The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-29
ASK GOVERNMENT TO
BREAK UP ALLIANCE
Unholy Partnership Between Railroads and Boat Com
pany May Be Brought to Attention Of Interstate
Commisson.-New Wharf Plan Endorsed

- =
Wharf Plan Endorsed.
locks and the frontage from the city
wharf to Nicholson Street.
He explained the value OF this to
commerce. and the resolutions were
adopted by unanimous vote.
Mr.. o. Fl. Funston, member OF tho
James River Improvement Committee,
thought 1t would be a bad plan to
connect the two. inasmuch as condem-
nation proceedings had been started
to get possession of the property
around Lester Street. He said City
Attorney Pollard had informed him that
lit might not be the best policy to
couple them, but Mr.. Funston added
that the James River Committee waa
in favor OF both and only wanted to
work along the line which would bring
about the best and most satisfactory
| results.
Unholy Partnership.
II sincerely hope that the resolution
already adopted will not be rescinded,'
| said Mr.. Bowe, who proceeded to make
| the charge of railroad steamship COM
! binations. II have reason to believe
| that the Old Dominion Steamship Cons
pany is controlled outright by the sew
eral railroad lines which enter Rich
mond II tbs is true. they did not
acquire control except for purposes de-
| trimental to the city and It's shipping
adds burdens. We ought to call this
matter to the attention of the Inter-
/ state Commerce Commission. showing
| that the action on the part of the rail-
jroads Is antaEonistic to Richmond, and
! urge that national body to dissolve the
unholy partnership between the rail-
roads and the steamship line which
they control.
I'VE must free the Old Dominion
| Steamship Company from the ,en-
Itacles of the railroads"
/ Mr.. Bowe's suggestion met with APP
j parent approval. Chairman Rountrca
/ proposed that the various orsanizai
/ lions which the members present rep
resented take the matter up. individually
4 or collectively, with n view TO bringinS
/ the alleged combination to the atten-
tI.tion OF the commission. The BoWe
resolutions. requesting the dock and
i wharf purchases by Councli, $1,000 40
1 originally adopted.
Gun Rcsulnte Rates.
I Mr.. j. Z. Freeman. Of the James
4 River Committee. did not see any dan
ger in connecting the two purchase
! propositions Reverting to freight
rates he said that he had recently
reminded the general freight agent OF
1.-The Old Dominion Steamship COMPANY
n that the figures on dry goods nao peelt
4 steadily increased without explanation
or reason. 49,.
4 ~ told him." said Mr.. Freeman, that
tfi the company did not do better We
would charter a steamer and bring our
4 freight into Richmond IN bulk. II
4 surprised him, and he wanted TO Know
liz it could be done. a.,
"This plan to acquire the BASIN VIC
shiplocks and this fine property around
the city wharf means that the cry
. "a own and control the commerce ana
, therebv regulate rates by inviting
variety OF lines into Richmond ana
giving them proper facilities after
, their boats arrive.
Although the commercial orsahiza-
/, lions are committed to the poilcy OF
. the movement started by Captain John
II A. Curtis, who explained II IN detali
j Yesterday. the exact method OF pro-
t cedure will have to be determined at
II SUBSEQUENT meetings. The idea OF the
members was to go over the land--or
the water-and get personal inforn'a-
| ton which could be obtained by obser-
. walton and not otherwise.
, Starting at Seventeenth Street the
] Itug steamed slowly through the mar
Q ROW basin channel to the shiplocks
: and waited there for fifteen minutes to
get through. The basin and locks,
III was shown. can be purchased for
q reasonable sunl-about $l26,00O-
but it will require large sum to de-
yelop it, Some Of the business peo-
eEple we're agreed that it would be move
@ helpful in the end to bring the ship :
as fur up town as possible. 70
y y couple this plan with the other wo 9n
!. Involve 4.ln expenditure of about S25e,-
! LOCO. Very often during the evening
d III was declared that Richmond could
u regain much of its former river COM
y MERGE by united action and llberality
% here.
2 The program will be mapped ont
y more in detail before formal petl-
). ton is presented7t City Council. Ihero
are unlimited accommodations which
ave today no moro than long and
empty gashes along the river front (,
Possibilities of Scheme.
CITY Engineer Boiling, Captain Cur
: Ills and others enlightened the conl-
mittee by pointing out what has and
" what is being done, with some idea
n of the possibilities II the scheme is
i adopted and CARED out. There was a
It large crowd. of business men on. the
+ tug. The committee is composed Of
70 the following Representatives from the
,seI four commercial organizations:
IS From the Chamber Of Commences:
~ Captain John Landstreet Frank Wil-
le liams, w. II. Dabney, r. a. Dunlop.
! John G. Freeman. r. NJ. Darlington.
B. III. Ellington. r. G.8Rennolds b. NJ.
III Gwathmey and N. w. Bowe.
or From the Retail Merchants Associ-
L alton: /. Fl, Kaufmann,t r. A. Miller.
q Nv. "A. Clark, Samuel Cohen, L. Q. N1ill-
$. er, o. II Berry.
ID From the Business Mems Club: Col.
6 Ew. o. Shelton, Jacob Cans II. cW.
q Rountree, L. o. Miller.
From the Travellers Protective Assoc
cation: George w. Rogers. w. Is.
u Bache. b, L. HARDWOOD, II. W. Roun-
s. tree, e. Fl, Cloves, C. d. Coleman, r..
,g W. Brown and r. S. Christian.
n, - 8 v IL n
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