The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-09
Work Will Commence as Soon as
Franchises are Granted.
CONTRACT TO BUILD NEW ROAD.
Mr.. Mcdonald. of New York. Promises
to Complete the Line to Ridseway,
y. C.. by the 1st of December.
The Union Station VIII BE
4 Handsome and Cost
Iy Building.

The Chesapeake & Ohio and the Sea-
board Air Line have reached an agree
ment and signed a contract TO build a
union passenger station In Richmond
This is not all. Mr.. Mcdonald, Of New
York. one OF the best known railroad
men in the country, has been given the
contract TO complete the Richmond. Pc
tersburg K Carolina road from this city
10 Ridgeway. y. G.. lie has pledged
himself TO have tho tracks laid over the
entire route by the FIRST Of next Deem
Der.
II is stated semi-oficially that this
road will be a division OF the seaboard
Air Line. i.---.-i--'
THE DEPOT SITE.
President williams, OF the Seaboard'
Second Nicc-Presldent AXtell ana Gen
t.al Manager Stevens, oi the Ohesapeahe
& Ohio. have held frequent conferences
of late and. as The Times has printed
almost daily. each meeting Drousnt the
two companies nearer tosether. lnelo
was some dlfiiculty at FIRST with REFER
enc, 10 the site Tor the depot and ne
proportiOn of tine cost each company
should bear.
The station will be built on the north
side OF Main street somewhere between
Fifteenth and Seventeenth SiXteenth
street does not run across Main, ana
from the corner where the St Charles
Hotel is located to the old Market, there
is a solid line Of buildings. Most OF tils
uroperty is owned by the two railroad
companies The exact spot for the
dopot building has not been chosen ana
will not be until the plans are lur.he.
developed. Il Is proc lie, however. that
the station will be where the St Charles
Hotel now stands.
SHARE EQUA4eY ~ COST
The two companies viii share equally
i'm the cost Of the building and they VIII
have the same rights and privileges on
the property. They are willing, II Is uh-
derstood. for any other railroad COM
pany 30 come In and use the station ah't
van give very fair and liberal terms.
The Southern road Is not being begged
to use the depot. but while rival OF the
Seaboards Il can run its trains into the
nrouosed station II 10 desires 10 do 50.
The subcommittee on streets has been
asked 10 meet early this week 10 pass
upon the final plans OF the two com
nantes. Each company has an ordinance
before the committee. The Richmond
Petersburg & CarOlina's is a new one
and the Chesapeake & Ohio asks re-
newal OF the privileges granted to II
few years ago. II Will be necessary now
10 amend both ordinances so as 10 nave
them conform 10 each other As soon as
The privileges are granted, work on the
depot will be begun and the building VIII
be rapidly pushed to completion
PREPARING THE PLANS.
While waiting on the Street Committee
and the CITY Council. the companies will
have plans made for the station building.
The improvements TO De inaugurated by
the Chesapeake and Ohio in changing the
location OF its station and elevating its
tracks. and by the Sraboard Air Line
in entering the city and passing through
It. together with the cost OF the building
will aggregate between two and three
million dollars all OF which will probably
be paid out in the next year or two.
The building VII be a very hne one
IL will be one Of the handsOmest stations
I'm the country. and Will be credit TO
both companies and 20 Richmond. II is
probable that the plans viii be made
with a view 10 the SeabOard and Chesa-
peake and Ohio having principal offices
in the building.
THE NEW ROAD.
The Times was the first paper 10 tell
the PEOPLE Of Richmond that the Rich
nond. Petersburg and Carolina road was
not simply a corporation on paper. but
was hacked By the Seaboard Air Line and
would be actually built together with
fine depot here. Many doubted the truth
OF The Times exclusive announcement
AZ the time, but the developments have
verified that publication. The new road
will open up new trunk line between
the North and the South. The Seaboard
trains will come into Richmond over its
own tracks from Ridgeway. y. G.. and
will touch the Richmond. Fredericksburg
and Potomac road a short distance north
Of the city About twenty miles OF the
road from Petersburg south have been
comDleted. AIr. Mcdowell will begin
Monday with large force Of hands. and
will place them at different points on the
route. The contractor IS man who has
built railroads I'm quick time. and he
will do so in this case. Some land will
have to be condemned in the court. and
the proceedings looking TO this end will
be commenced this week
The new road will bring much new
trade to Richmond. II will put Bruns-
wick and other southside counties within
easv access Of this city Valuable new
territory will he opened up and city
and country will be mutually benefited.