesaid. within the limits aforesaid.
with as many railroad tracks. trains.
buildings, and their appurtenanceS as
may to them seem proper and necessary
for the conduct Of their business, IN
cluding the right to close said streets.
ACTION.
After considerable discussion. on mo-
tion it was ordered that the whole sub
iect be referred to committee consist
ing of Messrs. FrishkOrn, Cutchins. and
Campbell, and the City Attorney and
the City Engineer. to report what the
city can and should DO in furtherance
of the project.
From what was said at the commit
tee meeting last night there are no OBJ
stacles that cannot be Surmounted; no
difficulties that cannot be removed.
The Richmond Paper-Mill , ompany
have certain rights on Eigh street
which will no doubt be matter agree
ment between them and the c0mpa-
nies. Mr.. T.. ID. Christian. /, prcsi-
dent of the Paper-Nlill Company, said
as much last night.
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EN-
DORSE.
,,,oot;no, of tho Roard of Directors