Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-07
TRYING TO GET HERE.
'RIcHMoxD, PETERSBURG. AND CAR
oLrsA TO BUILD TO RICHMOND.
UNION DEPOT HAY BIZ BUILT.
Negotiations Looking to Contracts
with 8. A. L., n. #. 4 r., and G. Il O.
R.iIrosds-Terminus May ne ON the
Site Of the st. Charles.

| For the past two years movement mas
been quietly engineered looking to the
extension OF the system OF the Rich
mond, Petersburg and Carolina railroad,
and the establishment of a terminus in
| this city.
The plans have been developed little
by little. and the enterprise has grown
| to great proportions. Within the last
three months, in fact, the possibilities
OF the completion Of the road from
Richmond to Ridgeway, N. c.. and of
entering into arrangements that would
be mutually advantageous with the Sea-
board Airline, the Chesapeake and
Ohio. the Richmond and Petersburg and
the Richmond. Fredericksburg and Po-
| tomac roads, have been materially en-
| HANGED
The new road to Ridgeway is TO run
from Petersburg through Dinwiddie.
Lunenburg. and Mecklenburg to the
North Carolina line, thus opening prac-
ucally new territory. From Richmond
10 petersburg new line may be built
unless some arrangement is made with
the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad
company for the use OF their tracks. At
Ridgeway the new road will probably
| connect with the Seaboard Airline. and
| IL Is on the cards that a connection NAV
be made with the Richmond. Fredericks-
burg and Potomac on the north side of
| this city.
PLANS NOT YET MATURED.
Inc plans for the enterprise are by no
means matured, and though some pro-
perty has been bought here with a view
10 the railroad taking II, and a number OF
| options have been secured, the fnanciers
nave more than one string to their bow.
and have surveyed several different
routes, all OF which would answer their
| purpose.
Mr.. w. NJ. Habliston, president of the
Citizens Exchange Bank. who is nte-
rested In the Richmond, Petersburg and
carolina railroad, and familiar with the
plans, said 10 a Dispatch reporter yes
lerday that the managers OF the road
are thinking of extending 1t to Rich
mond and among other routes, have
mapped out line to pass over lower
Main and Franklin streets TO a terminus
located on the present site OF the st.
Charles Hotel. at the corner of Fifteenth
and Main. 1t Is not true, he says, that a
single piece of property has been bought
in that section OF the city by the railroad
company, but IT is known that property
has been bought by persons with the ex-
pectation of selling II 10 the company.
1t depends entirely, whether the line
named is the most feasible and whether
the property can be acquired at reason
able prices and the proper concessions
made by the City Council of Richmond,
whether the road will come to this city
or not. He has personally been work
ing to get his associates TO bring the
road here. A number Of counter plans
have been suggested, one OF which has
been the utilization OF the Richmond and
Petersburg railroad from Petersburg to
Richmond Being a native of Richmond
property-holder. and identified with
number OF the interests of this city, Mr..
Habliston is anxious that the road shall
come here, and every inducement and
facility be offered IT, There has been no.
thing done in recent years. he thinks,
that can do more to enhance the pros
perity OF this place than the completion
OF this road. 1t will give this city
much needed outlet and additional facili-
ties of great value.
MAY UNITE WITH C. AND o.
The Richmond, Petersburg and Carolina
Railroad Company has not, Mr.. Haoliston
declares, secured any OF the lines tnat
they surveyed. Negotiations have not
Ohio railway, but Mr.. Habliston feels con-
fident that II the line mentioned should be
the one utilized the company would be
willing TO enter into an arrangement with
the Chesapeake and Ohio that would be
mutually advantageous.
The company has secured an option on
the st. Charles Hotel property, bat has
not purchased that property nor will
they do so until their plans are fully ma
tured.
THE NORTHERN CONNECTION.
Asked whether his company had en-
tered into negotiations with the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac rail-
road for a connection on the north side
of the city, Mr.. Hablston declined to dis
cuss that matter. Questioned as 10 whe-
Their the company had acquired any right
of way between Richmond and Peters
burg, he stated that no such rights had
been acquired. He furthermore stated
that while his company was particularly
well disposed towards the Chesapeake and
Ohio road no communication, as far as
he knew, had passed between the two
corporations with a view TO building a
union depot here. The Chesapeake and
Ohio property runs up to the st. Charles
There have been rumors during the last
few weeks that the Chesapeake and Ohio
was getting ready 10 build, and there are
reasons for believing that such coalition
is contemplated, and 1t is quite possible
that the Richmond, Petersburg and Caro-
lima Company may operate under the
franchises already granted to the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Company by the city. the
county of Henrico. and the James-River
Bridge Commissioners. The company
proposes TO construct two bridges to span
the river-one from the Manchester shore
to Mayos Island and the other from
Mayo's Island TO the Richmond side. II
is proposed to lay tracks up Fifteenth
street, across Cary and Main. and into
the depot property. where the st. Charles
Hotel now stands. From that point the
proposed route is across Franklin street
and along the Bacon-Quarter branch. and
connect with the Richmond. Fredericks-
burg and Potomac north OF the city.
CONDUCTED THE NEGOTIATIONS.
The negotiations for the necessary real
estate have been conducted mainly
through Messrs Chewing x Rose and
Mr. n. w. Bowe. and though their work
has been done with the utmost discre-
ton, the unwonted activity in property
sales and negotiations I'm the sections
over which the company proposes to con-
struct their lines has awakened much
lively speculation in real estate circles.
A representative of the Richmond
Petersburg and Carolina Company. 1t is
said has negotiated for a strip OF land
on the south side OF the James river.
which 1t is intended TO use for wharfage
purposes.
HAND OF THE SEABOARD.