The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-26

counsel of the Atlantic Coast Line,
took the floor. Mr.. Hamilton stated
at the outset that he did not talk for
the Coast Line, but merely expressed
his personal views. and those views
are to the effect that union station
was not good for either Richmond or
the railroads; that ii would be more
hurtfui than helpful. He stated that
Richmond was the best tfic point
on his road; that the road and city
had outgrown Byrd-Street station
ten years. and they had long been
troubled about terminal facilities, but
wouldn't admit any merit TO the
union station plan Even II the plan
was a good thing, the site selected by
the chamebdr OF commerce, he de-
clared, was objectionab bile. II was in
the eastern section while the cfty's
growth il westward. II we must have
a union station have central site
He suggested a site north OF Elha
station--the only practicable site If
the scheme was practica bio at ALI
Mr.. White Strongly Opposes.
President william II. White, of the
, Richmond. Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac backed Mr. Hamilton's obiec-
tons. Mr.. White declared 1t was not
"a matter of sentiment or emotion out
81 Question OF difficult physical prob
1ems and expense He cited Stats
ties to show that only ten big cities
in the country have union stations
while the vasr majority have not re
/ declared that in all instances Where
union stations were maintained, the'
/ had been built by terminal compa-
MEG, and not by railroad units. the
/ railroads not having the chartered
right TO invest SO much capital az
| such project required. Furtner-
more. these terminal companies had
| been aided literally in their enter
prise by the municipalities concern
| ed. While he was not opposed TO
union station per se, Richmond Goes
! not demand II nor Is 1t dependent
upon IL He argued that II Dig
Fcentra1 station developed surrounding
nropertv than the greater number or
/ sta ttons the greater the diversity or
development There are I04 trains IN
and out of Richmond. he said, m
| stead OF So
| Iohp shelton Williams, -Seaboard
! director. prominent in railroad CIR
/ cles OF the country. wound up the
/ speech making, in rehuttai as IT were
/ for the Gauge OF the chamber OF com
! rnerce. MIR. Williams cited the dim :
Z
/ when il entered Richmond, and ar
! gued thar II would not be such "A
mammoth undertaking as was repre-
! scented for the Coast Line, southern
and Richmond. Fredericksburg anu
!. Pntnplac ia G9me IN Under me saIms
| roof
! Replying to Mr.. Whites statement
| that terminal companies mad nhahcea
( and erected the union stations IN t"e
cities which had them Mr.. Williams
made the telling point that while that
| was true. It was also true that the
railroads entering the stations were
| the largest stockholders in these sta :
tons. Mr.. Williams was logical and
| convincing from start to fnish, ana
| his remarks encouraging to the pro-
moters OF the movement.
Dinner WAS served at 10 and i
was midnight before the company dis
persed IT was great occasion from
every stsndpotnt-the attendance,
representative of Richmond's high
est and best citizenship; Ambassadors
from the South biggest railroads.
the menu, the decorations, and the
tnovet unique idea symbolic OF the
purpose of the gathering--all were
impr essive and enjoyable. Those who
were there believe the movment for
a union depot has been given an i'm
petus tnal notllnR snort OF IT'S iiu
litton Will stop.
! Those present were. VT. Dab
ney John b. Pinder r. A. Dunlop,
w r Richardson. Jr.. c. p. Cole
man, r. Dunstap. NJ A. Cham bers,
r Peyton Giles, Alvin NJ. Smith. ]. +.
I Ryland, Fritz Stterdng. Colonel c,
r f. Burgwyn. George Wayne Ander-
son. j. O. Corley. Gilbert X. Pollock,
( John c. Easley, ". H. Adams. Sam
Cohen. r. H. Peters. ". Meade Add
son. Robert Whittet. Jr., +. c. Laird.
Henry w Anderson. ID. G. Richard
son, r. NJ Darlington. Julien Fl. Hill,
f.. s. Goodman, Ia. u. Morris. George
! w. Brown. j. Lee Davis T. r. Bryan.
w. F. Taylor, +. Strudwick. w. ID.
Duke. G. Fl. Borden. l.. NJ. Williams.
Z. r. Hutohens. o. r. Funsten. e.
". Grice. =. w. Travers. e. IL. Coap-
man. Coleman Workman, S. II. Halves.
John SHELTON Williams. Fl. B. Spen-
Ger 5. r. Morgan William Fl. White.
Judge Christian. G. II. Hix. +. D. VIII
liams, NJ. j, Capies Colonel Purcell.
Alex Hamilton. w L. Reed, W. W,
I Finley.