The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-30

ator. Those very features which give
rise to its great natural beauty and
sanitary service, from their nature
create obstacles to transportation
operations. Thus on one side, these
is great river. frequently changing
into a raging torrent at many places
n half mile vIde, and in some places,
with dow lying lands for banks. while
in others, there are precipitous bluffs.
Next, there Is high ridge from $50
feet TO 200 feet above the river, which
starting from Fulton Hi and ex-
tending westwardly reaches to a great
distance beyond the western city
limits This ridge is cut through al
most to its bottom by creeks whose
valleys form a wide expanse between
the hills. In going from the river to
the crest of the ridge, distance at
the ship locks Of only 500 yards. as
much elevation has to be overcome as
there IN between the ocean at Cape
Henry and this same point, distance
OF about 100 miles.
1t is true that advantage has been
taken by the Southern railroad to
run its West Point Vine up one OF
these valleys, and thus got up on
the backbone divide between the
Chtckahominy and the James river
by means of fairly good grade:
while the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
road utilixes another valley to get
up on the backbone Of the Same d.
vide, but by a grade which forms
serious handicap The Seaboard Air
Line also uses another valley to get
up from the river level at tidewater
othe great pfateaus at the present
head of Broad street. Notwithstand-
ing the fact that some use has been
made of these valleys, yet 1t remains
true today that there Is no single
street either in north and south d.
rection or in tho east and west direc-
ton that is fitted by nature rs a
great highway, with grade small
enough to be sufficient for great
transportation purposes. 1t follows
from the above that the final location
Of great terminals should be select
ed with the greatest care, and with
full knowledge OF all the requirements
both of the present and of the prob
able culture.
Advantages to be Derived.
All are agreed that the best results
obta Unable from passenger transporta-
ton rs bad within the facilities and
methods Of union passenger station
can be procured and adopted. There
fore, If a site satisfactory to all par
ties can be obtained for a union pas
senger station. the utilization of that
site and that method will solve this
problem.
1t Is not necessary, perhaps, TO re-
peat to you the requisites which such
a site should possess, bur 1t Is we'll
to bear them In mind to see If the site
proposed fuIfi1ls these requirements.
These are as follows:
First Requisite.
An easy access to and egress from
me proposed site by all the railroads
In all directions.
Second Requisite.
A free, easy and unrestricted access
to the site from all directions for foot
and vehicle borne passengers.
Third Requisite.
Plenty of standing room around the
station for carriages, automobiles,
baggage wagons, etc.
Fourth Requisite.
Proximity to the street car lines ra-
dating throughout the city, or to as
many OF them as possible.
Fifth Requisite.
Capability for future expansion. that
ia, the land in the immediate neighbor-
hood should not be so high priced, but
that If 1t were desired to secure more
room such land as was necessary
could be obtained without, having to
pay exhorhitant prices for IT,
Sixth Requisite.
location az near the center OF the
city as practical
There is one site and but one site
which. owing to the peculiar topo-
graphical features OF Richmond full
fills all these conditions, and that is
the site at present occupied as Il pas
senger station by the Chesapeake and
Ohio and Seaboard Air Line railroads.
viz, Seventeenth and Main streets,
1T Is proper at this point to make
examination into the particulars of
the various requisites to see 10 what
extent this site fulfils the above men
toned reuuirements The first one is
that of access to and egress from
IT. hy the various railroads. As the
Chesapeake and Ohio and Seaboard
Airline Fa44Fesas-Hew- Fsaaae-ase- al
1T, only the rautes to and from, tbs
other roads need discussion.
Taking them In their order. and
beginning at the north and going
around the circle from left to right,
l. e.. clock wise. the first road Is the
Richmond Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac. As this road Is already con-
nected with the Seaboard Air Line
tracks at Acca, all II would have Il
do would be to use the Seaboard All
Line rails from this connection K
the station This would bt for dis
lance of about four miles and on a
down grade of 10 per cent. as Q
maximum. OF course to get out all /
would have to do would be to re
verse.
The next road is the Southern, as
II comes In from West Point The
Southern connectes with tho Chesa
peake g. Ohio line through its tunnel
along the edge OF Chimborazo hill
Therefore all the Southern would have
TO do would be to run up this connec-
ton which IL now / IL per cent
grade (but easily reducible to a l per
cent graded. then go backwards over
the trestle across Gillies creek. There
ii would have direce connection into
the station by means of the James
river viaduct The Southern coming
in from Danville, by building short
stretch of 1900 feet on a Ia of one
per cent grade. could connect with
the Eeaboard Air Line just where the
two roads cross each other In Man
chester. and thus enter the Station
over the rails Of the Seaboard Air
Line.
wick road, which IL distant about 3
miles from Manchester, Is about $500
feet off from Seaboard Air line and at
II