The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-09
WEST END DEPOT
STRONGLY URGED
BY BROAD STREET
Continued From First Page.)

BY BRUAD SlREtI
Continued From First Page.)
we. the Undersigned citizens. most re-
specially ask the committees OF the
city Council to cooperate with the
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
and the Atlantic Coast Liue in their
plan to give this city satisfactory pas
senYer facilities. and we most urgently
request tho management Of these rail-
roads to consummate their plans in
this respect at the earliest possible
moment
Should Give Roads n Chance.
In discussing the matter yesterday.
both Mr.. Dietrich and Mr.. Jurgens
thought the time had come to give tho
railway lines some say as 10 where
they would invest million dollars
or their own money
AS understand it," said Mr.
Dietrich" the Atlantic Coast Line and
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
will not go downtown, not 80 much
because Of the initial outlay involved
In making such Il change. as because
II would mean Il perpetual charge
against them for the use OF rights they
do not control. Nor do we think It
fair to compel the Chesapeake and
Ohio and Seaboard Air Line at this
nj
Fifteenth and Main Streets. The rail
roads are here to serve the public.
They get business By serving the pub
lie. and they are In the best position
70 know what the people want. / am
In favor of letting them work out the
problem In their own way, 50 long as
adequate facilities are provided"
II was pointed out that the incroas-
Ing use OF Shockoe Valley as "A freight
centre would mean more and more con
gestion OF the narrow streets around
Fifteenth and Main Streets; that were
a large union depot to be located at
Fifteenth Street, Main Street would
become congcsted almost beyond pas
sage. and the city would be put to
enormous cost to widen II In front OF
the station. and to open new cross
thoroughfares TO Broad Street
Fnvors Tvo-stntion Plan.
In favor OF the two station plan Mr.
Jurgens pointed out that the Atlantic
Coast Line and Richmond. Fredericks-
burg and Potomac own the land and are
prepared. il allowed to go ahead. to
invest 100000 in an adequate and
modern terminal. 1t was Ridiculous
he said. to talk OF the roads side
tracking" Richmond when they are
willing TO make such an outlay TO gain
Richmond business
LAS matter OF fact" said Mr.
Jurgcns. were the Richmond, Fred
erick sburg and Potomac and Atlantic
Coast Line compelled by public clamor
or otherwise to run their trains into
Main Street Station, which is already
overcrowded. and where there is not
enough room for future growth, the
railroad would certainly maintain a
small West End stop on its main line.
somewhere between the foot of Lom-
hardy Street and Acca, five or six
blacks north OF Broad Street, and away
from any car line. Yet such an ou'
of-the-way station would be more coz
Venient TO majority of the travelling
public than Main street Station is now,
and just as Elba does now, would have
the bulk OF the traffic. OF course, If
compelled TO enter Main Street Station,
the present plan for a 100000 station
on the Hermitage Club site will be
have little shed out on the main
line somewhere. out OF the way and
hard TO get TO.
Should Not Block Outlay.
1T seems 10 me that the city would
be decidedly standing in the way or
lis own progress to block a sl.000,0o0
investment for an inconvenient ar
rangcmcrt that majority of the peo
pie don't want In time. / believe all
the roads will come into a West End
station. where there is plenty OF room
for growth. but we don't urge that for
the present. Let the Chesapeake and
Ohio and Scaboard stay where they
are until they see the advantage or
moving ives. as the city grows. Some
of the downtown people who have been
advocating the Main street Station site
backed out when they found that TO
give proper train service, II would re-
quirc several more trcstles over Main
Street The Hermitage Site offers the
opportunity o, doing away with all
grade crossings; with having a pas
senger station facing directly on a
wlde-opon thoroughfare. where there
is already excellent street car service.
with direct car line through the
heart OF the business section OF Rich
mond TO Main street Station.
$50 far as Richmond people are con-
cerned. it matters little whether there
is one station or two. so that they are
each adequate, properly maintained.
and conveniently located For those
merely passing through and chdnging
from one road 10 another. it seems to
me that there is nm advantage In hav-
Ing them go through our business
streets and catch glimpse OF the kind
Of city we have here. Certainly pas
scnEers gather no favorable impress
sion of the city coming into Main
Street Station from any direction.
High water in the river in front OF
the Main Street Station is always a
possibility, unless the city spends
enormous sums in widening Shochoe
Creek through TO the river.
Convenience of Hermitage site.
"On the other hand passengers
coming into a large modern station at
the Hermitage site would come direct
ly into Broad street. within two blocks
of the best residential section of
Richmond--!n walking distance OF the
homes OF a large and increasing num-
bcr Most men In travelling leave from
their homes ard return to their homes
instead OF their offices. All women do !
this and they form Il large proper
tion of the travelling public.
With slight Encouragement Of |
street car lines over the Marshall |
Street viaduct. Church Hill and East
End people could be carried to the !
hermitage site as quickly and without !
going through as disaEreeable a |
section as they now traverse in GO
ing to Main Street Station The !
time is certainly not far distant when |