The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-06
ROADS DIVIDE ON
QUESTION OF SITE
FOR UNION DEPOT
Council Hearing on
Problem Fails to
Bring Solution.
R., F. & P. PLANS BIG
WEST END STATION
Preparing Plans for Large Term
inal on Hermitage Golf Club
Site, to Be Used Jointly
With Atlantic Coast Line
and Norfolk and West
ern Railroads.

Before the Special Council Commit
tee on Union Station appeared last
night representatives of the five rail-
roads affected as we'll as delegates
from the Chamber of Commerce and
Travellers Protective Association. to
take common counsel on the subject of
establishing In Richmond a union tor
minal for all the passenger trains.
When the evidence was all in at IL
o'clock. it was clear that the problem
was as far from solution as ever.
AS at the Chamber OF Commerce
union station dinner at the Jefferson
Hotel last fall, the chief stumbling
blocks In the way of establishing a
union passenger station at Fifteenth
and Main Streets. appear to be tho At
lantic Coast Line and Richmond, Fred
ericksburg and Potomac Railroads
These two roads last night took a de-
cided stand against the project, ex-
pressing their utter unwillingness to
be forced to operate their trains into
a station removed from the centre of
population and unsuited to their needs.
In favor of the Fifteenth and Main
Street Station appeared solidly the
Chamber of Commerce, the Travellers
Protective Association, the Seaboard
Air Line. and the Chesapeake and Ohio.
The last-named roads at present use
the Main Street Station jointly, and
expressed their willingness to admit
such other roads as should desire to
make use of IT, on the same terms as
are enjoyed by themselves.
Southern Not Committed.
Alone of the roads, the Southern
Railway, through Vice-President H B.
Spencer. expressed itself as not commit
ted to any plan so far proposed. His
road. said Mr.. Spencer. did not con-
slider a union station essential to it's
welfare. Most of the Southern Rail-
ways passenger business in Richmond
he said is local and not through traf-
fic, and can be served as we'll from an
individual station.
Oar road is already considering the
question of going into another sta
tion than the one now used." said Mr..
Spencer. 1--WE have given considera-
ton to the union station plan, but have
taken no action on 1t. In q general
way. we have considered both the Fiji
teenth and Main and West End station
plan, but we are not committed to
either"
AT the Chamber of Commerce dinner
last fall. President Finley. of the South
ern Railway stated that his company
was ready to do its share in co-operat-
ing in plan for union passenger
station Taken in conjunction with Mr..
Finleys expression, Mr.. Spencer's state
ment was generally taken to mean that
the Southern was willing to be wooed
and could be induced to enter the pro-
posed Main Street union terminal.
Planning West End Station.
President w. H. White. Of the Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac,
told the committee that a union sta
ton would impede. rather than stimu-
late. the growth of the city. and that
the experience of most American cities
of 100000 inhabitants and over was to
the effect that the separate station
plan was the more desirable. The west
ward growth of the city, he said. as
we'll as other advantages. demand that
his road and the Atlantic Coast Line
build union station in the West End
In keeping with this view, Mr.. White
said. architects and engineers are now
engaged i'm preparing plans for pas
senger station facilities on the site now
occupied by the Hermitage Golf Club
The directors of his company, with
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