The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-12
Recommends Joint De-
pot Proposed by A. C.L.
and R., f. & P.
HAMILTON SOUNDS
ROADS WARNING
Says Atlantic Coast Line Would
Not Approve West End Station
as Long as City Opposed
It--Peters's "Hands-OH"
Resolution Is Voted
Down.

With Chairman Disney alone voting
In tho negative, the Special Council
Committee or Union Station, COM
pleting It's inquiry into the subject
lnst night. adopted a resolution offered
By Councilman Pollock, indorsinE the
joint station on tho Hermitage Golf
Club site proposed by the Richmond,
Brederfcksburg and Potomac and At
lantfo Coast Line Railroads.
Tho committee reached this decision
after hearing that rehearsed much
OF the argument that had been present
Cd to 1t Mt previous meetings. but
which, at the eleventh hour brought
out ono startling development. This
was nothing moro or lees than a broad
intimation from Nice-President Alex
ander Hamilton, OF the Atlantic Coast
Line Railroad. that his road would not
only never consent to being forced into
II downtown station, but that It would
not join in the building OF an expen-
sive station on the Hermitage Club
site AZ long as n large portion OF
Riclimoro's business interests con-
tinue to oppose 1t.
Presents Tentative Agreement.
MIR. hamilton repeated his roads
unaltcrsblc opposition TO the down
town station project which, he said.
would compel IL TO abandon an easy
grade in favor OF a difficult one. and
make il dependent for entrance upon
the tracks Of road that is a rival for
its own business. He read to the COM
mittec memorandum OF a tentative
agreement made on August l3 between
Prcsidcn. Emerson. OF the Atlantic
Coast Line. ana President White. OF
The Richmond. Fredericksburg and Po-
tonac. The agTtcment. signed by the
two presidents. reads:
a. II IL our judgment that tho Rich
mond, fredericksburg nnd--Pctomac
ana Atlantic Coast Line Railroads
should build n passenger station at
Richmond suitable for their present
and future needs,
- 1t is our judgment that the site
Tor the said station is the old Fair
Grounds or Hermitage Golf Club
grounds, on Broad Street
80. II is our Judgment that the plans
and drawings this day selected by the
committee, consisting Of Messrs Emer-
son, White and Noting. are the best
general plans and drawings for said
station.
81 1t is our Judgment that said sta
tion should be built and operated'by 4
terminal company. and that said com
pany should acquire and own the whole
OF said tract OF land known as the
old Fair Grounds.
5. We think tho work OF acquiring
said land and erecting said station
should be entered upon as soon as pos
>sble. and 10 that end the two com
panies should proceed TO have the ter
minal company organized. said land
appraised and acquired. and the work
OF construction begun and completed
with all convenient dispatch.
"6. We Will recommend to the direc-
tors OF our respective companies that
they take action in accordance with
the foregoing"
Pollock Sounds Warning.
Mr.. Hamilton's statement OF his roads
position and the evident failure of dis
senting factions to reach a common
agreement brought Councilman Pol
lock to his feet at the end of the hear
ing with a warning to the Council and
to the city that unless a more co-opera-
tive spirit Is shown towards the project
proposed by the two roads, Richmond
stands In fair way to lose even the
Hermitage station and to suffer for an
other decade under the terminal dis
abilities with which II now contends.
A union station at Fifteenth and Main
Streets. he told the committee, was i'm
possible and the city should embrace
the opportunity to secure the next best
thing-a magnificent station In the
West End.
In furtherance OF his views, Mr.. Pol
lock offered a resolution which was
adopted after the committee had voted
down n substitute resolution present
ed by Councilman Peters, making no
station recommendation whatever. but
declaring II to be the committees opin-
ion that railroads passing in and out
of Richmond should be so operated as
to avoid grade crossings in every way
possible"
Indorscs Hermitage Station.
pOllocl< resolution carried nv
the committee with only Chairman Dis
ney dissenting. follows:
Whereas, 1t appears that at this
time 1T is impossible to secure the CO.
operation of all the railroads entering
Richmond to join in the erection of
union station, and
Whereas. Tie presidents Of The Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
and Atlantic Coast Line Railroads, re-
spectively, have entered into tenta-
tive agreement. copy of which is re-
turned herewith. looking to the erec-
lion OF a commo modious joint station for
Richmond:
therefore, be it resolved by the Com
mon Council Of the city of Richmond,
the Board of Aldermen concurring,
That the Council hereby enters OF re-
cord Its approval OF said last-mention-
ed scheme, and respectfully requests
said roads to Immediately begin the
erection of proper station In accord
ance Herewith"
Action Causes Surprise.
Notwithstanding the general feel
Ing on all sides that the committee
would not recommend the erection of
q union station at Fifteenth and Main
Streets, Its almost unanimous action In
indorsing the Hermitage joint station
plan was received with surprise
II did not expect It," said President
Darlington, of tho Chamber of Com
merce. who presented to tho committee
tho completed case for the erection OF
Continued on Second Page.)