The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-03-02
DRAW PLANS FOR DEPOT
ARCHITECTS NOW WORKING ON
NEW STATION DESIGN.
PROJECT GROWING IN FAVOR

Some Of the Councilmen Were at
First inclined to Lean Against the
Plan But Now Favor it-Mayor Fri.
day Supports II Public Says So.
Plans for the new Northwestern
railroad station in Norfolk are now
being drawn and will soon be ready
to use, in case the building Is to be
put up. General Superintendent C.
G.. Hughes said that he had been
asked what the depot would be like
several days ago but that he could not
tell until plans were made. All that
he could do was to assure Norfolk
that the depot would be a good one
and that, while it could not and will
not cost less than $4,000, 1t might
cost much more. He said that he be
lieves most of the property owners
of Norfolk, who have extensive inter
ests in the city, are in favor Of pass
ing the ordinance to vacate that por-
ton Of Philip avenue asked for by
the railroad company He said, too.
that Fremont and West Point had
both granted this same kind Of a con
cession, by closing up streets, and
that such procedure was not at all
out Of the ordinary methods of doing.
The room for building the station is
so crowded said Mr. Hughes, that the
building could not be put up on so
large a scale unless the street were
vacated.
It is understood that most of the
favor of passing the ordinance and
that, If such is the wish of the public
in Norfolk, it will receive the support
of Mayor Friday. At first some Of
the councilmen were a little inclined
to believe that the concession asked
for was too much, but it is understood
that they are practically all now in
favor of the proposition.
The main objection to the plan as
proposed is said to be raised by cit.
liens who live directly west Of sta
ton, in that part of town where 1t is
convenient for them to walk down
Philip avenue in going and coming.
And their chief remonstrance is based
upon the fact that the school children
pass back and forth in this vicinity.
Little objection to closing the street
has come from people who are accus-
toned to using that thoroughfare for
driving.
Those who favor the acceptance of
the railroads plan, however, argue
that the children can still cross the
tracks on Philip avenue just as they
do at present, for it is not planned to
obstruct the street to pedestrians.
"And when it comes to having two
buildings, one on each side OF the
street" said a member of the city
council today, 81 have made up my
mind that it would be good plan to
block the street for driving, because
of the fact that driver would find
it impossible to see either one way
or the other and might easily gel
caught, unless there was an elaborate
system Of arms and signals, between
trains"
1t is said that some of those who
! OBJECT 10 the plan are arranging u
appear at the next meeting OF the
city council to present their objec
tions.
To overcome the effect of the re
monstrance, a petition is being cir
culated among citizens of the city t.
ask the council to vote for the ordi
nance. A large number of signer!
among the people who live in th'
neighborhood Of the depot, as we'll al
throughout the rest of the city, arr
being secured. Many people who liv,
near the station say that they realiz,
that the new depot will increase tn,
value Of their own property.
| AIMaNs keens ChannherlaIn,s HnunI