The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-08
WEST END STATION
PLAN AGAIN REVIVED
Renew Fight Agains
Steam Car Tracks Oh
Broad Street.
OBJECT TO GRADE CROSSINGS
Council Committee to WreStle With
Long Deferred Proposition at
Meeting This Afternoon.

a long deferred hcnrlng on tho rcso-
luton authorizing an inquiry looking
TO tho removal of the railroad tracks
from BROAD ana Rclvidcre Streets,
scheduled to take place at o'clock
this afternoon before Il subcommittee
from the Council Committee on Streets
promises TO awaken anew the slumbcr-
ing movement for better passenger
station facilities. The resolution was
introduced more than Il year ago by
Councilman Vonderlehr.
Tho presence of the railroad tracks
In West Broad street has for years
been II thorn IN the flesh OF uptown
lodged complaint against the Richmond.
Frederick sburg and Potomac Railroad
Company for blocking the street with
it's long trains. The controversy has
frequently boon aired In the Police
Court.
An opinion rendered about year
ago by city Attorney Pollard holds
that the city has the power to require
the company operating tho connection
railway on Bcividerc Street TO abandon
the grade crossing and 10 substitute
overhead or underground construction
in the interest of public safety. Ac-
cording TO the CITY Attorney, tho city
has full authority TO regulate the man
ner I'm which the railroads passing
through the city shall use the streets.
MAY ORDER COMPANY
10 co UNDERGROUND
The connection railway has per-
pctual franchise for it's right of way
along Belvidere Street. Ii has been
held, however. by the United States
Supreme Court in n South Bend. Ind.
case that perpetual franchises are
against public policy, and not enforce
able. Under this ruling. II Is believed.
the city would have the right. If no
other adjustment could be reached to
revoke tho ordinance under which the
connection company is now maintain
ing it's tracks ut grade along Belvidere
Street.
The agitation for the removal OF
grade crossings from Broad and Bel
vidcrc Streets bears Il significant rcla-
ton TO the movement for better pas
sengcr station facilities. which reach
ed an acute stage about a year ago.
Negotiations OF many months standing
gave way in the end TO plan pro-
posed by the Richmond, Fredcricks-
burg and Potomac and Atlantic Coast
Line Railroads. which provided for tho
erection OF a joint passenger station
by these roads on the site now occu-
pied by the Hermitage Golf Club.
Despite the opposition of the Cham
bcr of Commerce 10 thc two-road West
End station, a considerable portion OF
the Council, as well as majority Of
ceived the plan with favor. and with
the understanding that the two roads
would proceed at an early date to
build the station tho agitation for the
removal OF grade crossings from Broad
and Belvidere Streets was temporarily
a bandoned.
RENIVES PLAN FOR
WEST END STATION
The building Of II joint passenger
station in the West End would have
removed the tracks from West Broad
Street as a direct consequence. The
connecting railway on Bclvidere Street
would have ceased TO be a direct high
way for passenger trains 10 the Byrd
Street Station, which. at the most
would have become only "a local depot
for the accommodation of trains he
tween Richmond and Petersburg. The
element of danger and delay which now
gives rise to most OF the objection to
the connection railway would have
been removed. and the track would
probably have been permitted to re-
main for occasional use.
Although more than n year has
passed since "a magnificent drawing Of
the proposed West End station was cX-
hibited TO the Council no discoverable
action has been taken by the two rail
ROADS concerned towards carrying their
promises into effect, and tho dissatis-
faction that bore fruit in the Wonder
lehr resolution Is again In the fore
front. The hearing to-day will DO at.
tended by representatives of tho rail-
roads affected, and promises to dcvelop
interesting consequences