Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-03
TUESDAY. JANUARY 3, 1893.
The Depot and Lower Main Street.


For reasons that can he guessed by and
cannot fail TO commend themselves TO all
thoughtful businessmen the officers OF the
Chesapeake aud Ohio Railway Company
while giving the most positive assurances
that that corporation will soon build hne
messenger depot at Richmond, decline to
state precisely where 1t will be located.
IL may be that they have not completed
their surveys. or chat there are legal obsta-
cles in their way. which they must first
remove before they can determine which
is the best plan 20 unite the Allegheny road
with their main line. or 1t may be that
they do not wish 10 make themselves the
victims OF land spectators.
One or more Of these reasons may actuate
them. We do not know. We do not seek
or expect their confidence in this matter !;
but we may say that it would be subject
for general rejoicing il 1t were known that
the company would put their depot on
lower Main street. The adoption of such
location would do a vast deal 10 redeem
that sectsoh Of the city from the decay
wbxst' threatens II.
We do not like 10 see any portion OF
this city decreasing in value. What will
IL profit us as community TO buiid
up the West End and allow tho East End
20 co down? What will 1t profit rs 70
build up the northside and let the south
side waste away 20 corresponding ex-
tenty We should aim TO make property
values increase from centre to circumfer-
cnce of the city. and the erection of great
passenger depot on lower Main street
would largely contribute to this result.
If the union OF the two (really three)
lines of the Chesapeake and Ohio Company
could be advantageously effected at IA
suitable point on lower Main street per-
haps the Danville road could also be
brought into the same station, and then
we should have in Richmond all OF the
depot facilities that we need. What is
more, 80 far as the roads named are con-
cerned, we should have them on great
thoroughfare III plain sight of the public,
easy of access by strcot-car lines, and IN n
quarter where It IL not likely that there
would be much objection to the noise and
movement of trains, especially as tho
roadways would have 10 be elevated far
above the street Level.
The section of tine city 10 which We refer
has suffered somewhat from the effects OF
several freshets, but far more from the
great tendency 10 go west" with popula-
ton and business. Nearly all other cities.
however. have had Ike experience; but
many of them have been reioioed to find
in recent years that such property once
almost abandoned has now come into
market at higher figures than II ever be-
fore commanded 10y reason of the demand
for it Tor sites for railway stations, etc.
Around railways the warehousemen and
manufacturers like TO gather, and thus
much property long disused has found
eager purchasers. If such q stimulus
could be gwen 90 our downtown values
Richmond would show solid and pros
rerous front. no matter from what point
she might be vie we'd.
If our ideas on this subject be correct
the CITY could well aHord,to smooth the
way for union Of tho Chesapeake and
Ohio lines At point in the neighborhood
mentioned that is, il they wish 10 como
there, n We hope (but DO not know that
they do.
II would be glorious thing to have a
Main-street depot Better still would 1t
lie If arrangements could be made so that
the Chesapeake AID OHIO and Richmond
and Danville passenger trains would oil
come in aud depart from there.