Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-08-05
THE N. G. R. r.
DIRT BROKEN.
A Thousand People in M0sby Is
Grove.
The \. q. Commenced.

The first shovel fun Of earth on the
b. C& lNGRR was thrown last Thurs
day at O'Clock f. NJ. in Mosby Grove
in Go0dSon. in rhe presence of nearly
one thousand ladies and gentlemen.
Such was the interest manifested that,
although +. NJ. had been fixed rs the
time for inaugurajing the enterprise,
quite a number of people assembled in
the grove during the forenoon and many
Of them remained until T. NJ. when
the crowd began 10 swell to very con
sidcrablc'size. Judge Hacker who was
holding the FIRST Bristol Circuit Court,
adjourned the Court for the occasion and
Judge, Bar, Jury, Sutors, Witnesses
and Spectators repaired in body TO the
grove. Carriages, hacks, and wagons
were improyiscd for the occasion and
quite II large number Of people from the
country were also present. The Presi-
dent Of the Co., Mai. Wood, said he had
devoted nearly the whole of his time to
the business Of the enterprise for Il
month and asked TO be excused from
speaking, being content with throwing
the first shovel of earth, and requested
the Edtorof the Bristol NccS to open
the proceedings with II speech. Mr..
Fowler spoke for some 30 minutes, de-
failing the features of the charter and
the history Of the movement for the last
three years and combating certain erro-
ncous views with regard to the effect of
a third rail road on the prosperity Of
Bristol and the country involved. lie
illustrated the value of small beginnings
by citing the founding and growth of
the manufacturing enterprises of Brls-
tol, which, though by some regarded as
contemplate at first, were now firmly
established and actually leading The
town. Even the small force of Convicts
now at work would dishurse $500 Of
state money in our midst every month,
and when that force should be increased
to 100 II would swell the monthly dis
bursemcnlS to over $1,000.
Mr.. II. A. Ayers was then called for
and spoke in behalf Of Scott county.
His speech abounded in facts in connec-
lion with other Narrow Gauge railroads,
and their shipments of crude iron ores
Of Va. to northern cities.
Judge Hacker was called for, but
modestly asked t. be excused.
Prof. Winston made one Of his solid
speeches and appealed to people Of both
town and country to support and aid by
material means as we'll as moral ones,
so noble and promising work. He ap-
pcaled to parties on the line to give the
right of way and thus forward thc work,
Col. Chas. II. Vance was called for
and spoke in behalf of Bristol, Tenn.
His speech abounded in words of cheer
and encouragement for the road and
was well received by the audience. The
convicIs were then aligned by supcrin-
tendentT 7. Z. Bib and they sang a num-
Der of their ethiopian songs
Mr. L'C. Fowler then broke The sod
with one of the new picks purchased by
the Company and President Wood chris
tened one of the new shoycls, by thow-
ing the first shovel of earth, amid the
cheers and hopeful Civilizations Of the
crowd. The conyicts, with the new
tools purchased for them, went immedi-
atcly to digging, shovcIing and wheeling
the earth.
A more interested aSscmbagc we have
never seen. Work was absolutely be-
gun. There were the convicts, fed,
clothed, guarded and medically attended
at the expense Of the State. The matt
guration spoke volumes of business. Ey-
erybody present felt that it was perfect
ly in orr power to complete the road as
well MS to begin it. Beyond Moccasn
Gap were incXausiblc supplies Of coal
and iron, East and South of Bristol
now millions of people needing them
and millions of money to pay for them,
The short gap between had been under
taken, and the State Of Va. was doing
the work on which were to be laid the
iron rails that are yet to groan under the
richest freight on This continent 1t was
enough to inspire that asscmblagc and
II did so.
At the close of the ceremonies the
Board Of Directors met at the Mayors
office and transacted all the business
necessary to the immediate and vgor-
Gus prosecution Of the work. Their
proceedings as detailed to- us are highly
satisfactory and prcsage success.
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QUEER FIGURES,