The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-09
Business People Sign
Petition for Herni-
tage Club Site.
CHAMBER MEMBERS
.1NDORSE CHI
Jurgens and Dietrich Point Out
Advantages of Million Dollar
Station Uptown-Claim OPP
ponents Are Blocking
Progress-Names
Surprise.

Signed by nearly every business man
on Broad street, ana by large mum
Der from other sections. a petition for
4: West End passenger station. as pro
Jected By the Richmond. Fredericks-
burg and Potomac and Atlantic Coast
Line railroads. has been prepared for
submission To the Council Committee
on Union Station at its next meeting
me BiSners represent more than $50
900. 900 OF invested capital and real cs-
tate holdings OF this community Only
those who have actually signed the pc
titions circulated by Fred Jurgcns and
Eugene y. Dietrich are given below
though many other influential men have
sent word that they are In sympathy.
with the West End Station plan and
viii sign as soon as opportunity is
Afforded Not "A single Broad Street
business man as yet approached has
failed To sign.
IL is significant that a very large
number OF the signcrs OF the West End
petition are members OF the Chamber
of Commerce. the board OF directors of
which has taken action favoring the
Fifteenth Street Union Station plan
Many also have membership In the
business Mems Club au Retail Mcr-
chants Association, which have as yet
taken no formal action in regard 10 thc
station CONTROVERSY
Text OF Petition.
The petition circulated FOR SIGNATURES
~ Messrs. Jurgcns and Dietrich fol-
lows In full. the names OF those sign
ing same being printed herewith.
We. tho undersigned citizens of
Kichmond. heartily approve ANA iudorsc
the plan Tor passenger terminal TO
be used by the Richmond, Fredcricks-
burg and Potomac. Atlantic Coast Line
and Norfolk and Western Railroads
ANA 10 be located on The Hermitage
grounds. West Broad Street
We think this plan proposed is Of
greater advantage to the city of I;ich-
hond than to have one passenger ter
ininai for all the railroads located in
Last Main street
some OF our reasons for these con-
ciusions are as follows:
Experts and other experienced per
sons are doubtful whether one union
station In city IL always for the best
interest OF the city.
on account OF the low grade line
known as the Belt Line. which serves
the Atlantic Coast Line, we fear tina,
that road would be forced TO take its
through trains around Richmond TO
avoid the delays and grades over the
Fifteenth Street line
We believe that the West End loca-
tion Is just as convenient 10 the hotel
district and more convenient to the
homes Of thousands of our own people
Who travel most. than the downtown
station
portion Of the board OF directors OF
the Chamber OF Commerce are such
mat 1t viii mean such = heavy imam
cial outlay for the Richmond. Fred
ericksburg and Potomac and Atlantic
coast Line that these roads would not
be willing TO undertake il, and that
they VIII. OF necessity. be forced to
DELAY the construction OF the elegant
passenger terminal. which they have
promised. Thereby our people Will be
deprived or the benefits TO he derived
from the construction OF convenient
passenger station for some years to
come
We believe in the growth and future
OF our city, and that an elegant station
herving the travel on these three roads
in the West End VIII make a much
better impression upon the visitors
who would have an opportunity of see
ing something OF the most beautiful
sections OF our city. and will be OF
greater advertising value
For these and many other reasons
Continued on Third Page)