Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-22

The slb-committee Of tho Committee
o. Streets. appointed 10 consider the pc
t.a.a ot the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
way o. run a spur track Down Cary
street 10 Thirteenth, met in the City
jail last night About fifty gentlemen
WHO are interested in the matter were
pIesnt. and the session, which lasted
ever two hours, was devoted TO hearing
arguments IT and against the project.
Many influential gentlemen spoke in
favor Of the petition, while the opposi-
lion was led by Mr.. Tyler, president of
the Transfers Association, and Captain
Wyatt. OF the Ola Dominion Steamship
COMPANY.
some very strong arguments were de-
Cuced on both sides but the committee
appeared 10 be impressed by the argu-
ments In the affirmative, and adjourned
subject TO the call of the chairman in
order that the merchants who are in
favor Of the line can arrive at some more
definite agreement with the railroad as
90 Just what facilities will be afforded.
The committee Will insist that the line
shall De open to cars of other companies
besides the Chesapeake and Ohio.
AN INTERESTING SESSION.
The discussion took several very in
toresting turns. and a comparison be-
tween the advantages offered merchants
and manufacturers in Manchester and in
Hichmond excited quite lively debate.
The subcommittee IS composed Of
Atssrs. Allen. Ebel, Bloomberg, and
King Every member was present. The
petition Of property-owners and citizens
inter. sted, asking that permission should
b. sranted to the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway Company to run a spur track
Gown Ninth TO Cary 20 Thirteenth 70
Slockoe slip, was read, together with
the ordinance providing for the same.
motion was adopted to give any Citi-
I'm present the privilege of The floor.
TRANSFER ASSOCIATIONS PROTEST.
4lr. Tyler, representing the Richmond
Transfer Association, OF this city, was
the FIRST speaker. The association some
time ago appointed a committee TO op-
pose the proposition for a line of railway
down Cary street MI Tyler presented
the paper prepared by this committee.
IL reads as follows:
We appear before yOu, gentlemen, as a
committee from the Transfer Association
of this city. 10 oppose an application fOr
permission TO run railroad track down
Cary street from Ninth street There
are many reasons why this petition should
be refused. our committee represent a
class OF taxpayers who pay for the privi-
leee Of running their rolling stock over
the streets Of this city. There is net
street in this city that there is as
much business done over daily as Cary
street between Ninth and Fifteenth, and
there is not narrower street. Now, 10
curtau this present limited width would
be- q serious detriment, not only 10 the
class We represent, but to every merchant
in the city who does business over this
street. Time TO US, as 10 all our msr-
chants who have their own teams, means
money. and where twenty or thirty
wagons are blocked on the street for 10
or 10 minutes at a time, and this occur
ring many times a day. as il often hap
pens. even now, you can see how much
money this would represent at 80 cents
an hour Tor each team (Which is a fair
average, 10 those thus delayed. 1t is
therefore apparent that 10 further block
ale this narrow street, so important 10
De Kept open for the merchants and bust
less-men Of the whole city, would be an
irreparable damage You are told that
SID order 10 further enterprise on the part
Ut our merchants, they must be gwen
facilities 10 enable them to compete with
other communities who are i'm the mar
l.. bidders for trade. This. in the
ual Is true, but in deciding how far we
.it I'D ECO is question for you to inquire
unto. Have We not railroad facilities
offered % this direction along streets
where fhe public are not Inconvenience
or damaged? Then. why block the most
Important business street in the city and
damage ii large percentage Of the bust
ness community for the benefit of two.
three or four merchants. You are told
ttat the prOperty-owners along the lire
ask for this. Let US see how many
there are who do.
QHere follows comments on petition OF
car company and the presentation OF
counter pettons)
A MAJORITY SIGNED IT.
Continuing, Mr.. Tyler said that the pro-
est against the passage Of the ordinance
was signed by fifteen prOperty-holders
while only seven signed the petition. Cary
street. he said was the natural grade for
.u heavy hauling The speaker said, fur
tler. that three gentlemen who had sign
cd The original petition desired their
tamcs 70 be withdrawn. They had sign
OIL under a misapprehension, and merely
as n6iehborly act. A further protest,
signed by business. was also submitted.
SERIOUS MATTER TO MERCHANTS. |
Mr. Freeman OF Drewry, Hughes d !
Co.. appeared and spoke on the opposite |
ride OF the question. The running Of the |
railroad down Cary street was proposed |
10 reduce the tax Of drayage, which |
weighed heavily on the leading business
houses along the Proposed route. The |
teamsters would. Of course. lose con- |
siderable business. but the facilities would |
D. increased and that was a question he |
thought that the committee had TO deal |
with. Large business-houses were being |
Induced 10 leave Richmond and 80 20 /
Manchester, where better facilities were |
offered. The firm of Drewry Hughes d |
co. had been approached again and again,
and whiie they were anxious 10 remain in |
Richmond and help the city, they had |
been compelled TO consider seriously pro-
positions which would reduce their fixed
expenses from 1900 70 $500. the princi-
Ial items being rent. drayage. and taxa
Hon. Mr. freeman was closely question
% In this connection by Mr.. Aflen and
other members Of the committee with
view 20 bringing out the source OF the
offer, and whether II emanated from
IL .f.l h. -