Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-13
PLANS DISPOSED OF,
Subcommittee Accepts Those Of
the R. P, & {, as Amended,
TO PUT ORDINANCE IN SHAPE
Consideration Of The Petition Of the c.
90. Deferred Until Tuesday.
DErENCE OF THE COMMITTEE.
Col. Cufshaw Says the Delay HIS
Reen the Fault of the R"firo""
Compnnies-Protcst from Chamber
OF Commerce and Reply
DEFENCE OF THE COMMITTEE

|
four hours last night in the further con-
sideration of the plans of the Richmond
| Petersburg and Carolina Railroad COM
pany for entering Richmond and build
| ing a depot on Main street.
As a result Of the deliberations the
plans were disposed Of and practically
accepted. and the ordinance was referred
to the City Attorney and City Engineer
in order that the various amendments
may he Incorporated in it before it is
taken up and passed upon by this BODY.
There were a good many amendments
proposed TO the Richmond, Petersburg
and Carolina ordinance, but most oil them
were defeated and few changes were
made in the plans. The meeting was ue-
void Of sensational features, such as nave
characterized its other sessions, out the
/ CITY Engineer called forth a protest from
MIR. Decatur Axtell by statement made
i'm defence Of the subcommittee at the
opening Of the meeting. Colonel Cut
/ shaw said the plans presented there iast
night for the depot gave the iirst speclfc
| information as to the intentions 81 the
! company concerning the depot. The SUD
committee had been severely criticised
| by the press for the delay in dealing
/ with the petitions and the plans OF the
| two companies, but the committee haG
| only done its duty, and the daay hau
been caused by the childishness cf inc
company in Withholding full intoTma-
tion. Mr.. Axtell took exception 10 the
| word "childishness," and Colonel Cut
shaw replied that he did not mean the
| characterization in an offensive sense
but no other word 50 well expressed the
attitude of the railroads in regard to the
depot question.
As Mr.. AxteI had to leave the city on
the 1880 train, the consideration oi 'ne
Chesapeake and Ohio matter was post
poned until Tuesday night at O'CLOCK
when IL is expected the whole subject VIII
be disposed Of.
THE SESSION IN DETAIL.
Fverv member of the subcommittee was
nresent-Messrs. Ebe chairman, Burton
| Gibson. King. Lawder, and Pollock. Inc
| CIV Attorney and City Engineer were
| also in attendance. -
Mr. DECATUR Axtell and Mr.. II. 7.
| Wickham. with Mr.. Isaacs ana other ensi-
neers represented the Chesapeake ana
! Ohio and Mr. John SHELTON Williams,
Mr.. w. W. Henry, and Phil. Il. Sheild
! the Richmond Petersburg ana Caroiiha
| road.
The resolution adopted at the recent
meeting of the Chamber of Commerce
was presented and read. This resolution
! is as follows: c.,..
Der of Commerce views with anxiety anu
regret the delays which have occurred
| in reaching an agreement upon the iran
chises TO be granted the Chesapeake
| and ohio Railroad Company and the Rich
mond. Petersburg and Carolina Railroad
| Comnany for the construction OF their
new union depot, and the approaches
! thereto. and the Chamber respectfully re-
| quests of the subcommittee On streets
| that il will give TO the solution OF the
question involved all expedition that may
| be consistent with the city's interests"
THE COMMITTEES ATTITUDE.
MIR. Ebel submitted a letter in reply to
| this resolution, WHICH was read. and on
| motion OF Mr. Pollock. adopted as the
! reply of the subcommittee. This letter,
which purports TO explain the attitude
of the committee. says,
"The subcommittee on Streets,
! TO whom was referred for consideration
and report the franchises of the Cnesa-
peake and Ohio railway and Richmond,
Petersburg and Carolina railroad, beg TO
saw that there have been no delays in
their consideration, and that the pro-
ceedings have been characterized by such
prudence. care and judicious cOnserVa-
! tism as the interests of the municipality
demands. You will note that scheme
of such magnitude, involving intricate
| engineering questions and skilfuily-
drawn plans, and many other complies
lions which naturally follow such large
undertaking, are not the labor of day,
q week. or a month. but in all pr0ba-
bility of years of mature consideration
| and reflection, and as the companies nave
| had TO give IL long and careful study
we. as ordinary laymen, men OF business
and representatives of the municipality
| uhe people,. feel it our bounden duty TO
proceed cautiously. think carefully, and
| act wisely in so important matter And
we feel satisfied that our judicious con-
| seryatism will result in great beneht 10
| the CITY and not hurt, i'm any respect, the
| corporations asking for the franchises
The granting OF the franchises which
the committee will frame must add not
| only TO the growth and prosperity Of the
entire community, but To the two rail-
road companies as well.
COLONEL CUTSHAW'S VIEWS.
Mr.. Pollock asked if the City Engineer
were ready 10 report upon the resolution
offered at the last meeting in regard TO
the tunneling of Broad street.
Colonel Cutshaw stated that he had not
had time~to go fully into that question,
but had asked Mr.. Seymour for the data
I'm order 10 submit his report, but he was
not prepared to give him the information.
He stated in brief how it might De car
ried out. but said II would be far more
extensive than coming out on grade at
Rroad street The crossing Of Broad
street at grade, he said, was not a very
serious matter. for he firmly believed
mat i'm five. ten, fifteen, or at most,
twenty wears. a viaduct would be erected
on Broad street. and the crossing OF
1rood street by railroads would present
no serious ground for objection He could
not give even an approximate idea OF the
cost of tunneling Broad street.
In reference 20 Sixteenth street, the
| CIV Engineer said he could give n6 in
formation as to the occupation of pro-
perry by the Chesapeake and Ohio Com
many owing TO the mortgages. He ex-
plained. however. how the Richmond. Pc
tersburg and Carolina could run line
parallel to Sixteenth street by acquiring
the adjoining property
AS to the crossing of Main street. Colo
mel Cutshaw said he thought a shallow
cirder bridge, with pedestals, would pre-
sent better appearance than broad
girder, without pedestaIs.
I'm regard to The depot. Colonel Cutshaw
expressed the opinion that the new COM