The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-29

UNION STATION
Reasons Argued by Several
Business Men.
OP2OT{O BY RAILROADS
Hearing Given by Corporation
Yesterday.
Evidence Taken i'm the Matter Before
the Corporation COMMUNICATIONS
Der OF Commerce Insists ON New
Union Depot for This City-Railroad
Officials and Counsel Present and
Offer Objection.

Without a single dissenting voice
n supported by the strong state
ments OF many of the leading bust
ness men of Wilmington, there was
evidence offered yesterday before the
corporation commission OF North Car
DINA, which it is believed will be
convincing, of the immediate need of
some relief being granted in the mat
ter of the depot facilities that are
offered by the railroad companies In
this city.
The matter was brought 20 the at
tentiOn of the corporation commission
by the chamber of of this
city, and they are seeking to get tn
commission to issue an order compel
ing the Atlantic Coast Line and Sea
board Air Line Railroad companies t
reach some agreement as to the cree
ton of a union passenger station here.
AHS hSoAAbS was AC1u III IL oAlLSu
States court room and was attended by
an interested number Of business men
n members OF the chamber of conf
merce. The hearing began about Ii
O'Clock and all the members Of tie
commission were present, viz, Chair
man Franklin McNeill and Messrs.
Beddingfield and Rogers, Clerk Brown
was also in attendance.
/ The Atlantic Coast Line was repre-
scented by General Manager W. n.
Royal and its attorney in this city
Junius Davis. Esq. The Seaboard was
represented by Chief Engineer w. Fl.
Sedden and Superintendent w. J.
jerks, of this division, and by it
local counsel, John D. Bethany. Esq.
The commission first gave atten
ton to the presentation of the side 0
the railroads. 1t vas argued for the
A. c.. l.. that the present facilities Of
fered by that company are ample for
its business that is conducted They
contend that their present location
is an ideal one, splendidly situated TO
the business.
Representatives of the Seab0ard ar
gued that the receipts from the travel
to and from Wilmington would not
justify the Seaboard in building or
taking part in the building Of a union
station. That company has already
planned to give relief which they
admit should be given by erecting a
new depot on their present site, which
is to cost anywhere from $4,000 to
49, 900. The Seaboard also contend d
that their road would not be benefited
in the least by a union station, and
hence there would be no return for the
big amount of money that would have
to be expended.
Hon. John d. Bellamy contended that
the commission has not the power to
compel the two companies to go TO any
other location and build a depot. !
After the representatives Of the rail-
roads had concluded their arguments,
the commission expressed itself as
ready to hear what the business men
had to say.
President ]. Allen Taylor stated the
position Of the chamber of commerce
in this matter. He went clearly over
the whole situation mo gave strong
testimony as to the need Of greater
facilities than now exist. He con-
tended that the A. G. LIS facilities
are no adequate for the business lone
by that road and hence it would be
entirely inadequate for a union station.
He sharply criticised the S. 4. L. de-
pot, which is practically no station a
all. He cited the fact, too, of it
inconvenience and declared that a IN
ion station should be more c~entrall.
located.
Mr.. B. F. Hall, in a short talk, sal
that the Coast Line owns enoug'
property adjacent to its present depo
{ make enlargements and improve
ments which would meet all the re-
q~uirements of a union depot. |
Other strong arguments in ~suppoitI
of the contention of the chamber of
commerce We're Their made by Mr.. J.. c.
Stevenson, Mr.. William Calder. Collec-
tor of Customs Keith, Mr.. l.. 3. Ros-
of these speeches there was
caustic criticism OF the poor facilities
furnished by the Seaboard, and while
the accommodations offered Dy the
Coast Line are vastly better, YET they
were declared by all the speakers To-
be inadequate. The danger of the
Mutt Street crossing TO persons going