The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-08
TURNS
ON UNION STATION
Controversy to Receive Last
Public Airing at Meeting
Thursday Night.
LINES ARE SHARPLY DRAWN
Committee Speaks Charity, but
Members Regard United
Report as Unlikely.

with the annexation question out
OF the way. rs far as committee in
qulrles are concerned, tho spotlight
shifts this week to the Union Station
problem, which has occupied the at
tention of special Council commit
tee since last spring. Tho final public
hearing In the matter will take place
at o'clock next Thursday night In
the Council Chamber.
The committee has not met In more
than month. At The last meeting IL
was announced that the taking of evil
dcncc was complete, and that the com
mittee would, at it's next meeting. draft
It's recommendations to the CounclI.
Upon the request of the. Chamber OF
Commerce and representatives or other
business organizations, Chairman Dis
nev, of the Union Station committee.
consented 10 reopen the question for
another public hearing, when all in
terests Will be given Il final chance to
present their views
The postponcment, it Is Understood,
was asked in order TO give the Cham
Der OF Commerce anal opportunity to
attempt n reconciliation between on
posing factions. AT next Thursday
nights meeting the fruit OF this at
tempt Will be made known \ full
representation from the railroads. az
well AS from the business organiza-
tons, is expected
Members NoncommittnI.
Members OF the Union Station com
mitee are chaiy in the expression of
their views in advance of the meet
ing. In recent interviews several OF
them admitted that the probability OF
united report in favor OF n Union
Station on the Main Street site. unless
new evidence ut the meeting should
turn the tide. was remote. The com
nittee is composed of James 7. Disney.
chairman; Barton II. Grundy, James
J. Pollard. G. *. Pollard. c. y. seaton.
w. H. Adams. and r. l. Peters
Whatever the committees report, II
viii be purely advisory. and in no way
mandatory. 1t was appointed in CON
formity with joint resolution direct
ing it to inquire into the ACCESSIBILITY
of the building OF Union Passenger
Station in this city. to be used by all
the railroads entering Richmond The
resolution names no site. and the COM
mittcc may report in one OF several
forms. II may report against the IN
ion Station idea. per Sc. for the Union
Station idea without naming site, or
for against a Union Station on the
Main Street or Hermitage sits.
Lines sharply Drawn.
Tho trend OF the argument presented
to the committee at the numerous
meetings that 1t has held. as well as
of the presentations that have appear
ed in the ..ress. reveals n sharply drawn
controversy, which little less than
miracle will reconcile. The Chamber
of Commerce. supported by practically
every other business and semiconmer-
clal organization in the city. wants
union passenger station at Fifteenth
and Main Streets. strong petition
for the uptown station was signed by
Broad Street business men, most OF
whom members OF organizations
that Endorsed the downtown site.
The Atlantic Coast Line and Richmond,
fredericksburg ard Potomac Railroads
have declared through their directing
officers that they will never consent To
the plan. Recently, they have maze
public plans for the erection on the
Hermitage Golf Club site OF a s600.0UU
station to be used jointly by the two
roads. Work on this station. ii is an
nounccd viii begin as soon as con
tracts can be awarded and other pre-
liminary details arranged.
The business organizations and the
two roads just named represent the
positive ana negative factors in the
Union Station controversy. Neutral
ground is occupied by the Scaboard
Railways. which have declared their
Willingness to permit other roads an
entrance to their station at Fifteenth
and Main Streets, upon the same terms
as are enjoyed by themselves: the
Southern Railway, which has taken no
positive stand, but which. 1t is believed.
could be induced to enter the Main
Street Station: and the Norfolk and
Western. which, owning no tracks into
Richmond, will go wherever the At
lantic Coast Line goes.
Last Public Hearing.
With Thursdays meeting Will end
the special committees inquiry into
the subject. The failure OF the last
two or three meetings TO bring out
new evidence caused the committee IT
It's last meeting to announce that 1t
will not permit rehashing OF the
arguments already presented. but VIII
ask speakers to coniinc themselves to
new data.
The chamber Of Commerce Union
station committee, it is understood. has
prepared a final statement of the case,
which II will present Thursday night.
Unless the hearing is Unfortunately pro-
longed. the committee will have time
nj the end of it to retire and draft
its renort to the Council.