Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-27
THEY CANNOT USE TT.
STREET COMMITTEE REFUSES CHAM.
BsR OF COMMERCE PETITION.
Many Speak For and Against--Property
Holders Along the Line Protest--Bnsi-
ness-sren Favor It.


ness-srcn Favor It
The Street Committee held special
meeting in the Chancery-Court room last
night to consider petition from the Cham
Der of Commerce asking that certain
trains be allowed to run over the eonnec-
ton track on Belvidere street.
Before proceeding to act upon the mat
Ter the committee disposed of some rou-
tine business.
COLONEL PURCELL spEAKs.
The president of the Chamber Of Com
merce, Colonel John B. Purcell, first ad-
dressed the committee. He said he re-
gretted that at previous meeting some
present had allowed themselves TO be car
ried away by patriotism and had been
acrimonious in their remarks, and hoped
nothing Of the kind would occur again.
In advocating the claims of his con-
stituents MIR. Philips was asking more than
councilmen from any other ward IN the
city. stated Colonel Purcell. There is not
person who lives ON either the Main- or
Clay-street electric lines or the Chesapeake
and Ohio railway who is not annoyed rs
much as those living along the connection
track.
Colonel Purcell produced letter from
the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce
of Charleston, S. c., IN which was explain
ed the immense damage sustained by that
city in consequence of the trains not run
ming into the CITY. In the end the charter
OF the railroads was attacked to compel
them to come INTO Charleston.
The speaker exhibited maps of various
large cities on which were marked the rail
road tracks that run through them, and
showed that the Richmond track was as
nothing.
WOULD NOT DAMAGE.
Continuing. Colonel Purcell said he did
not believe that such damage would DO done
property along the track as Mr.. Philips claimed
Que citizen had written him (PurcelD that
though no signed tho original petition asking the
Council 70 teGe away the track he was now satls-
fed that II was 10 the benet OF the city that the
trains should run and he wished 70 withdraw his
objection.
Colonel Purcell also read letter from Colonel
w. 2. Smith. who said he had lived near the
track for fourteen years and had suffered no in
convenience from It. He had raised large
family OF children and none OF them, or In fact
none hat no know OF, had ever been Injured
there.
II TIE track was 30 detrimental 10 property,
argued the Colonel, IL was strange that The high
est-preed real estate la Richmond was within
I'D yards OF IL; also, that all the valuable i'm
prOvenents In the vicinity had Deen made since
| tho railroad was built
AS 10 the fast running Of trains, that was a
matter for the police 10 LOOK after. lf they did
not ltwould not be proper for the trade OF tho
city y suffer because one of its departments did
not attend to It's duty.
GRAIN PEOPLE TALK.
Mr. Charles L. Todd presented the resolutions
passed by the Grain and Cotton Exchange at rs
last peeting aud published In the Dispatch the
folloFing day.
Tho matter had simply been considered in its
bearing uron the grain trade. Inquiry had do
veloted the fact that In order 10 get grain 10 the
miil9 II would have TO go over the Belt lane to
Clopton station, and run INTO Richmond from
the south side Of the river. Tho cost would be
almost prohibitory to say nothing OF the time
consumed. This lntter could be appre-
| ciated whom no stated that II sometimes
from the the ''eI elevator @ to the GailegO Mills.
| The grain question, he considered. was more
| important ono than the passenger arrangement
The latter could bo brought down In omnibuses.
| and being mostly strangers II did not matter
mugh about them anyhow. He hoped the grain
| train would be allowed even IL the other was
not, but thought both ought 20 be granted.
ID reply TO a question from Mr.. Turpin, Mr..
| TODD stated that it would probably cost about
iwire as much TO handle grain locally as 1t does
Low.
To query from Mr. Philips as 70 how many
merchants received grain In car-lots on that
road In a year Mr.. Todd replied that every
\
grocers receive goods In the same manner.
RAILROADS WATCHING.
