Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-20
ROGERS URGES PURCHASE
OF CLYDE LINE WHARVEs
Thinks City Should Own Larger
Strip OF It's Water
Front.
NEEDS FREIGHT COMPETITION
Water-Borne Commerce in Hands Of
Old Dominion Steamship Company,
i Controlled by Railroads, Says
Z Chairman of Committee.

When the business interests OF the
city make known the necessity OF pur-
chasing the old CLYDE Line Wharf, the
city Council will hcquire the property"
the City Dock, River and Harbor Com
jmlttee. last night. Tho Council has
always. In my opinion, stood ready to
carry out the wishes OF the people
whenever they have been willing to
come forward and make them known"
There are few men In Richmond who
Know the actual water conditions as
Mr.. Rogers. He3has been chairman of
the important Council committee for
several years. and has always taken an
active part in its deliberations. He
has made a careful study Of local CON
dtttons, and has attended number
OF big waterways meetings. where he
has picked up valuable ideas. His
views. therefore, have considerable
COULD HAVE BOUGHT IN 1908
Z FOIt MUCH LESS MONEY
: THE Clyde Line property could have
been purchased in 1908 for s31.4b26o."
owners are asking approximately
$4,000 The property is regarded by
riVermcn as the best piece OF wharfage
Bin the harbor. Its purchase would
connect the city's water front hold
ings. and permit OF an extensive de-
2Selopnient of terminal facilities. Con-
gross Will not continue to appropriate
money for the development of the
James River and Improvement of the
Richmond harbor unless the city main
tains terminal facilities adequate for
the traffic possible.
Richmond, many hours closer to the
South Seas than New York, Baltimore
and Philadelphia. with It's excellent
trunk lines from the North and West.
is well situated to handle heavy river
shipping. Thousands of tons of heavy
freight for the South. which the rail-
ways claim TO haul ut n loss and at
the delay OF fast freight. could be
handled from Richmond II the city had
proper terminal facilities.
q big railway men are no longer
hostile to the development OF river
traffic. ! am OF the opinion that Rich
mond Will one day own the water front
on both sides OF the river from the
head of navigation to point two
miles below the city. with belt line
connecting both sides OF the harbor
with every railroad entering Richmond
ne clyde Line property Ia an I'M
poEtant link In this plan, and. in my
humble Judgment should be acquired
as quickly as the city can e1pediently
do so. as terminal for future de-
S"lopment and most convenient place
for the disposition OF river sand worth
81 cubic yard. which the city before
The acquisition OF Lester Street proper
~ az -'oo soiu al ~ cents Il cubic
yard. when 1t cost IS cents cubic
yard to pump out
CITY BOTTLED UP ny RAILROAD
OWNED STEAMSHIP LINE
When the Clyde Line steamers be-
tween Richmond and PHILADELPHIA were
withdrawn in June. 1903 and trans
ieTr-d TO Newport News, this city re-
f"ived Il severe setback as port
This placed the majority of the water
borne commerce in the hands OF the
Ola Dominion Steamship COMPANY. con-
iirol!cd by four railroads, which in 1906
also acquired the Virginia Navigation
Company. competing river line. For
.spme time the question OF having the
Interstate Commerce Commission in
f"u're into the relationship between the
railways and this steamship line has
been suggested.
ON several occasions Richmond en-
.1u%cd very favorable concessions, from
a freight and passenger standpoint, but
ihey were OF very short duration. and
only existed when there Was a tenn
porary misunderstanding between the
railroads that control the freight to
and from Richmond. With proper
{terininal facilities. believe that many
!'nore big vessels would come here and
freight rates would be cheapened con-
,s!derably."
Mr.. Rogers stated that his committee