Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-26
rmE NEW PASSENGER DEPOT.

In our Judgment the people wish the
city Council and the Free Bridge Com
missioncrs 10 deal with the Chesapeake
and ohio Railway Company with libe-
rslity in the matter OF the proposed
connection tracks.
This company has always been con-
sidcra OF the wishes OF our people.
Mover was there great public enter
Prise proposed here into which it did not
enter with generous spirit. In a hundred
different ways its officers and employees
have shown their affection for this city.
one serious complaint only have we heard
against the company. and this is that
it has not erected here passenger sta
tion commensurate with the dig
nifty OF the city and company. That there
have been obstacles i'm the way OF the
company's doing this we all know. though
very few know the immensely of these
obstacles.
The great problem to be solved was TO
unite the tracks of the main line OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio company with
those Of the Allegheny road. Various
surveys for a belt line were made but
none was found which met all the con-
difions In like manner. several plans
for a tunnel under the city were devised,
discussed. and rejected. Then route after
route along the streets Of the city was
considered and disapproved First and
last thirty or forty routes have been
considered more or less. All this has
required years and years of time and
the expenditure of many thousands Of
dollars in money paid to engineers ard
other experts.
With the view OF having a passenger
depot on lower Main street. and to avoid
a belt line. which it was believed would
not be popular with Richmond people nor
exactly meet the requirements of the
company. the company's engineers at
last resolved TO recommend the river
route OF all the routes examined 1t
was found TO be the best-best for the
company: best for the city.
And OF all the routes proposed the
river route will probably cost the com
pany most. But that it has great adj
vantages cannot he questioned. 1t allows
the company's two lines to unite at a
common depot on Main street 1t affords
tracks through the city where trains
may be run al good rate OF speed, and
st makes II convenient and economical
for the company's officers TO supervise
tis vast business mere. But 10 accomplish
ell this the company must build connection
tracks placed on piers put into The river.
continuing 10 a point below Mayo's
bridge.
This double-track via6uct and the depot
building would cost the company about
5000 OOo. However. they would not only
afford the company all OF the facilities
that It needs here. bur would give Rich
imond great passenger depot in a sec
lion OF the city which is now languishlng
on account OF the tendency OF business
10 so up town. Moreover, depot
located. as proposed. between the St
Charles Hotel and Old Market would
CAS- we have argued beforel give Main
street. from the post-office down to
Seventeenth street that busting appear
ance which is snsularly absent here;
absent because Richmond's business is
scattered over many streets, and there
s. no great focusing point or business
centre as there is in most other cities of
our size.
The most serious difficulty in the way
OF granting the Chesapeake and Ohio
company the franchises that 1t wants
s. that TO do so will require the de-
pressing Of seven spans Of the Free
bridge TO enable the tracks TO pass
unaer the Richmond and Petersburg
railroad bridge. and then over the Free
bridge. allowing ample space for trolley
cars. etc. to continue 10 use the Free
bridge. The greatest point OF depression
az the Free bridge would be nine feet
SO there would be a grade on the bridge
but not as great as carts and wagons
now have 10 overcome In going up Ninth
street from the Free bridge TO the city.
The connection tracks cannot 90 down
the river route unless the Free bridge
IS depressed at the Richmond end, OF a
new bridge Ga new supersiwcture. GER
isinly) Is built A new bridge seems 10
he oul OF the question now; but looking
20 the future. when Richmond and Man
chester shall Ice one city. we cannot but
believe that a new bridse-a stonc-arched
bridge. We want-wii be one OF our
Necessities.
The Dispatch has no such opinion Of is
engineering skill as to be willing 70 adj
Wise exactly what should be done. but
We do advise both Richmond and Man
chester TO be liberal with the company.
and 10 Try to remove rather than raise,
dlfficu,.es. Independent OF the conside-
ration that Richmond and Manchester
ought ever 10 legislate In view OF the
..-ehsbilin that some day they are going