The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-03
RAILWAY MATTER
COMES UP FRIDAY
Street Committee Called to Act
on Sale of Seven Pines Line
to Robertson.
MERCHANTS ENDORSE PLAN
Retail Association Commends
Scheme to Build Road to
Rappahannocls.
MERCHANTS ENDORSE PLAN

SpSSiui lHectlHS OF the council
Committee on Streets has been called
Tor Friday night to consider a report
from subcommittee in connection
with the sale of tho Seven Pines Rail-
way line to the Richmond. Urbanna and
Peninsula Railroad Company. Chairman
william II. Adams announced yestcr-
day that at this meeting an opportu-
nifty would DO given to all parties In
tcrested to be fully heard including
any who may not have appeared before
the subcommittee.
ihe new company is headed by John
e. Robertson, and has entered into con-
tract with the Virginia Railway and
Power Company 10 purchase the old
line TO Seven Pines and TO extend II on
to the ltappahannock River as a freight
carrying road, provided the City Coun-
Gil will release the Virginia Railway
and Power Company from that portion
OF its franchise requiring II to opcrat o
the seven Pines line as part OF its
SYSTEM with the usual provisions for
school and labor tickets and transfers
good TO tho end of the line" TO and
from any part of the city. The sub
committee has recommended that the
sale - sanctioned by the City Council
provided the company gives bond to
build as far rs the Pamunkcy River
line In five years. and. further. that
In event of failure SO to complete tho
line, it is to revert to the Virginia
Railway and Power Company, which
engages to resume all transfer and
ticket obligations in that event OIL
Gals of the Virginia Railway and
Power Company have assured the sub
committee emphatically TINT neither
that company nor the Gould interests
arc financially interested in the new
railroad; that tho proposition Is bona
idc sale of the Seven Pines line at
the option price.
Merchants Favor Sale.
At meeting of the board of d.
rcctors of the Retail Merchants AS.
ISOLATION held yesterday morning tho
following resolutions wcrc unanimous
~ adopted:
Believing that the best interests
of our city and the surrounding coun-
try will be greatly benefited by the
building of railroad to the Pamun-
key River, and It's completion to ur-
banna within short time thereafter.
Resolved, That the board of direc-
tors OF the Retail Merchants Asso-
citation indorses the sale OF the Seven
Pines electric line TO tho Richmond,
Urbanna and Peninsula Railroad upon
the condition that the road shall be
built across the Pamunkey River with
in n period of two years from the timc
of the sale. We therefore recommend
TO tho honorable Council or the city
of Richmond that they adopt the nee
cssary ordinances for the completion
OF this sale"
There were present at this meeting
Messrs. T. 4. Miller. Samuel Cohen, l.
IL Kaufman. c. T. Norman, II. c.
tree. E. \. Dietrich. j. +. Jurgcns
W G.. Malone. L. o. Miller, f. l..
Winston Charles Rose and Moses
Thalh!mer.
Similar action has already been
taken by the Chamber of Commerce
end directors OF the Business Mems
Club.
Strong Opposition.
Strong opposition 10 the sale comes
from the property owners along the
present Seven Pines line at Highland
springs and elsewhere. who claim that
their holdings Will be greatly injured
by the withdrawal of the transfer
privileges. many laboring men and
children now coming into the city and
transferring to their places of occu-
patton for l-2 cents, riding In some
instances from nine TO twelve miles
Otiicials OF the car company state
d.
loss Of $4,000 n year in operating ex-
nenses alone, because of the provisions
as to transfer, and the low rate OF
fare charged. Messrs. c. w. Throck-
morton. NJ. a. Powers. T. \. WickhRn
l. o. WcndenburE and other attorneys
will appear for tho protesting citizens
Hiram NJ. Smith is attorney for the
new railroad. Attorneys for the Vir-
GINA railway and Power Company
al I'M TN, hr Gryh
company has given an option price
subject to approval of the City Coun
Gil. and is merely awaiting action by
the city authorities.
Opens New section.
Representatives. who appeared be-
fore the subcommittee in support of
the stand taken by the business or
Gani2atinns admit that there will nc
some loss TO those citizens of Hcnricu
county In the withdrawal of the low
fares ana transfer privileges they have
enjoyed. hut assert that II will prove
Of greater benefit to Richmond to have
q railroad into tic rich trucking sec
tons on tho RappahannOck River. now
without railroad facilities, than a
mere suburban passenger line to Seven
Pines Mr. Robertson, of the new COM
pany, announces that u contract has
been signed with Eichclbergcr g. Com
pany for construction of the new road
as far as the Pamunkey River, work
to begin as soon as the Council acts.
The pending ordinance guarantees j
schedule at least as good as ut present
in operation as far as Seven Pines
with straight scent fare from
Twenty and + Streets. good as
far as the present terminal of the line
at Seven Pines.