Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-04
WANT THROUGH
SERVICE TO CAMP
Business Men Planning to Secure
Better Transit Facilities
for Soldiers.
May APPEAL TO RAILROADS
Wheelwright Gives No Hope Of
Bringing Interurban Cars
Into Heart of City.
MAY APPEAL TO RAILROADS


tional Army scheduled to arrive at the
cantonment tomorrow, vigorous ef-
forts are being made by Richm ma busi-
ness men to provide adequate trans
portation facilities between the camp
and this city. Army officers admit
and business men realize that there
will be a tremendous overflow Of the
soldiers to Richmond. because there
are not sufficient accommodations for
them in Petersburg. and the statement
was made yesterday that trausporta-
ton facilities were entirely inadequate
TO handle the men.
Several downtown business mcn
yesterday placed on foot movement
by which it is hoped to enlarge the
trolley service between Richmond and
Petersburg. but officers of the Virginia
Railway and Power Company declared
this to be impracticable. 1t is prob
able that the matter will be placed
before the directors of the Chamber
OF Commerce in the next few days
FOR whatever action they deem ad-
fisnble. The condition of the Peters,
burg Turnpike is such as to make it
impossible, IL is said. for the operation
of jitncys between the two cities, and
as yet no concerted action looking to
the Improvement OF this road has been
undertaken.
MAY ASK RAILROADS FOR
THROUGH TRAIN SERVICE
In event that more frequent trolley
service between the two cities cannot
he inauGurated the present single
track line, the matter will be placed
before officers of the Norfolk and
Western and Atlantic Coast Line Rail
road Companies. with the request that
they put In operation imm ediately
special trains between Richmond and
Petersburg. II possible running through
TO the cantonment without change. In
certain quarters this was declared TO
be the most practicable solution of the
problem. and one which would provide
the best possible service under exist
ing conditions.
Business men believed that the
operation OF electric cars between the
cantonment and Richmond every thirty
minutes would largely relieve all con-
gestion. AT this time the Virginia
Railway and Power Company is operat-
ing hourly two trains of three cars
each. hauling about 500 passengers in
each direction every sixty minutes In
addition. the traction company also
operates several special cars during
the rush hours in the morning and
afternoon.
Under the present system. persons
coming from the camp to Richmond
or wee versa, by trolley. must travel
on TOUR separate cars. with the conse-
quent delay and Inconvenience of trans
fers. The Petersburg and Appomattox
line operated through the camp. runs
Nnl,
burg. There one must transfer 10 a
local Petersburg city line of the Vir-
ginia Railway and Power Company.
After passing through the city. an
other transfer is made 10 the interur-
ban line. which in turn dumps it's pas
sengers at Seventh and Perry Streets.
South Richmond. where they have to
transfer to the already overloaded
Forest Hill line in order to come into
the city proper. Through car service
from the camp to Broad Street is the
slogan OF business men as we'll as of
camp officials and military men gem
orally. many of whom must have their
families here and come and go at fire.
quent intervals Since the completion
OF the Mayo Bridge. IL tas said inter-
urban cars could be routed over this
structure to the corner Of Fourteenth
and Main Streets, or operated around
the loop at Seventh and Broad Streets.
making through run from the camp
In half the time now occupied.
WANT INTERURBAN CARS
RUN THROUGH TO CANToNMENT
The plan considered by business men
also included the operation OF the in
terurban cars directly to the canton
ha
and Appomattax Electric Railway,
which operates between Petersburg
and Hopewell. and to Camp Lee. 1t
was said that physical connection
between the two lines could be made
without great difficulty. which would
result in greatly expedited service.
and one far more satisfactory to pas
sensers because 1t would abolish three
transfers from cars. with consequent
delays.
PRESIDENT Thomas ). Wheelwright of
the Virginia Railway and Power Com
pany. when asked what plans the
traction company had made to handle
the increased traffic Incident to the
establishment of the cantonment. de-
clared that the interurban line was
handling all the business possible, and
that all the cars were being operated
that the line would carry. He said
that trolley line was never intended
for such volume of traffic as is now
anticipated between Richmond and
Petersburg, and that a steam railroad
was the only practicable means for
the transportation Of such travel
The operation OF electric cars
oftener than every sixty minutes was
impossible on the single track Peters
burg line. he said. and the company
Is now operating six cars in each direc-
ton every hour. The track. lie de.
clared. would stand tho operation of
no greater number Of cars. 1t was
also impracticable to connect up the
interurban line at Petersburg so that 1t
could be operated directly into the
cantonment. and traffic conditions also
made II lmpracticable to operate the
J, CONTINUED on Second Fase.5