Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-01
COMPLAINS OF RAILROAD
BLOCKING BROAD STREET
Would Force r., F. 6 p. to Discon-
tinue Parking Passenger Carr
Near Elba Station.
TRAFFIC SERIOUSLY HANipERED
Administrative Board Requests Cor
poration Commission to Take Up
Matter at Once, and Protests
Against Use of Light" Engines.

the b)ockading of traffic on West Broad
street. In the vicinity of Elba Station,
by the Richmond. Fredericksburg and
Potomac Railroad Company through
the parking of passenger coaches for
long intervals for the receipt and dis
charge or passengers, which in re-
cent months is said to have become SO
extensive as seriously TO interfere with
traffic. were taken by the Admins
trative- Board yesterday when instruc-
lions were issued directing tho clerk
to take the matter up with the State
corporation Commission at once.
This action was in keeping with the
recommendations of Chairman Hirsch-
berg, who said he felt that something
should be done at once TO relieve the
situation. The State Corporation Com
mission Will, be requested to take up
the question of the railroad company
"blockading the roadbed during GER
tain hours with passenger cars for the
reception of passengers on West Broad
Street" Members of the board viii
ask the Corporation Commission TO
take up the matter at once and give
any relief that it may be possible to
provide.
SAYS OPERATION OF "LIGHT-
ENGINES IS HURTFUL
State authorities will also have their
attention directed by the board to the
Broad Street which are said to be
detrimental to property owners doing
business on this thoroughfare between
Laurel and Pine Streets. Action on
this matter is expected at the same
time that the commission considers
the question of cars being parked on
the street
In Offering his motion to take up the
matter with the Corporation Commits
sion. Mr.. Hirschberg declared that it
was time some action should be taken.
He said that during certain hours of
being parked on Broad Street as Sc
riously to interfere with traffic, and
that such n situation could not be
allowed to remain The parking of
these cars. he said. was detrimental
to the best interests of the taxpayers,
and, therefore. was affecting the city
of Richmond.
Some months ago the Richmond,
fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad,
or the connecting company which owns
the tracks, but which is controlled by
the former road. was directed by the
City Council to remove it's tracks from
Broad and Belvidere Streets. The
company was instructed to begin work
within six months, but there later
arose the question of constructing the
new union passenger station on the
site OF the old Hermitage Golf Club.
Potomac and the Atlantic Coast Line
Railroad Companies then authorized
the construction of the new station,
and the track problem lay in allegiance
CITY ENGINEER REPORTS
EXPENDITURES ON FREE BRIDGE
1t was impossible, railroad officials
said, to remove the tracks before the
completion OF the station, and nothing
further has been done by city officials.
L.
Board finds that Broad Street is being
used for parking purposes by the rail-
road. and will put the matter squarely
before the Corporation Commission.
The boards request will 60 to the COM
mission this morning. and will prob
ably receive attention early next week.
Work on the new station is progress
ing rapidly. and it is expected to be
ready for use about January l.
City Engineer Boiling yesterday re-
ported to the Administrative Board
that during the years 1915 and 1916
the city has expended a total of ST.
9Sl.15 on repairs to the Ninth Street
Free Bridge. including the cost of re-
constructing eight spans in the struc-
ture in 1915 by the Virginia Iron and
Bridge Company. which represented an
expenditure OF slightly less than s1S,-
600. Repairs to the bridge in 1916 cost
only $a.326. he reported and were con-
fined to the old sections OF the struc-
ture.
The board has Just requested an ap-
preparation OF $4,000 from the Council
for the repairing OF certain parts of the
wooden structure, and for the repaint-
ing of the steel work. The board or
dered the report filed for future refer
| ence. and its members expressed salts
faction at the cost of the bridges up
keep. They declared that 1t was not
| excessive. and that the repairs were
confined to the older portion. 1t was
also more economical. they said, to
have the structure frequently repair
years ago when the eight new spans
were built without interrupting traf-
| fic.
SUMMONS PARKKEEPER MOORE
FOR INVESTIGATION TUESDAY
Parkkeeper Moore. Of Monroe Park.
was summoned yesterday TO appear be-
| fore the bo.rd Tuesday morning at
1880 o'clock to answer charges filed
| against him by Patrolman Griffin. of
the Second District. The matter was
brought to the attention of the board
by Police Captain r. B. Sowell. Of the
| Second District. who said that the
officer had arrested two white men in
Monroe Park last Sunday night for
drunkenness. When arraigned in the
Police Court Parkkeeper Moore had de-
| clared that they were not under the
influence Of an intoxicant. but both
men were fined by Justice Crutchfield.
The police considered his action as
interference with their duty.
Mr.. Hirschberg moved that Moore be
suspended pending an investigation by
the board, but substitute resolution
summoning the parkkeeper, several po-
lice officers and other witnesses to APP
pear before that body was finally
adopted. Moore is said to have been
summoned before the board on one pre-
vious occasion.
The contract for repairing The roof
at the lower gas works was awarded
to the Capital City Iron Works, as the
lowest bidder, for 1886. Joseph q.
Baker received the contract for the
painting Of the City Circuit court room
at his bid of s497.
Atlantic Coast Line Earnings.
Operating revenues of the Atlantic
4