Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-29
u.,.Strcet Passenger station

M.;.Sfrcct Passenger Statio"'
That WAS good Thanksgiving news we
nublish,d Yesterday on the SUBJECT oi inc
,,ain.street passenger station. soon We
90 COL. tho last of the humble and an
,,,,o shsds at the Chesapeake and Ohio
ae,o, and in their stead the company
vii, have fine. three-story puhu'"s'
fronting on Main street. There me TWO
Vines of the company viii unite I'M
der one roof. and there. we nope 'he
Southern Railroad Company VIII aiSo
have its Richmond station.
The erection Of this tall and imposing
handling on Main street cannot but nave
a eood effect upon property values IN
that vicinity Around such a uepo' Nnu'n
business will surely concentrate. II VIII
Income a lively spot, and the benehoial
Influences OF the enterprise VIII radiaie
over large area of the eastern part o'
the CITY. For some years back the ten
dencv of business has been TOO much 10
wards the west. The new depot VIII ae'
as a conserving influence
Another beneficial effect that We eN-
,,ec, from this enterprise IL that il VIII
make Main street from Ninth 10 seven
,eenth a bustling scene AT ali hours oi
the dav. The concentration OF business
81, these squares Will give the street that
metropolitanism that it lacks Now o"-
ing 10 the fact that we nave one
mart on Main street, another on cary
street and another on Broad street
.tc. the stranger coming here Tor the
first time is not impressed with our actiN-
itv. He meets no vast throngs OF people;
he sees no great rush or hustle. "Busi-
nose looks ouiet" This is chiefly be-
cause there is no concentration of bust
ness activity here. as there is In most
other cities.
We know OF a city that hasn't half the
,ronertv or half the business of lich-
mond that presents buster scene. Near
~ all of its business Is done IN
narrow circle. and upon haii dozen
souares. whilst ours * scattered here ana
shore and Is done upon scores of
squares. But. with the Main-street de-
NOT buit and occupied, We expect
IN see this disadvantage OF ours removed
IN a large extent. We expect TO see Of
fces. restaurants. shops, and ware
houses gather about the depot ana we
expect TO see Main street certainly from
Ninth TO Seventeenth crowded with people
al, day. And, moreover, this will be
done. we truly believe. without detil-
ment TO the interests OF any other sec
ton OF the city.
In good time too, We hope TO see the
Nain-street depot occupied, not only oy
the trains of the Chesapeake ana ONO
conuany but by the trains OF many
other companies. In the valley Of Shockoe
creek nature has provided a commod-
Gus and convenient highway FOR the
entrance OF railroads into this city.
There is no other route that has equal
advantages. all things considered. And
,Inquestionaby. one Of the greatest OF
,hcse advantages is that II allows n
rraud passenger depot to be built on the
main street Of the city. This depot Will
no, be hidden away and hakd for the
stranger TO find: but will be in the sight
o. an the people. and accessible 10 hotels.
banks public offices. etc.
Ky the way, Main street has been
drawing all OF the prizes OF late. 1t is
ON Main street that the Soldiers and
Sailors monument faces. II is on Main
street that the jefferson Hotel has its
most imposing front. II is near Main
street In Monroe Park. that the Davis
monument is TO be built. 1t is on Main
street that the tall towers OF the Chesa-
Jeake and Ohio passenger depot are soon
10 rise. The destiny Of Main street is
liked IL Is TO continue 10 he 10 Rich
mond what it's name imp'ies, ana IL re-
joices us 10 believe that It's prosperity viii
not he confined TO any one quarter OF
81. but win extend TO all
Richmond Is forging ahead. Private
and corporate enterprise is doing much
for us; but there Is much FOR our muni-
,ipality TO do. We must have better
streets We must have better system
OF street-clcaning. WORKOUT brick SHE
walks and quilted driveways and paper
Uttered pavsments do not excite the adj
miration OF strangers. we must 10 for
ward with public improvements No must
meet private cnufprisc with public en-
terprlse.