The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-06
ROADS DIVIDE ON
QUESTION OF SITE
FOR UNION DEPOT
Continued From First Page.)

saiu' nave autnorlZeo MIN to confer
with the officials OF the Atlantic Coast
Line, with the view of securing their
cooperation in the construction and
maintenance of such station
The station. said Mr.. White, will cost
several times 100000. and will be an
ornament to the city. 1t will be ade-
quate not only for the Atlantic Goa st
Line and Richmond. Fredericksburr
and Potomac. but also for such other
roads as choose to avail themselves Of
it. 1t will be built. he said. with an
eye to the future. and will BIO large
enough to serve the passenger needs
OF the road for generations TO come
Against Union Station.
81 am not a believer in the practioa
bility Of union station for the city
OF Richmond" said Alexander Hamil-
ton, first vice-president OF the Atlantic
Coast Line AS a practical matter 1
think that you should abandon the
idea So far as the Richmond. Fred
ericksburS and Potomac and my road
are concerned. we have concluded that
our needs will be best served by cred :
liable stub-end' station on the north
side OF West Broad Street. and that
the place to put 1t is at the old fair
grounds"
Mr.. Hamilton admitted the inconven-
fences of the Byrd Street Station. but
thought there would be no relief to his
road in compelling it to run its trains
into the Fifteenth Street hole" and
to haul them out again The down
town station project. he said, was not
acceptable to/his road because II would
mean greater hauling distance. a
| higher grade, as we'll as large ex-
pense to make the change
r. w. scarborough, an expert en-
gineer employed by the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac to rec
ommend what in his opinion was tn =
he, STE L.. . t,l,
that road, told the committee of his in
vestigations. He was convinced. he
said. that the Hermitage Club prop
erty was In every respect the ideal 10
cation. 1t appeared TO be fitted for the
purpose by nature, he said. and was
large enough 10 permit unlimited ex-
pansion.
C. e q. Won't Move.
The Chesapeake and Ohio, said Vice
President Decatur AXtell. will oppose
any plan calling for a union passenger
station at site other than that at
Fifteenth and Main. He thought that
with the acquisition OF some adjacent
property. that site could be made to
accommodate the united passenger
traffic OF the city. Ills company. he
said. was willing to permit the use OF
a station a this site on the same terms
as are enjoyed by his own.
Engineer w. l.. Seldom, of the Sea
board Air Line told the committee that
the present Main Street Station couln
be enlarged to take care of all the
roads. but that II would be necessary
10 acquire a limited amount OF ada
cent property. The site, he thought,
was the best in the city for the loca-
ton OF union passenger station
For the Chamber Of Commerce
Chairman John B. Pinder, of the in
land trades committee, submitted a
report unreser eddy in favor of a UNI
ion station at Fifteenth and Main
Streets. The report set forth the his
/ tory OF the union station movement
/ in this city, and the convenience &c
business men and citizens of having
| a centrally located station near the
! civic centre
| To concentration OF the important
/ business interests and avenues OF com
| merce near the present Main Stree,
Station. said Mr.. Pinder, made this
| position the most desirable for the To-
cation of central passenger depot
! The completion of Mayos Bridge and
the widening of Fifteenth Street will
make such a station more than ever
! accessible from other sections of the
city-particularly South Richmond
| With business perma nently anchored
IN this section, and with all tire
hotels within easyS1istance. he said
! station thus located would in every
| way be more desirable than one sit
uated IN the far West End.
| Engineer c. T. r. Burewyn took
issue with the roads advocating the
West End station on the subject of the
value and convenience of q union sta
ton He admitted the correctness of
their view from their own standpoint.
but held that it was opposed to the
interests OF the city. 4 union station
at Fifteenth and Main Streets, he said,
was highly desirable because il would
afford easy access and egress, because
of its proximity to car lines. and be-
cause it would be near the permanent
civic centre.
Eliminates Grade Crossings.
The greatest thing to be said in
favor Of downtown station at this
site, said Mr.. Burgwyn is the fact that
1t would eliminate forever the cross
ing Of railroads at grade in the city.
All the roads now entering the city, he
thought. could. with the exception OF
the Atlantic Coast Line arrange to use
such station without great difficulty
or expense. In the case of that road.
he admitted the engineering problem
was serious, but by no means prohibit
tory.
w. d. Stewart. speaking for the
Travellers Protective Association. said
that his organization is on record as
favoring the downtown station plan as
the most convenient for shippers and
travellers John c. Freeman was in
clined to favor the same plan. because
| of the advantage downtown station
would have over a West End station in
I handling the mails
| The Special Committee on Union
| Station rose at II o'clock to meet again
on the evening of June 10, when the
investigation will be continued. Chair
man Disney announced that tho COM
| mittee desired the attendance Of repre-
! sentatives of as many of the COM
mercia1 organizations as possible. The
railroad men were invited to be present
at the next meeting.
!