The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-14
Resolutions Adopted Urging
City'S Representatives to
Block Petition
MATTER COMING BEFORE
COMMISSION ON JULY 20
Believed That Southern Railway
Would Purchase Property
in Order to Stihe
Competition.

Opposition to the proposed closing
of the dock was voiced in no uncer-
tain terms Thursday afternoon at a
specially called meeting of the Cham
Der of Commerce. when resolutions
were adopted urging that representa-
tives OF the city employ all efforts in
their power TO prevent such action
on the part of the dock owners.
City Attorney Pollard, IN tae course
OF the discussion, expressed the belief
that he could successfully combat the
effort of the dock owners. Mayor
Richardson also spoke on the subject
explaining how 1t was discovered al
ter the close OF the last legislature
that House bill 3T5 had more mean
ing in il than a good many persons
thought il mad at the time II its pas
sage. In substance, he explained that
II conferred upon the State Corpora
ton Commission the authority To
grant the dock owners permission to
I'LL it in or otherwise close il to use
if the body saw lit To do SO.
Mr.. Henry -. Williams was par
tieulariy emphatic in mis- remarks
pointing out that while the dock was
not used TO any great extent at pres
ent. II nevertheless served an excel
lent purpose in keeping down rail-
road freight rates,
II was brought out in the discus
sion that the city of Richmond had
expended s1,500,00 on the dock and
other sections OF the old James River
and kanawha canal within its limits
as early as 1905. and ii was shown
that the charter provided that the
dock should be continued in perpe-
tuity of certain width and depth In
return for assistance which the city
had contributed toward it
Price Gone Up.
Three years ago, II was stated, the
dock was offered TO the city Tor sl25.-
600. but it could not be purchased
for that sum now. the price having
gone up considerably since 1905,
Mayor Richardson stated after the
meeting that the object Of the dock
owners In having the legislative hin
passed was evidently 10 secure a club
"a hold over the city's head 10 make II
buy the dock at price dictated by its
owners
II is understood that the southern
has made orertures to pur-
chase the dock for the purpose Of
erecting warehouses on the site after
il ia filled in. The real purpose of the
road however, is believed 20 he the
further sitting OF water competition.
The dock serves TO keep down coal
rates from the anthracite mines ~
Pennsylvania, In addition to affordIng
the city other privileges that II would
doubtless fail TO get II the dock were
closed TO traffic.
The dock extends from Seventeenth
TO Twenty eighth street, owned by
Thermometers for the most part, 1t is
said
The Corporation Commission has
set July Is as the date for hear
ing In the matter and il was the sense
Of the meeting that the City Attor-
ney and other representatives OF the
city should leave no stone unturned TO
block the granting of the petition
Resolutions Adopted
Resolutions adopted by the cha mher
follow
Resolved. That II is the sense Of
this joint meeting of representatives
Of the city and the Chamber Of COM
merce that We oppose most thor
oughiy the steps being taken to close
the Richmond Dnck-and -that-Aa-
pledge our hearty support and CO.
operation To- the representatives OF the
city in preserving the dock for the
use and development or the interests
OF the city Of Richmond: and we fur
Their, resolve, that II Is the sense of
this meeting that the representatives
OF the city and of the chamber shall
take steps To have Bin 37S. passed at
the last session of the General Assem-
bly, OF Virginia, repealed at the next
Of the General Assembly,