The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-09
The DURHAM DEPOT
HEARING.
After Long Argument Con-
tinued Till July II at
Durham.

The final hearing upon the petition o.
the people of Durham for union depot
will be heard by the Corporation Commits
sion on July 18th, in the Durham court
house at 1870 o'clock. 1t is understood
that at this hearing members of tn,
Peace Committee will be summoned
among others to testify.
At the hearing in this city, which was
continued to July 18th at Durham, the
attorneys representing the petitioners were
Messrs. Victor S. Bryant, III. A. Foushee
and ]. Crawford Biggs.
Witnesses examined for the parties ask
ing for the union depot were Messrs. S
G. Cole, P. w. Vaughan and w. NJ. Fallou
The Southern Railway was represented
by Col. w. A. Henderson, of Washington,
ID. c., general counsel; Mr.. F. H. Busbee,
of this city, State counsel; Col. A. B. An
drews, first e-president, and Mr. Henry
W Miller.
For the Seaboard Air Line there ap-
peared Judge Leigh r. Watts. of Ports
mouth, general counsel; Judge 4. B. Wo-
mack, of this city, local counsel; General
Manager J. M. Barr, of Portsmouth. and
Judge r. w. Winston, local counsel for
Durham.
The Norfolk and Western Railroad was
Lot represented, but the Commission was
notified by them that they did not OBJ
ject to the union depot.
The following resolution from the City
CT Durham was presented:
Resolved, by the Board of Aldermen
OF the City of Durham In regular meeting
assembled. July 9th, 1908:
ID That the passenger depot facilities
now existing in the City of Durham are
Inadequate and insufficient to meet the
just and reasonable requirements of Inc
public
'(2.) That q union depot to be used
by the Norfolk and Western, Seaboard
Air Line and Southern Railway, being all
the roads entering the City OF Dur
ham is practicable and feasible and will
greatly subserve the public welfare ane
convenience.
's(3.) That H. A. Foushee, attorney for
the Board of Aldermen be, and he is
hereby directed to present these resolu-
tions in person to the Corporation Com
mission of North Carolina and to use
has est efforts to secure the erection of
a Union Depot within the City of Dur
nam as comprehended by the act of the
last General Assembly of North Caro-
lima, known as the Fuller Bill.
.'f4) That a committee of three from
the Board of Aldermen be designated 5y
the mayor, be appointed to go to Raleigh
and use their best efforts to secure. the
erection of a Union Depot and all citi
zens of this city are requested to cooper
ate with the city attorney and committee
OF this board in securing the object OF
these resolutions
The Seaboard Air Line filed the follow
ing answer to the notice of the commits
sion:
'.Seaboard Air Line Railway, answering
the notice to show cause why it, together
with other railroads, shall not be required
to construct and maintain a Union Depot
for the City of Durham. reserving all
questions of power and jurisdiction in your
honorable body TO make any order in the
premises, and expressly declaring that
In its opinion you have no such right or
power in the premises, for answer sayeth
30 That it is now and has at all times
been ready, willing and able to join IN
the construction of suitable Union Depot
for the said City of Durham.
"f2) II admits the desirablllty for a
Central Union Depot in said city and 1T
declares that, from an examination of
the ground and the tracks of the va
rious roads, a Union Depot for the said
city if feasible, practicable and nexpen-
sive, for that the land is level, the tracks
of the various roads have physical
connection with each other, and there
is ample vacant space at several points
for the construction o. the same.
"(3) 1t further says. however, that
your honorable body has no jurisdiction
in the premises to order a depot TO be
constructed by more than one railroad
at any one point.
And having fully answered, 1T prays
to go hence without delay"
The Southern Railway will file It's an
swer within the next few days.
Col. Henderson stated to the Commls
sion that the Southern Railway admits
that the depot in Durham are not suffi
Gent. and said the company was anxlu'
end willing TO erect a suitable depot
building. Further, he said he was per
sonallv of the opinion that Union Depot
should be arranged for, but he commended
that the Corporation Commission had M
right to force the company to go into part
nersh:p with people not agreeable to il
for such a purpose
Mr.. Biggs asked Col. Henderson if the
Southern Railway also admitted that il
was practicable for the three railroads
to build a Union Depot in Durham.
Col Henderson replied that he shoult
think it was possible in any town.
Judge Watts. for the Seaboard Air Line
said they conceded that the depot accom-
modations at Durham are totally made
ouate. and while they did not concedt
that the Corporation Commission could
order that union depot be erected, thel
did concede that union depot is neces-
earv to meet the demands OF the city o.
Durham.