The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-15

The corporation commission nas)
named Thursday, January oath, IS the
date for the hearing in this city in rel
gard to the union depot matter, the
action being taken by the Wilmington
chamber of commerce to force theI
Atlantic Coast Line and the SeaboardI
Air Line railroads to provide a uniOnI
passenger station for this city.
The matter of a depot, which would
provide adequate and comfortable
facilities for persons arriving in and
departing from the city, has been oneI
of 1ong-standing Importance with tneI
chamber of commerce, and for several,
years they have been making Efforts
to get the two roads to agree on somel
terms, without having to take the
subject to the corporation cOmmisslCn,I
and more recently, when it was rel
ported that the Seaboard officials had
in contemplation the erection of a new
station on the site of their present
train shed, President Taylor of the
chamber of commerce again tried tOI
get the two roads into some agreement
even expressing it that the chamberl
would not object to the present A. C.I
l.. station being used as a union de-
pot, if proper trackage arrangements
could be agreed on. The officials OF the
two roads took the matter under con-
sideratiOn and evidently could not
reach an agreement, SO the appeal tel
the corporation commission was made
Recently in conversation with al
Messenger reporter President TaylorI
spoke of the d~esirability and necessity
of a union station. He said the reasons
prompting the chamber of commerce.
are so plain that it is hardly necessary
to mention them. The Seaboard at
the present time, has practically no.
station here whatever, the only pre-
tense being an open train shed, aftOrd-I
ing no c~OnvenienceS for travellers. IneI
depOts at MaxtOn and LumbertOn are
better than the one here. Passengers
waiting for trains have to sit on the
curbing or steps of the station. AS to-
its accessibility, Mr.. Taylor stated that
whether an agreement concerning a.
union depot is reached Or not, the
chamber of commerce will resist any
movement to have a new station bullC
where the present one is. Some or
the trains on that o leave before
day and arrive after midnight and par
ties going to and from the station are
compelled to go through the most dis
reputable part of the town, Dross Neck
AS to the Atlantic Coast Line. Mr..
Taylor said their present facilities are
inadequate for a union depot. Passen-
gers going into the station have TO
pass over a narrow walk, built over a
cut under which trains are constantly
passing, emitting sparks, smoke and
noxious vapOrs, making it disagreeable
in the extreme. The station is not
in keeping with the Importance of
Wilmington as a city, n as mead
quarters of the great A. G. l.. system.
The demand now made he cOntended
is for a union station, with modern
facilities, and conveniently located.
The business men will not agree to
the compromise they once offered for
both roads to use the A. G. l.. station,
but they will go the whole length and
demand that relief be given.
The hearing to be held here on the,
oath will be one of great Importance
and interest, both to the business men
and to the railroad officials. Both
sides will be given a full hearing and,
the matter will then be taken under
consideration by the corporation com
mission, who will announce their de-
cision time they have decided what is
the proper thing to do.