The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-18
DIRECTORS FOR BELT LINE
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A. c. L. and the r.. r. x r. which
have a very close alliance, persistent !
ly refused to come into such an ar
rangement- as was proposed and the
southern was almost as strongly OPP
posed TO the plan. 1t was only a
year or two ago that the southern
was finally brought to use this sta
tion.
There has always been very
strong desire here for n union station
to accommodate all the railroads
There has always been more or less
difference Of opinion as 10 the best
focatiur1,- though perhaps, the strong
est sentiment has at all times been III
favor of the Main Street depot. When
the union station question, was strong
~ aCltated few years ago, Chamber
OF Commerce, embracing the leading
business men OF Richmond. strongly
urged that all the roads. including
the A. c. l.. 'and the r., +. & T., unite
IN the Main Street location These
roads. however. did not feel justified
IN making such a radical change III
their plans and determined to erect
their station~~or the station for their
two systems, on the Hermitage
grounds. Plans were adpoted for
handsome million dollar depot and
adequate yard room and trackage-
The Broad Street merchants favored
the Hermitage location. More recent
~ the business men OF Richmond. in
Gliding both the Chamber OF Com
merce and the retail merchants, have
taken positions in favor of the Belt
Line site, in preference to the Hermit
tage site The Main Street location
was not then considered,
Pleased With the Plan.
II is understood that the elaborate
and very complete plans for a great
union passenger station which were
laid before the r.. +. x F. directors
yesterday were prepared by Harry
Frazier, well known consulting en-
gineer OF this city. They are said
10 be very complete and are worked
out in much greater detail than any
thing ever proposed heretofore. These
plans and dra wings are said to be
based upon very careful surveys ma de
within the last few weeks 1t Is
known that the general arrangement
proposed by Mr., Frazier was received
with a good deal of favor. The two
chief objections are said - have been
the cost which might run up to three
million dollars or more and the dis
advantage at whioh the Atlantic Coast
Line would be placed In having to
come into the city either over the
Seaboard tracks or over tracks of it's
own. running parallel with the Sea-
board tracks,
Under the plans proposed by Mr.,
Frazier. which are understood to have
been the result OF the work of a mum
Der OF engineers and draughtsmen. 1t
is proposed that the union passen-
ger station. with its offices, tralnsheds
and viaducts, occupy practically all of
the space down the Fifteenth Street
valley. from Broad Street to Cary
Street. The present Main-Street sta
ton would be used as a part Of the
new and enlarged structure. II Is
understood that the plans call for an
eizht-track line. leading ont from the
station. All trains would enter 10 the
east Of the station. Those of the At
!antic Coast Line and the Seaboard.
Air Line being diverted from point
south OF Cary Street. II is contended
that Shockoe Valley would provide
ample trackaFe ana that the grade
under proposed plans would he com
paratively easy.
Advocates Of tho Main Street plan.
men not directly interested In any of
the railroads, expressed the opinion
last night that the action of the d.
rectors would lead in the end to the