The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-24
FROM RICHMOND
DOWN T0URBANNA
Through a GoodIy Country-If
Richmond Wants It, Now's
the Time.
WILL CITY MEET URBANMA?
Tour Rich Counties Knocking at
Richmond's Door-Shall the
Same Be Opened?
WILL CITY MEET URBANMA?
BY FRANK $. woonsoN.

With the opening Of the new year
me Richmond City Council will have
lSht interesting little proposition TO
wTesne with. The town OF Urbanna,
uo"n on the Rappahannock River, and
en- ot the country from there up TO
fichmond-somc mighty good country
~ Is, too. cncoinpassing the whole OF
parts of the counties OF AIiddlescx
King and Queen. King William. Han
over and Henrico--want 10 get in clos
or business touch with Richmond. and
" seems 10 be UP TO Richmond 20 decide
II they shall do it.
The proposition, as l understand IL.
is 10 build railway from Richmond to
LrhaHna, or. moro properly speaking.
from urbnnna 10 Richmond For this
purpose the Richmond. Urbunnn and
Peninsula Railroad Compare ha. bncn
Incorporated. II Is the purpose of THIS
company 10 build "a line from Urbannn.
sway down yondcr on tho Kappa nan
mock River. to Richmond. covering
distance OF dfty-nve miles, through
the counties OF Middlegex, King and
queen. King William. Hanover and
licnrico.
Away on fonder.
with the exception OF tho Henrico
territory In this proposed line, and q
part OF the Hanover territory. all or
inc trade of this rich section hag been
from time immemorlal diverted from
Nchmond because OF the lack OF trans
portation facilities. Rappahannock
River end York River steamboats, have
carried It all TO Baltimore. Tho peo-
rle In this rich territory want TO trade
w!th Richmond. II IL to their interest
10 do so. II they can set here. Thcy.
think they have found way TO get
Here and they are doing the good work
without asking any more than moral
support from Richmond. Richmond
could well afford 70 build ali OF the
proposed Richmond. Crbanna and
peninsula Railroad. but the people are
not asking that much OF Iiichmond.
However. they do want d cheap way to
Sei into the town. Their way In Is
from Seven Pines. and street railway
company holds the franchise.
It's Up to Richmond.
According 10 the best information I
can gather, Tho street railway folks
are willing enough 10 sell or even give
away their little old franchiso; bit
mere arc few dozen people along the
l!ne who have been enjoying some pccu-
lar privileges. and who are not WILL
ing 10 surrender those privileges for
the general good. And just here comes
.hc only hgnt l have heard OF.
IL seems TO the that the only ques-
ZION AZ Issue IS shall big public
enterprise fall down Just TO keep fai,h
with dozen or TWO selfish folks
alons the line OF a non-pay ins railway?
liut that is a question that Is TO be
considered by the City Council, and
maybe By some other legislative or
judicial bodies. Ny informa ton is that
The making OF the railway from Ur-
hanna TO Richmond depends entirely
lpon the ability OF the company TO
buy the line from this city 10 Seven
Fines. The owners OF that line are
not only willing but anxious TO sell,
and the other folks are willing enough
10 buy: but few individuals who have
certain chartered rights stand in tho
way. These all be legal points and
rights that may have to be considered
IN the courts. and they are. of course,
matters that newspaper has nothing
10 do with. But there Is one thing
that this newspaper has a great deei
10 do with. and that Is greater Rica-
mond development.
Some Telling Figures.
] have talked with people who are
In position TO know n thing or two.
and have gathered some facts that
The business people of Richmond may
we'll consider. and after consideration
some OF them may have q word or two
20 say to Councilmen and other folks
who hold or claim to hold whole lot
OF political power l am told that It
Is the purpose Of the Richmond, Ur-
bannn and Peninsula Railway Company.
subject to the approval OF the Council
OF the city of Richmond. to connect
that part OF this section lying along
and between the Rappahannock, the
York, the Piankatank. Mattaponi and
Pamunkey Rivers with the city OF Rich
mond by means OF G standard gauge
railroad running from some point on
the Seven Pines line TO Urbanna. This
l.