The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-28
West Point Urbanna Railway
Puts $1,000, 600 Territory
In Communication.
BUSINESS MEN GET
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Fertile Farming and Busy In
dustrial Country Lies In
Counties Shortly To Be
Reached BY Richmond.

The general improvement and
growth of the territory touching and
surrounding the proposed Richmond,
Rappahannock and Northern Rail-
way is expected TO mean seven mill
lion dollars annually in trade to Rich.
mond, an increase in the numbers Of
visitors to the city by about one hum
dred thousand, and the making of
new business affiliations that will
bring to Richmond opportunities that
have been going elsewhere By put.
ting this city in more or less direct
communication. with a few hours
ride, with seven counties a popula-
ton OF $4,000 people. are placed in
easy access of Richmond. and a new
section hitherto unsuppiied by BUSH
ness here Is laid before the merchant
J. 1t is estimated that the needs of
this country alone Is over one hum
| dred thousand tons of coal, ten thou
sand tons of salt. seven thousand tons
of fertilizer, crates and boxes of all
kinds. and cans for the output Of the
one hundred fisheries and canneries,
all of which could be supplied through
or by Richmond dealers. The build
| ing material which would be needed
from the development of the several
counties by the railroad would
amount to no tnconsderable figure.
and business in the way of banking.
real estate and In numberless other
! commodities and lines would offer
opportunities which have been going
elsewhere.
/ Is Fertile Farming Country.
/ The section to be touched by thA
road is a great farming country, the
/ fertility of the soil for trucking, and
general farming being second to none,
and there will be marked develop.
ment of It's agricultural possibilities
that would naturally follow tt1s
building of the road. A growth In
the same direction OF the Eastern
Shore counties would result by rea.
son of the opening Of the country.
All this would mean greater meas
ure OF prosperity for the counties In
which Richmond would share.
! Richmond already has frequent rail
communications with West Point and
the proposed road is from West Point
to Crbanna, a distance OF, eighteen
miles. This places that town fifty
seven miles OF this city. a trip that
can be made in about two hours. At
trbanna plot OF ground has been
given for the building of the railroad
station. and the people there and all
along the route are displaying great
interest In the project. Citizens OF
West Point. Urhanna and the coun-
ties lying between the two points
have taken $4,000 of the preferred
stock in the company, and a COM
mittee of Richmond business men
VIII shortly start campaign to raise
the rest of the 100000 needed be.
fore the road can be started.
The Roads Financial Plan.
T. NJ. Darlington. OF this city. II
i-A - ~ -
will appoint other committees who
will make a canvass OF the banking
houses,@ firms and individuals to So
licit subscriptions to the stock. The
Retail Merchants Association and
the Trade Extension Bureau Of the
0hambefsof Commerce will also a..
lsfst jim irai1Ang the $4,000. The stock
fwfI1} not become payable until VIM
ston s. Co. who will build the road,
have executed bond for $4,000 to
construct the road in ten months from
date, of the contract. 80 no one need
ffear chat they would he placing their
money In a project that would not
mater4alize-
! The financial plan states that VIM
7 ston & Co. Is TO receive $262,500 of
the bonds to be issued at par, on
which six per cent will he paid The
contracting company is also to re-
ceive cash from the sale OF one thou
sand shares of non cumulative seven
per cent preferred stock. making their
total sss2.50o
VIII Repay Richmond Men.
Ninety per cent OF the rights-of.
way have been secured for the rail-
road. and the rest Is guaranteed by
the counties. Physical vconnection
with the Southern Railwa X has been
arranged for at West Mint. and
other necessary arrangement at that
end are assured.
The Gresham Bridge Company,
which owns bridge on the line Of
the road. have agreed to sell ths
bridge at cost, or lease or collect tolls.
II terms on the last two methods can.
not be agreed upon the matter will be
arbitrated.
1t is hoped that the merchants Of
Richmond will subscribe to the stock
OF the company, for 1t is believed they
will be repaid many times annually
in trade whatever amount they put
into the enterprise.