Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-28
WHICH SHALL 1T BE.

The more the subject Is studied the
clearer il becomes that Richmond has
on immense deal 20 gain and would run
littlo or no risk Of losing anything by
granting the depot franchises asked for
by the Chesapeake and Ohio and the Rich
mond. Petersburg and Carolina Railway
companies.
There are cogent reasons almost in
Vulnerable why the companies should be
permitted 10 go ahead with the great i'm
provemont they have mapped out. The
only reason advanced for not permitting
them 90 do so. and for jeopardizing the
improvement. takes the form of question
ing the good faith of the petitioners.
That is what the demand for bond
amounts to. and all the conditions go to
prove that that demand is not only I'M
reasonable but illogical.
Even If the personal representatives Of
the companies had ever given Richmond
any cause 60 distrust them-and this they
certainly have not done-our contention
would stiH hold. For. as matter of fact,
The companies have already given bond
FOR The faithful performance of contract;
they have already given ample security
as an earnest of their sincerity. Their
bond and security are represented in large
blocks of real estate they have purchased
FOR the site of the proposed depot, and
it's approaches. and which In large part
would not realize them 80 cents on the
dollar OF the prices paid. They have
A. fe,h
ed, property which any real estate man
will testify had for years been a drug on
the market, and which II was feared had
no future, Any suggestion that the COM
yanies spent the money of their stock
holders for this property with any other
view than that of doing what they are
petitioning the Council to allow them TO
do Is absurd on IT'S face.
If the companies are forced by the i'm
position of captions conditions to aban-
don their enterprise their investment
will practically prove a dead loss to them
They certainly would not Improve" the
property for rental. because, barring the
fact that under present conditions there
IS little incentive to such a policy. they
could find better use for their money.
Is we see II, the petitioners are doubly
bonded They are bonded by the real
estate they have acquired and by self
interest
But. dismissing all consideration for the
companies. what, from the standpoint of
the interest of the people would be the
result of imposing upon the petitioners
terms they could not or would not. ac-
cept? The failure of the enterprise means
the throwing away by Richmond of an
opportunity to enter new and most de-
sirable fields Of southern trade, 1t means
the ignoring OF chance TO ensure en-
ployment for hundreds Of the unem-
ployed. II means the blightlng of bright
prospect for material advance in real
estate values In a large area OF the city.
TO parapbase trite but none the less
true apothegm:
There Is a tide in the affairs Of commu-
mites
Which. taken at the Hood. leads on to
prosperity,
Omitted. all the voyage Of their life
Is bound in shadows"
We commend this to those in whose
HANDS are the great interests Involved
in the depot enterprise question. win
they take the present tide at fits food?
Or will they bubble until il shall have
ebbed and left us bound in shadows, with
our door-posts bearing so prominently the
Inscription. mo enterprise need apply"
that all the world may read?