The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-28
Ready to Build Skyscra-
peril It Can Get Pos
session April l.
CALLSFOR ANSWER
By FEBRUARY 10
Only Thing Which May Posi-
bly, Delay Erection Of 2o-Story
Building Is Refusal of Ten
ants to Surrender Their
Leases-Williams Firm
Won't Move.

Only one thing-the possibility OF
helay in settling with tenants-stands
In the way OF the proposed. new
twenty-story railroad office building,
according to the statement made yes
terday by John NJ. Miller, Jr.. vice.
president and cashier OF the First Ma
uonai Bank Mr.. Miller said tnut the
syndicate which proposes the ereet-o
CT building for the Joint use Of the
First National Bank, the CHESAPEAKE
and OHIO Railway Company. the Rich
mond, Frederick sburg and Potomac
Railroad Company. and the Chamber az
Commerce. served notice yesterday &C
cepting the option recently extended
BY the members and stockholders or
the Chamber of Commerce on the
present building and site for s23o.Uuu,
provided the Chamber will deliver The
property on April |. 1911. This makes
It necessary for the Chambelto nego-
tate with it's own tenants and lease
holders, some of when have leases run
ming one year from March !.
Option on Adjoining Lot
Ar. Miller stated that ali other III G.
iimtnaries had been fully settled IN
GLIDING the securing OF an opium o.,
the Pizzinl building on south Ninth
Street. just iii this rear. now occupied
By the Evening journal. This would
either be used to give additional ground
space TO the main building, or kept as
at present TO protect the light ana air
Of the rear windows. and AFFORD space
for an ultimate annex, when the growth
OF the railroads demands it, as /. is
Fl expected. both by the Chesapeake and
Ohio and the Richmond, Frederick sbura
and Potomac in entering into >he
scheme. TO build themselves permanent
homes for al least fftyyedrs 10 tonl:.
Only One Possible Hitch.
There is but one possible hitcn, +.
r. No ~. y.
not be bic 10 make satisfactory deal
with its own tenants. We nave ae-
c:lned 10 go into that. but have accept
cd the option extended to us with ,lc
proviso that the building mus. be de-
The present owners must make their
q own arrangements with their tenants.
II the building and site is turned over
TO US. we VIII begin clearing the lot
on April ]. md be in a position TO lay
foundations OF our new building dur
ing the spring and summer. So that the
steel structure can rise in tile fall
What is Proposed.
In general the plan has already been
outlined. a syndicate has been formed,
financed BY the First National Bank,
in which the two railway companies
have subscribed for cons idera bic blocks
OF stock. The structure Will be 4 mod
ern fire PROOF affair arranged especial
II for the use OF the builders, who are
erecting II not as q 3cOIpnlGrClul prop
Osltion. but a their own nome. The
First National Bank will occupy the
nrst floor facing on Main Street at
Ninth, with {. modern banking house
OF ample proportions. Above the Cham
Der Of Commerce will nave quarters,
especially arranged TO suit It's needs,
while the upper floors Will be taken
by the two railway companies, the Of
tices to be arranged in suites TO meet
their requirements Between the space
used by the two roads will be several
floors to rent, which Will aford mar
gin 10 provide for the growth OF the
railway systems.
Want TO Know AT Once.
According 10 Mr.. Miller there were
but two conditions in the acceptance
OF the optional terms named, by the
stockholders and mem bcrs Of the
Chamber of Commerce: The building
must be delivered ready 10 BE demol-
ished on April ]. and the bank AID rail-
Way companies forming the building
syndicate must be informed rot later
than February 10 thai the condition is
accepted. officers of the cna m Der ex-
e press the opinion that these conditions
can and Will be complied With, and ne
Eotiations are already under way with
the leaseholders. Most Of The leases
are for short times. and Wall give lit
tie trouble. The most selioua is that
.
who rent the entire first ioor on both
sides of the main entrance, ana have a
lease until one year from March /.
A Public Spirited Move.
The syndicate was organized to pro-
vide permanent and adequate quarters
for the Chesapeake and Ono Railway
Company and to forever SCI al rest all
talk of removal to Cincinnati, or any
other point.
n
the business interests Of Richmond Of
retaining the headquarters cf the road
in this city, with it's army Of employees,
its large payments Of franchise ana
personal taxes TO State ard city, and
it's enormous volume of banking and
other business, it was SAID yesterday
that all business interests iii the city
VIII unite in seeing that no obstacle
is thrown In the way or 4 project
which has the canction of the railway
directors, and which now seems yir-
tually assured. Neither the Chamber OF
Commerce nor the First National Bank
would have gone into the scheme 1t
Is stated by their officers, had 1t not
been for the purpose of securing the
permanency Of the railway Offices in
Richmond. and the officials of the
chamber will make every effort to
facilitate the present Undertaking. The
officers of the chamber are already ne
sotiating with view of securing de-
sirable sites for tenants who ore ousted
to make way for the Improvement, and
It is believed that all can BE- properly
I. provided for before April l i.
Unwilling to Give Up Lease.
e. l. Bemss, o member Of the bank
Ing firm OF John r. Williams & Sons.
said last night that his firm had a
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