The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-19

Il uAAoA uVpVA PAolSJSfIous
In the face OF brief but pointed
argument by w. u. Duke. assistant
to the president of the Richmond
Fredericksburg and Potomac rail-
road in favor of a union depot In
the West End. and the emphatic state
ment from that official that neither
his road nor the Atlantic Coast Line
will ever consent" to the proposition
of utilizing Main street station for that
purpose, the board of directors of
the chamber of commerce yesterday
afternoon unanimously adopted res
nlutions recommending Fifteenth and
Main street as the logical site for a
union passenger station, and ex-
pressing itself as bitterly opposed"
TO the present plans of the Richmond
Fredericksburg and Potomac
The resolutions were submitted by
Chairman r. q. Laird Of the inland
trade committee In conjunctioD with
the committees report on the matter
of a union depot site which was en-
trusted to It's consideration some
months ago and to which 1t has given
careful consideration. They were
adopted with but one dissenting voice
and will be presented by delegation
from the chamber to the meeting Of
Ing tonight.
The Railroad Side.
Mr.. Duke. who was the only rail-
road of1ctal present was invited by
Chairman Frank d. williams, while
the resolutions were open for discus
sion. to state the railroads. side of the
matter, Mr.. Duke said he preferred
not TO make any lengthy talk. but was
prepared to answer questions. and
the cross-examinatfon OF a half hour,
In which a number Of directors join
ed, brought out the railroads view
point OF the situation.
Mr.. Duke stated that New York ar
chitects were now preparing for the
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac station to be erected on the
Hermitage Golf Club site which. with
Its sheds and approaches. would cost
100000. The ground and track
age represented a total investment of
100000 These plans would be In
hand by August list and he frankly
admitted that IL would emharass and
delay the railroad for the chamber OF
commerce to endorse the Main street
depot project. The idea of sidetrack
ing Richmond by the erection Of the
proposed West End depot he pro-
nounced preposterous- True, the trains
Of both the Richmond. Fredericks-
burg and Potomac would back into
the depot. but in averting the rever-
sal OF trains this would save thirteen
minutes and as between present ar
rangements and the proposed station
there would be saving of from Is
to 20 minutes In time between Rich
mond and points north. He pointed
out that In the past ten years new
city had sprung up west OF Relvidere
street, and cited the ticket office re-
ceipts at Elba, which he said. In five
years had grown 40 per cent while
their Main street station business had
fallen of 80 per cent, showing the
trend OF population westward. The
idea OF union station. to his mind.
was Its convenience to the residential
uection. @-
Room I'm West End.
Furthermore. Mr. Duke argued. the
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac has fifty acres at the Hermit
tAge club site which will take care
Of Richmonds development for fifty
years to come, whereas the Main
street station site affords only four
acres. which would afford only room
for present needs and allow no room
for development. Mr.. Duke went into
some technical detail as to the operat-
ing difficulties which would confront
the proposition of all the roads en-
tering Main street station, which in
volved grades and crossings and de-
clared that the proposition to con.
vert Main street station would entail
an outlay of 100000.
In reply to cross-fire of questions
Mr.. Duke stated that the Richmond
fredericksburg and Potomac believes
that a union station is desirable from
an operating standpoint to all the
roads entering Richmond, and to the
interest or the city as well. but the