The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-12
COMMITTEE VOTES
FOR STATION ON
HERMITAGE SITE
(Continle0 Tronl ITlrst Page.)

CONTINUED From First Page.)
union station at Fifteenth and Main
Streets lie declined to mako II state
ment, and had nothing to say about
the chambers further course in the
matter.
II have always favored the down
town union station plan, but have be-
come convinced that an agreement on
the part of all the roads to such plan
is impossible" said Chairman Disney.
of the committee. II did not vote for
Mr. Pollocks resolution because 1 think
IL was beyond the committees province
TIC make II recommendation on anything
but n union station. 1t was appointed
for this purpose. and had no right to
so beyond II. L am not prepared to
say how 1 would have voted had tho
hermitage station lIan been leGlti-
mately before the committee"
Peters Resolution.
The resolution presented by Council
man Peters as n substitute for tho one
offered by Councilman Pollock was sup
ported in addition to the author. by
Alderman Disney. 1t read as follows.
whereas the special joint commit
tee appointed to confer with the presi-
dents or representatives of the various
railroads entering Richmond with the
view of selecting n site for n union
with the representatives OF the rail
roads, failed to have site agreed
upon:
Resolved That your committee is
OF tho opinion that the railroads pass
ing In and out OF Richmond should be
sc operated as to avoid grade crossings
In every way possible.
In submitting this report, your COM
mittee requests that II be discharged
from further consideration OF the sub
ject."
Councilman Seaton sought to have an
M a tod
the inhibition against grade crossings.
crossings by riaducts or bridges. The
amendment received the support OF
Alderman Disney. but WAS voted down.
president Darlington, OF the Cham
Der OF Commerce. summed up the case
for union station at Fifteenth and
Main Streets 1t was the location de-
ciued upon by practically every com
mercial organization in the city, he
said. without reference to any inter-
est but the city.s, The entrance through
the Shockoe Valley, he said, forever
eliminated the danger of grade CROSS
ings. and the location insured Access
sibility TO hotels post-otficcs and the
wholesale and jobbing interests.
If the hermitage station is built,
said Mr.. Darlington, Richmond may
ono day wake to find the Atlantic
Coast Line running is through trains
by Richmond in response to the ever
increasing demand for expedition. re-
ducing this point to the grade OF n
way station.
The same fear was echoed by John
c. Freeman who cited the case OF Phil
adelphia, where through trains avoid
the Broad street Station and stop only
at West Philadelphia. G. i. Lee,
a resident Of the West End. told the
committee that the building of q sta
ton on the hermitage site would
expose Monument Avenue and West
Grace Street to the danger OF noise
and dust by taXicabs and baggage
wagons. which would naturally uti-
lie these we'll paved thoroughfares in
conveying passengers and luggage
downtown. The activity. he thought,
would greatly impair the value of these
streets for residential purposes.
scouts City's Fears.
Alexander Hamilton, stating tho case
for his road, secuted in the most en-
phatic manner the fear that had been
several times expressed during the
evening that the Atlantic Coast Line
would find il profitable TO shunt its
through trains around Richmond.
Il am authorized by my company TO
say that such II thing running At
lantic Coast Line trains through Rich
mond without stopping has never oc-
CURED to a soul connected with the
road" he said. The idea is utterly
without foundation, and is nothing
more than bugaboo. Richmond. with
the sole exception perhaps of Jackson
Vile, is the most important point on
our line, and TO slight ii would be UNI
thinkable. AS far as | know, the AT
lantic Coast Line has never sent a
train through Richmond without stop
ping. The only exception was the
Florida Special some years ago, and
that train was sent through because
the city Council ordered it, The whole
idea is almost too absurd to discuss"
With regard To the Hermitage sta
had been determined in the matter by
the directors Of either road 1t had
simply been approved by the executive
officers. but had yet TO receive the ap-
prevail OF tho board OF directors
The executive officers Of the Atlantic
Coast Line" said Mr.. Hamilton, have
decided that If there is to be change
/ OF stations. the new tation should be
/ put the Hermitage site. However.
/ they don't regard II MS advisable to
/ locate a station at any place to which
u large proportion OF this city is OPP
/ osed, and the Hermitage site will hard
| ly receive the approval OF our board
unless II satisfies Rirnmond"
Mr.. Hamilton expressed the opinion
! that the Byrd Street Station would
still he used as a local station even
after the Hermitage station was built.
| There was enough local traffic between
/ Petersburg and Richmond, he said, to
! justify its maintenance.
The committee members in attendance
| last night were Councilman Peters.
| Pollock and Pollard and Aldermen Sea
ton. Grundy and Disney.
M0TORMAN INJURED