The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-13
WILLING TO HELP
RAILROAD PROJECT
City Attorney Pollard Would
Start Fund With $500
Subscription
HOLDS THAT COUNCIL
COULDN'T GIVE MONEY
Proposition Made to Chamber
of Commerce to Open I'M
portant Trade Territory
by New Line

No appropriation can lawfully be
made by the city council to forward
the project to build railroad from
wicomico in Northumberland county
to boswell in Hanover county, accord
ing to City Attorney Pollard.
Mr.. Pollard, however. is willing to
subscribe $500 toward the project pro-
Vided the desired amount of $f5t,e to
asked OF the city OF Richmond can
be raised by like subscription from
other parties.
ON cd. y. Mayor Richardson re-
ceived the following seli-expianatory
communion from MIR. L. NJ. Car
rington, vice-president Of the Cham
Der OF Commerce:
Baild Standard Guage.
Mr.. c. III. Ward has presented a
plan TO the Chamber OF Commerce
by which he proposes to build a
standard guage railroad from
Wicomico, a point on the eastern coast
of Northumberland county, thence in
northwesterly direction for a con-
siderable distance, thence In south
westerly direction through the coun-
.es of Richmond, crossing the Rap
pahannock at Tappahannock, and
thence through Essex and King ana
Queen. taking in Ayletts, and thence
through King William and Caroline
counties, and having its terminal at
boswell. the junction Of the Richmond,
Frederic kshurg and Potomac and the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroads. both
OF which are exceedingly iendly TO
the enterprise.
This will open up a territory which
does practically no business with
Richmond. and VIII pat pslr people in
touch with seventy to one hundred
thousand people, occupying over ten
thousand farms, with a population OF
nifty persons to the square.
Cost Mosc Than Million.
Mr.. Wards proposition Is that he
~ili build and equip the road, which
he estimates Will cost something like
one million FIVE hundred thousand
dollars. IL Richmond will subscribe az
| gift one hundred and nifty thousand
dollars. He states that this fund Will
be used In part to pay the interest on
| the cost of the railroad for the first
two years. during which time he does
not expect it to be self-sustaining.
Will you please let me know at
your earliest convenience whether or
| not the city council can legally make
an appropriation to the fund describ-
ed above that Mr. Ward makes as a
condition on building the road. | will
/ state further that MIR. Ward says he
VIII net ask for any of the money
until the road Is completed and run
ming. he simply wishes IT put up, how
ever, in the hands of satisfactory trus-
tees with the understanding that Ii
Will be turned over to him when the
road is completed and doing ser
vice"
Referred to Pollard.
On receipt OF the letter from Mr..
/ Harrington, the mayor referred the
matter TO the city attorney for his
/ opinion as to the right of the City
Council to make an appropriation for
the proposed railroad. The city at
| torney promptly replied that the City
| Council could not lawfully make the
appropriation, citing the following
section Of the constitutions:
/ ''fS5. Neither the credit of the
| a. State nor OF any county : city. or
town, shall be. directly or indi-
| rectiy, under any device or pre-
tense whatsoever. granted to or
| in aid of any person. association
| or corporation: nor shall the
| State, or any county. city or
| town subscribe to or become in
terested In the stock or obliga-
| tons of any company, associa-
| ton or corporation, for the pur-
pose OF aiding In the construc-
! ton or maintenance OF its work."
| Mayor Favors Project.
| The mayor, in transmitting this
opinion to Mr.. Darlington. said:
II hope the project OF building a
[ railroad through the counties men.
ltioned in your letter will be speed
| lily accomplished. II appears to ms
that the sum of s150.000 would be
subscribed readily by our business
men and other citizens IL we could
find a suitable man who could give
the time necessary for canvass.
am authorized by Mr.. H. r. Pollard
(our city attorney to say that hi
will subscribe the sum OF $500, pro
tvided the amount can be raised By
like subscriptions from other par.
/ ties
Knowing the many advantages
which will accrue to the people OF
| Richmond by the building OF this
railroad, I am willing to do every.
thing I possibly can to forward the
project"