Mr. 8. W. Travers, Of tho Chamber Of Com
merco committee, stated that there was one
matter to which no wished to call attention. IL
was that railroad people paid close attention 10
ali railway legislation throughout the country.
| If .lii5 track was torn up on tho 9th of April
every railroad president iu the country would
know OF it, and would draw line around Rich
mOnd as a city antagonistlc to railroads. The
| Information might not be used now but would be
years hence.
As a citizen OF Richmond, Mr.. .Travers said he
was glad 10 inform the committee that In less
| than two years there would probably DO two new
| trunk-lines running into Richmond. His CON-
mittse was In correspondence with the presidents
| OF the two lines, ono Of whom hsd promised "a
| come 20 Richmond 20 look over the ground some
time this month. He hoped tho committee would
| not handicap the Chambers WORK by stamping
| Richmond as o city unfavoreble 10 railroads.
DID NOT MIND IT.
Captain Philip Haxall said he lived within
| seyeniy-nve yards Of the track and really en-
joyed seeing tbs passenger trains go past
| The long freight trains shook his houce, and had
| damaged tho one next door &c him. The through
passenger trains make the houses quiger little
| bat are not really annoying.
| Mr.. l. G. Younger said that as the question
had been asked how many people received goods
| IN carload lots, he would say that every grain
| deelor and Wholesale grocer In tho ctty-aboui
| forty-fiVe-did so almost daily.
TAKE UP THE TRACK.
| After asking several questions as 70 details oi
freight arrangements, Mr.. Gilbert j. Hunt an
| nOunced that he was one OF those who favored
! ths experiment OF taking up tho track. He be
| ieyed that II it Is done property from Mair
| street 10 the tunnel would advance 30 per cent
| The property damaged belongs to poor people
| and they are suffering. some gentlemen pres
4 ent had enjoyed the advancement, but these
l In al moi tTail9 Ia danger.
| Gus. The fast mail comes past Madison School
every day Just IL breaks up Sever al times acct
dents have been prevented by people catchln9
! hold Of the children's clothes and pulling them
| back. Tho freight depot was not so far away
| from the business people as 10 Affect trade. II
would not hurt Rlchmond's railroad interests tc
take up the track. In other places the trains do
| NOS run through the best part OF tho city. The
| tho removal OF tho track. whichrmight lnteiere
| with tho convenience OF somo citizens, but moi
| the welfare Of the people generally.
SHAKES OUT THE BRICKS.
| Mr.. Philips introduced Mr. +. ID. Williams, q
| property-Owner, who said the trains seemed tC
| run up the hill as fast as they could. ho iVes
| on Belysdere street between Main and Cary
| The trouble seems TO be over when the trains
| get up the bill and then they run slowly In MS
\ house bricks are out of place over the window
| from the isrring OF the trains. lie owned nus
| property before the railroad was built. VI
1 IL
| the track he would give way, but he could mol
| see how &c would. The Commerce people have
| let the chance slip through their hands eud II L
| gone. The railroad people have ouilt their
| bridge and mean business. II the track 10 mol
taken up now IL will take itself up In feT
| years. =,
The roar OF tne train, said hr. Williams In
conclusion, so frightsns his wife that he has &c
! catch her and hold her to keep nor from running
| out OF the room.
PRoPKRTYsHoLDERs PROTEST.
| Mr.. Philips presented petition against the
| track remaining. He said that the names sign,
| ed 10 1t were those OF the people who owned a.
| least seven tenths OF The property en- tho line
between Franklin and Canal streets, ana he
| read some OF tlem 10 the committee.
| He had hoped that the present Council would
\ be able 10 Withstand torrspin-stoNs anu chaih
| pagne-suppers and stlcx 70 It's action 10 passlnf
| the ordinance excluding the trains from Ihl'
| connection. He was not advocating self-interest
| but humanity. which speaks louder than all tne
| seif.interest and patriotism in the word.
/ &r. Philips read from a letter that nSd Deen
/ prepared for publication protesting strongi,
| against the track remaining. IL said that II al
| except the passenger trains were taken on eien,
| teen trains and engines would still psss up anc
| down every day.
| AS TO giving travellers a yiev OF the city ina
1 all nonsanQa Thay cartAi1lg are not gre0lfy