The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-15
SURE NOW OF BELTLINE.
Options Have Been Secured for the En-
tire Right Of Way.
MAY MEAN UNION PASSENGER STATION
Tho Coming of the BcIt Line May
Concentrate the Passenger Traffic
of All Lines Leading Into the
POrt-Misht DO Away With Extcn.
sivc nnrEinG of Freight.

The Belt Line Railway is now an as
sured fact. Options on the right of
way have been secured. aud the tracks
will be laid from the New York. Phila-
deiphia and Norfolk Railway Company's
property on the Western Branch
around back of Portsmouth, to Berklcy,
and ultimately to Norfolk.
The line Will connect every railway
leading into this city and its ruvirons.
ana when entirely completed will largely
10 away with the practice ur TRANSPORT
ing freight by barges between wharvcs
and railway stations.
The road will follow the most direct
route consistent with its purpose to
bind together all the different lines. Con-
ncction to Berkeley will he made by n
bridge across Southern Branch. tn be
located somewhere near Burtous point.
From Berkeley to Norfolk it will natural
ly come via the Norfolk & Western
bridge.
Just when construction will begin Is;
matter yet To be decided. and nothing
definite can rs yet be learned concerning
| it.
The Belt Line project was first agi-
tated in 1890, and since that time it has
been alternately doomed and neglect ed
Ihe purchase by the New York, Philn-
delphia ana Norfolk Railroad Company.
however. of tract OF land for terminal
purposes on the Western Branch, gave
a new impetus TO tho scheme. The
road has for years past occupied the
yards I'm the Mccullough wharf tract.
and it had been transferring freight Ia
the Norfolk & Western and Norfolk &.
southern railways via the Water street
track of the former line. Ii did not
fail To recognize that it must continuc
TINS connection after il moved and right
here is where the Belt Line project came
i'll. The road took up the idea and saw
that 1t could put itself in direct rail
N h.. =,
slight expense over that required Ia
reach the y. & w. alone. So the Belt
Line was fostered by the great Penn
sylvauia connection, ana it is safe "a
say that within very short time ii
will be built
1t may be that the success of the pro-
5ect will resurrect the old scheme for a
union depot.
Norfolk should certainly have such a
place to land passengers. Every line
now occupies its own depot or wharf
and they are nearly all located i'm widely
different parts of the city. The travelling
public would hail with joy the establish
ment of union station in this city
| Some years since surveys We're made
anu estimates prepared for Il structur,
adequate to the needs OF the lines cen.
I'lering here. The MahOnc's Lake trnri
was plated for n park. This scheme is
again coming into favor. and it has
been suggested that the city shall grant
| the Mahone's Lake tract for Il union
depot site to be used by the New York
Philadelphia * Norfolk, Chesapeake &
Ohio, Atlantic & Danville, Seaboard All
Line. Norfolk & Carolina, Southern. At
lantic Coast Line. Norfolk x Southern
and Norfolk, Albemarle & Atlantic
railways in common. This, it is held
would protect the merchants of the city
| by allowing the city to regulate III,
charge for trackage and shifting oil
| freight for delivery.
That the road Will he built. and speed
| lily, thele seems to be little question
Just exactly when is still II subject for
lspeculation. but it is coming.