The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-05
WILL BUILD PLANT
# GIVEN TRACKS
PATTERSON COMPANY ONLY
WAITING FOR RAILROAD FA-
i
CTIITJES TO BEGIN
IL
BUILDING.

Apparent hardness on the part of
two big railroad companies may pos
sibly seriously interfere with the plans
OF the X A. Patterson Tobacco Com
pany to build the largest tobacco fac
tory in the South at Spring Eill. just
beyond the corporate limits Of South
Richmond. AS a matter of fact II
this immense manufacturing plant Is
located elsewhere, the Southern Rail
way Company and the Atlantic Coast
Line railway will be the absolute and
only cause OF the Southside district
losing the great benefits that would
naturally rebound from such a gigan-
tic enterprise.
When the Spring Hill property,
about thirty acres, was purchased a
few months ago by the r. A. Pat
terson Company 1t was stated that
the big tobacco concern would erect
the largest tobacco handling plant in
the South on the site and that the
buildings would cost upwards OF q
million dollars.
Conventiont Railroad Connection.
The Spring Hill property Is border
ed on the north side by the Southern
Railway Company and on the east by
the Atlantic Coast Line, while II ex-
tends to Semmes avenue on the south
side. The close proximity to the two
big railroad lines was ono of the
Inducements and the tobacco COM
pany was led to believe that there
would be no trouble to get side tracks
run from both roads into their prem
ises.
hmm ediateiy after the pArchass OF
the property. both railroad companfe en-
were requested to run ride tracks into
the property and the tobacco manu-
facturers thought this would be done
at once.
Railroads Are Negligent
An officer OF the +. A. Patterson
! Tobacco Company said Wednesday
, morning that neither railroad com
pany had as yet run the side track
and that the hardness In the matter
might force his company to seek an
other location for the mammoth fac,
tory.
The failure of the railroad compa-
MES to run these side tracks, 1t is
| said. will be the only r. ,son In the
world that will prevent ths Patterson
Company from building on Spring
Hill.
Southside people will be greatly dis
appointed II the big factory is built
on the north side OF the stream. 1t
is understood that the Patterson Com
pany Is looking at some property on
the Inc OF the Richmond, Freder-
icksburg and Potomac Railroad Com
pany, but no definite decision has been
arrived at yet In reference to the
matter.
Serious Business Loss
From a business standpoint 1t would
be a serious loss to the Southsice if
the company fails TO build at Spring
HUI. Not only would the Southside
| merchants sustain serious loss in bus
mess, but the railroad companies
would also lose a great deal of freight
hauling that would naturally result
from such 81 large enterprise.
Southsiders ara hopeful that lust
az soon az the matter is properly laid
before the railroad companies that
both Will hasten TO run the side track
! connection to the property.
The Patterson Company really pre-
fers to build in the Southside. and
Will certainly do so if satisfactory
railroad accommodations can be OBJ
tanned. Besides the erection Of the Gil
gantic factory, the company Proposes
to build large number OF reaidences
for employees Of the factory. 1t, is
understood that ,oVsr one Thousand
hands Will be employed in the factory
| and many OF these workers will To-
t fata' of tlsssv ectrnpany's' property or
seek homes convenient to the plant.