Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-28
10 assume national proportions. So you
would dc well to enlist early aud grow
un with Il. as 4 were.
MAIx-sTREEr uEror.

I naSf and the two railroad compantes}n
! tercsted will come together soon on The
union depot question.
4 A little time and little thought must
| causs n gravitatIon Of views from both
sides 10 a point where concessions may
be made by each side. 1t Is admitted
that IT would be unreasonable 10 demand
that the companies should submit detail
| cd drawings and specifications for their
proposed depot building and car-sheds;
nor do we think the committeeman VIII
ask this OF them. Indeed. their purposes
seem TO have been misunderstood.
The old ordinance. we believe. required
the Chesapeake and Ohio Company TO
expend at least sl5O000 upon depot brli1-
ing. In drafting he ordinance now I'M
der consideration the same figures wero
retained. Yet. as n matter OF fact I, Is
as certain os anything can be which lies
I'm the womb OF the future that the rev
depot building will cost much more than
$4,000.
We doubt not that. upon full .nves-
tigatlon of the matter. the committee
will find that the purpose Of the railroad
company Is TO give US a very handsome
depot building.
The tracks of the Chesapeake and Ohio
and Carolina roads will cross Main street
about % or &c feet above the surface OF
the street. The former road will run
into the depot on It's eastern side the lat
ter will run into it on its western side.
The demands Of the situation are imper-
alive that the building shall. be so con-
structed az TO allow the two sets OF
track 10 come together as closely as pos
slble. so that passengers and their bag
gage, TIE mails, and express freight may
be easily and conveniently transferred
from the trains Of one company to the
trains Of the other
Passing out OF the depot, and going
northerly, the tracks will cross over
Franklin street Broad street Will also be
crossed over. In each instance sufficient
clearance will be allowed for s;reet-cars.
and all other vehicles. to pass safely UNI
der the tracks.
Yes: IN our opinion our councimvn and
the railroad companies will gravitate 20
the agreeing point. Certain general feat
ures Of the depot scheme Will be fixed
upon. and the companies will be allowed
the time necessary in which TO get de-
tailed drawings and specifications. 1T Is
luite possible that prizes may lie OIL
tered by them for the best depot plans.
Meanwhile, if the City Council will per-
nit II, work may proceed upon The via
iucts, transformations, 60 The route
II the Chesapeake and Ohio connections
S already well-known. The Carolina road
viii enter Richmond from Manchester at
point near the mouth of Shockoe creek,
nd. If reports be true, will pass through
he upper end of the Talbot property
re very anxious to get TO work. They
an give employ ment to hundreds Of
nen. They are very near to an agree
nent with the City Engineer as TO the
outes which are to be pursued in build |
ng the connection-track, and it but re- |
Mains for them and the Council to reach |
n understanding as to the depot build |
ne.
The word Of Mr.. Axtell and John Skel- |
Oh Williams was given the committee |
n Monday night that the two companies |
re ready and anxious to proceed at once ]
Nth the depot enterprise. Altogether, |
ye may expect an expenditure here on
ccount of these improvements OF about
,. SOC, 000 A large portion of this sum
ill stay here in Richmond, as it will
e expended for granite and bricks, and
or wages Of masons and other mcchan-
IS and laborers. And, after the work is
il done, we shall be able to rejoice in
he possession not only Of handsome
assenger depot, but-more important
tll-a new railroad system, reaching a
erritory in which our city already has
many friends and ought 10 be able to
nd many customers!
The advantages that the Carolina road
viii derive from joint depot ownership
Nth the great Chesapeake and Ohio sys-
EN- will be obvious to all businessmen.
ome of the advantages to our city we
ave already pointed out. Therefore,
It us all hope that there will be rap
rochement between the railroad COM
any and the committeeman, and that
eneeforth all Their transactions may
roceed happily