The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-06
A FREIGHT TRAIN TO PASS
Daily Over the Track from Elba to Byrd
Street.
VUCH DISCUSSION UPON THE SUBJECT.
Application for Passenger Traffic Refused
Another Viaduct Proposed on
the North Side.

=
mond merchants viii be recommended at the
0ext meeting OF the Council.
Il will be permission to the Richmond.
fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad Com
pany TO run a freight train from Flba station
10 the depot at Byrd street, and this train
viii be composed of cars the destination Of
which is Richmond.
The through freight goes further South bv
way Of the Belt Line and of course. never
gets in Richmond, for this Was prohibited by
an ordinance passed some time ago by the
Council.
The question as 10 the local freight train
WAS opened last night by petition that came
from the Council 10 the Street Committee.
the paper being signed 10y large number of
the merchants of Richmond
It sets forth the facts that to bring the cars
80 Richmond Via the Belt Line put the
merchants 10 great expense and left them
the only alternative 20 unload their freight
on upper Broad street which also encountered
them with considerable expense: that they
only asked for one freight train a day, one
90 60 % Byrd street and TO return to Elba.
and that 10 no time would over fifteen cars
be in the train: that the hours Of moving the
train could be dictated by the Council. and
thus arrange the matter so as 70 disturb no
one while sleeping or be dangerous to school
shidren.
UNABLE TO AGREE.
Mr. Capers stated that the petition had
been considered 10y the members of the
Council from Monroe and Clay wards -the
wards thr ugh which the train would pass
and no conclusion had been reached.
The Clay ward men were against the
petition. while the Monroe representatives
we're IN favor of IL.
Mr. Gray moved that the petition he
granted. and on this motion, Mr.. Charles L.
Todd was heard.
Mr.. G.. J.. Todd representing the merchants,
SAID that when the representatives of the Corn
Exchange appeared before the special COM
mittee some timO ago they were met with OBJ
ectiOns. and those mainly interested con-
Guided 20 present some other project that
would be more feasible and would meet with
more approval at the hands Of the committee
hat they have concluded the present propO-
sitlon viii suit every one concerned, as only
one train is asked for a day. One TO 60 10
Byrd-street station and the other from Byrd
% Elba.
That the committee cannot appreciate the
cost and trouble that is encountered by the
merchants of the city by causing their freight
T. be sent around the Belt Line or left at
Ilba station. and that unless something was
done the Fredericksburg road would be un-
able % compete with other lines, thereby
making the freight rates 10 Richmond disad-
vantageous 10 the merchants of this city, and
hence less competition.
THE PATRONAGE.
Mr.. Todd further said that Richmond could
not afford 70 lose the patronage OF the Penn
sylvanla railroad.
There is more at stake than the mere local
business, lnasmuch as the Pennsylvania road
is competing for patronage, and If matters are
left as they are at present that road cannot
compete with other lines
Richmond would then have one competitor
less. and railroad rates would be inclined 10
be higher and more arbitrary thus making a
great disadvantage 10 this cltys merchants.
Captain I. III. lleane was also heard on the
subject. He started out by saying that when
young man the citizens Of Richmond voted
on the tunnel. and that he felt considerable
concern IN 'he matter inasmuch as Richmond
was to appropriate 100000 90 help build it.
Tie was now glad that he had voted for the
project. for II had been source of great good
% Richmond. and had been, before freight
trains were prohibited from it, a great con-
yenence 10 the merchants.
FREE OF CHARGE.
The Fredericksburg road. he said is willing
20 put cars consigned TO Richmond down at
Byrd street bv way Of the connection track
for nothing. That they really do not wish 10
Dc this. but have been made 20 do So by the
Council. and at the present time would rather
do so than not, lnasmuch a. the charges that
now have 10 be made for cars passing over the
Belt Line are too heavy 10 be borne by Rich
m0nd merchants when there are other COM
pettors in the field
Fora car OF hay 10 pass over the Belt Line
and be put at Byrd-Street station now costs
merchants $3.50. and the HaXall-Crenshaw
Company have 20 pay fully cent bushel
extra 0u wheat transported the same way.
THE Pennsylvania railroad IS tie chief ally
of tAe fredericksburg. and besides the COM
petition that 1t makes it also keeps the CheSa-
pcahe and Ohio within proper bounds. for the
less competition there Is the more dctatorlal
the railroads become. and as soon as this hap
pen, t1e merchants suffer.
DR. lurpln asked how was 1t possible that
The railroad could charge $3.50 for carrying
car when the distance Is only little over
mIe
ln reply Captain Deane stated that the
charges werenOI only made by the Fredercks-
burg road but by the Richmond and Peters
hurg as well. for the latter gets the major pOr-
TOD OF the $3.50 for bringing the car from the
fredericksburg track in Chesterfield over
their bridge 70 Richmond.
ALSO FAVORED IT.
Mr. Richmond Lewis also spoke in favor of
granting the privilege, and Mr.. II. l.. Carter
made an exhaustive speech III opposition TO
le privilege being granted
Mf- taper~ spoke IN favor of recommending
mat the privilege be granted. and on motion
Ill. Ar S8tton the clerk was instructed ID
request the City Attorney TO draft the neces-
aF ordinance granting the petition and
present Do at tine next meeting of the Council.
The vote Oh the Stratton motion was as fol-
low, McssIs. Bahen. j. W. Carter. Gray,
o.iat1n Thomas, White and CapeIs-ayes.
4easls. II. l.. Garter and Turpin-nOes.
PASSENGER TRAINS
I he next petition considered was one from
citizens or Ashland and Glen Allen. asking
That the accommodation trains be allowed to
run over the connection track to Byrd-street
station, instead of being stoppedat Elba as at
present
hu, little discussion was made on the sub
.r.t and on motion of Mr.. Gray the committee
refused t0 grant the petition.
Ile vote was as follows: Messls. Gray, /
thomas and Stratton. l3) ayes Messrs. !
haleu. j. w. Carter II. l.. Garter Turpn,
White and Capers, 90 nays.
ANOTHER WADUCT.
Nr James Lyons appeared as a representa- |
ne " the Brookland Railway aud Improve /
meut Company. This company at the meet /
Me ri the Council Monday evening presented |
ap.uton skiing permission To- buildaYaduct /
az t-e northern end of First street 10 connect |
@ta their land just beyond the corporate |
limits Ol the city.
Mr Lyons presented an ordinance W th the |
sAne provision i'm it that is imposed ON tie /
n De- 4 f,.,e, hint