The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-21
FAVOR PURCHASE BY CITY
OF OLD CLYDE LINE WHARF
Those Familiar With River COndi-
tions Would Have City Enlarge
Its Holdings.
EXPECT REVIVAL OF TRADE
Report Of Commissioners OF Con-
domination to BE Submitted to
Council Finance Committee To-
Morrow Night by City Attorney.

Municipal employees identified closely
with the water front OF Richmond are
unanimous in their belief that the old
Clyde Line property, adjoining the City
Wharf. should bo acquired by the city
II an advantageous price can he agreed
upon. The estimated cost of the now
unused wharf will he submitted to the
Finance Committee tomorrow night
by City Attorney II. Il. Pollard. and
those interested III tho acquisition OF
the property Will make a hard light for
It's purchase.
Among the city employees who think
that the purchase Of the property
would he q wise move are Captain
Thomas Cunningham, commander of
the city tug Thomas Cunningham Sr.,
and other municipal craft, and IIarbor-
master John r. Hopkins. both OF whom
were born in sight OF the James River,
and have practically been raised on IT,
Mr.. Hopkins, who is one OF the best
informed men In Richmond on the wa i.
ter facilities of this port, is Il firm be =
lever In the purchase OF the property
0ni has so Informed the Common Coun
ell As harbormastcr 1t is hia duty to
study conditions. and he finds that the
City Wharf. while all right in It's way.
is entirely too small to cope with the
growing business OF the port, and that
additional wharfage facilities are nee
essnry. The only logical move. in his
mind. is the purchase of the Clyde Line
Wharf. which would give the city a
wharf 1900 feet I'm length
MAKING EFFORr TO REGAIN
sOUTt AMERICAN TRADE
Captain Cunningham finds that the
-
for the safe 'noorinS of his craft II
II is occupied by barge or any Other
large vessel. In time OF frcshcts or
storms. IT ts necessary to keep the tug
out Of The channel but on II number OF
Occasions II has had TO he anchored In
ihe stream on account OF other boats
tied up at the wharf
Efforts are now being made hv local
merchants to bring Southern manu-
facturcrs here for "A conference on
means OF developing South and Latin
American commerce. II the plans ma
terialize. there is possibility that
RJchWcnd may regain some OF lis lost
maritime iaurcis. IN years gone by.
thus port was ono OF the most Import
ant on the Atlantic scaboard, and Rich
iuond was theN>thc largest Importer o!
cof,"" Ia the United states, and Ivas
probably the largest exporter of -four
and other commodities To-day this
business has been lost. ana the SIGHT
of u foreign shin i'm port Is novclty.
WITH European countries eliminating
themselves as contcndcrs for South
American trad" the United states wiIl
una "a big market right ~ lis doors for
Its goods. and local merchants want TO
taitc hold "f as much Of this business
ns They cRu. with good dockagc ia
cilliics II may be no idle dream to again
&c" large foreign vessels unloading car
goes here, ana returning laden with
the product pf local factories
The CLYDE Line wharf has a frontacc
Of 80 feet aud an avcra;.c width of
zoe foot The channel ia front Of IL
- cl"ar "f rocks. AMI ~ said 20 h" nci
tor .hau either of tho two ;dioiufuc
NliarN"S. \ condemnation commits.
SION valued ~ al sa2, several wears
20. nut IT'S valus is said to have en-
HANGED considerably since that time.