Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-12
BIG PLANT At FORT LEE
TO COST THREE MILLION
Government Powdcr-Packing Indus
try VIII Employ Probably
5000 Operators.
REAL ESTATE PRICES SOAR UP
One Farm OF 1913 Acres Near Site
OF Plant Offered for S35,6OO; An
other at 81 800 an Acrc-C. 81 0.
May Erect Another Plant.

packing plant about six miles cast OF
Richmond. lying between Fort Lee
and Seven Pines. will be under way
forcsecn obstacles interfere with pres
cnt plans. Approximately 1000 men
will he employed in the construction
which Will require from four to six
months. First estimates placed its
co stat $1,000 000 but i, was unoGiciaily
stated yesterday that the project
would represent an expenditure Of at
least 100000. and perhaps IA sub
stantially larger sum.
Several hundred more men than was
first anticipated will he cmploycd I'm
constructing the plant. IL was said in
order that the work can be completed
as quickly as possible. and the war i'm
dustry placed in operation at an early
date. Practically all preliminary work
has been finished, and the construction
OF the plant itself will begin i,nmc-
diatcly. Surveys OF the property have
been completed in the main by the
contractor, the Foundation Company.
OF New York.
An Office building at Seven Pines has
been erected and Is now occupied
stalled yesterday. sworkmcn were put
ting in telephone switchboard. and
about the Offices there was great ac-
tirity in connection with the dircc-
ton of the large force OF men already
at work. Another Office building at
the Fort Lee end OF the site was half
completed. while small buildings for
other purposes are being erected on
the property. Several hundred men
are at work. and this force will be
enlarged as the construction pro-
crosses.
WILL. INSURE OPERATION
OF SEVEN PINES LINE
In connection with the new packing
plant. undoubtedly some steps Will be
taken 10 assure the operation Of the
Seven Pines electric line. which Was
recently acquired by tho Richmond aud
Seven Pines Electric Railway Company
from the Richmond and Kappahanuocl.
River Hallway. The former company
was formed TO take over the traction
line after the latter corporation had
been forced into a rcceivrrship.
Reports were current in downtown
business circles yesterday that an
option on the line had been secured
BY capitalists. with the view OF max
ing sure its operation and Improving
the service. II was impossible. how
ever, to obtain any debate statement
from interested parties. This line now
runs to the Seven Fines end Of the
site, and is within 100 fec, OF the gen
eral offices and employment, Once
opened by the contractors.
On the operation OF this line will
largely depend the transportation
facilities TO be afforded the operatives
Of the plant when it is completed.
Despite the fact that Indications point
TO Fort Lee as being the most inn
portant end OF the plant, because OF
it's proximity to Richmond. Seven Pines
is more thickly populated and provides
facilities not 10 be had al the former
place. Many Of the operatives arc
expected TO reside in the territory adj
jaccn. TO the plant IL houses can be
obtained.
Whether the option reported TO have
been secured on the electric limo is
exercised remains to be seen. but some
action will he forced in the matter
certainly by September, about the time
tho plant is placed in operation. one
franchise granted the company by
Icnrico County expires on that date,
operated. 1T is not improbable that
some readjustmcnt OF the fares on the
line viii also be made at that time.
MAY EXTEND ELECTRIC
LINE TO FORT LEE
Should the line be taken over at this
time. it is reported that it may be OK
tended to Fort Lee. which Is about five
miles from the present terminus The
he NIL.
OF the tract OF land secured by the
government. for it is generally be-
lieved that the territory beyond Seven
Pines will undergo great development
in coming months.
For days there has been great ac-
tivity at Seven Pines. From the first
announcement that the government
had determined to purchase 1850 acres
or land for the new plant, the little
village has been more active than at
any other time in its history. First
there came the vanguard of engineers,
who surveyed and plated the property.
and then the workmcn to clear up the
underground in the dense woods.
There has not been a moments idle
ness since that time
Along with the carly rush. activity
in real estate in the territory near
the new plant became unusual. There
was also a great increase in land
values. On yesterday farms which
could have been bought three months
ago for from $50 to $500 per acre
were being held for from $500 to 1000.
In other instances the owner fatty re-
fused to soil their property. Several
tracts have been subdivided into
building lots.
In many respects the real estate
situation is similar to that existing in
the early boom days of Hopewell and
Williamsburg. Many business men
believe that property is being held for
exceedingly high priccs-priccs that
are too high when all matters are
taken into consideration. 1t remains,
however, that land cannot BIO pur-
chased unless the demanded figure
is met
FARMER WANTS s35,6oo Fon
103 ACRES OF LAND
Looking for land" inquired
farmer yesterday OF party OF bust