The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-08
MERCHANTS FAVOR
UPTOWN STATION
Broad Street Men Circulate Pc
tition for Hermitage
Site.
AMPLE SPACE IS PROVIDED
Travelling Public Now Uses Elba
in Preference to Downtown
Stations.
AMPLE SPACE is PROVIDED


End site for proposed passenger sta
ton, as suggested by the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac and At
lantic Coast Line railroad Companies
The Retail Merchants Association an
body has taken no part in the sta
ton controversy, having both uptown
and downtown men In its members ship
Eugene A. Dietrich. president Of ].
b. Mosby & Co, and Fred Jurgens,
undertook tho circulation of petition
favoring West End site, and have
met with almost unanimous approval
are solidly opposed to the plan In
dorsed by the Chamber OF Commerce
for union passenger station at Fiji
teenth and Main Streets.
Plnn Ample Structure.
In connection with the petition there
are given a number of figures from
preliminary drawings for the proposed
new West End station, to show that
1T Will be a handsome and ample struc-
ture. fully equipped for the demands
TO be made upon it, The plans are
tentative as yet, not having the formal
approval of the railway company, but
are understood to represent its gem
eral views and wishes in the matter Of
dimensions. Notwithstanding the vigor-
Gus Endorsement given to the Fifteenth
and Main Street site for a proposed
union depot ny large downtown prop
erty interests, II does not appear that
the railway lines are any closer to-
gether than they were some months
ago. and the approval voiced by
large section of the retail district may
encourage the Richmond, Fredericks-
burg and Potomac and Atlantic Coast
Line to go ahead with their indepen-
dent West End plans
AS matters stand, the Chesapeake
and Ohio and Seaboard Air Line have
no idea of moving from Main Street
Station, although 1t has been shown
to be inadequate to their needs and to
lack space for the separation OF the
races. proper toilet convenicnces, and
other accessories OF a modern station.
They are willing. however. to have the
other roads come In with them and
join IN the expense or charging Main
Street Station Into general union
depot and this plan the Chamber of
Commerce and other bodies have in
dorsed. The Southern has indicated
that under certain conditions 1t might
be induced to go into such plan,
abandoning its station on Fourteenth
Street.
Have Secured Site.
For several years the Richmond,
Frederick sburE and Potomac and At
lantic Coast Line have been planning
q joint station In the West End. and
from time to time rs opportunity Of
ferod they have acquired large tracts
bringing pressure to bear for the re-
moval OF the shifting tracks in Broad
street. and the railroad officials have
stated that detailed plans for such
station on the north side OF Broad
Street. occupying part OF the Hermit
age Club site, are now In course of
preparation. The main building. 1t is
stated. will have a frontage of 800
feet and BIO five stories high. The main
waiting room will be 60 by 100 feet.
with two women's waiting rooms 33
by 80 feet, smoking room 20 by so.
dininG-room 30 by %, and n lunch
room SO by q feet A waiting room
for negroes will cover a space 80 BY So
feet. Full details Of arrangement are
not yet available, but these measure
ments have been furnished 10 the de-
signers as the schedule of require
mcnts. TO be worked into harmonious
plan
A concoursc zoe feet long and 60
rooms from the train sheds The lat
ter will be of the umbrella" pattern
followed in the Washington Union
Station, and Will be capable of shell
terng fourteen zach train Sep.
arate gates from the concourse lead
to each track.
The station is to be set back fifty
feet from Broad Street with It's main
floor about three feet above the street
riN'iY In fAy~ 1. 10,
ding of excursion crowds. vehicle en-
frances and the parking OF street cars.
The latter feature is regarded as one
OF the serious objections to Main
Street Station. MS all incoming ana
outgoing passengers are dependent on
one double track car line in a narrow
street. with no possibility of banking
cars for excursions without blocking
the main line.
Merchants Issue Statement.
In defense of their contention for
the West End station. the Broad street
merchants have issued the following
statement:
"Of s22,452,726 building operations
In 1--WE years Q906 to 1912, inclusive)
exclusive OF South Richmond, 49,
729.967 or GS per cent, was expended
west of Fifteenth Street. OF this sum,
sl0,641.5S6. or So per cent, was ex
pended west OF First Street
The growth will continue west and
north.
Increased freight facilities down
town are of paramount Importance,
and could not DO had If space used for
passenger purposes.
Large delegations arriving and de-
parting would block traffic OH narrow
Main Street. but not on wide Broad
Street.
Public service utilities should be in
stalled not for present alone. but for
future
''Twentyfive years in life OF city and
of public service corporation q mere
span.
Centre OF population twenty-five
years hence will probably be the
Boulevard
Fifteenth and Main Streets twenty
five years hence VIII be far from the
centre of population.
Az to Train Schedules.
The schedules to and from Rich
mond are such (and II is true Of many