Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-08
Chicago, Norfolk and WASHINGTON Air
Line.


Chicago, Norfolk and WASHINGTON Air.
Line.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer
Last spring special party, composed Of
Danish and English capitalists representing
$50, ,OO0, arrived at Baltimore, and after
having completed arrangements set out for
Norfolk and points along Chesapeake bay with
view Of determining the advisablity of bui Id
ing an airline between Chicago and the coast
The English own considerable real estate in
Virginia and North Carolina mostly mineral
and forest lands. At Chicago both Danish and
English people have a large amount OF capital
invested. both in real estate and business. The
idea was to erect large grain elevators at New
port News or q point opposite Hampton roads,
but the Chesapeake ami Ohio ana Norfolk aud
Western people prevented this move, they
having immense elevators at those seaports.
At last it was determined to locate at Norfolk
and build an airline between there and Chicago
with branches to Washington and Richmond
and to this end matters are now under way
Among the surveys made the one selected Is
almost an airline route between the terminals
The road leaving Chicago takes south-easterly
course. passing through Fort Wayne Ind:
Columbus. Ohio; Parkersburg w. Va; Staun-
ton and Petersburg, Va. thence to Norfolk.
The branch lines to Richmond and Washington
will leave the main line at Petersburg, and
another branch will be built from Parkersburg,
line is now being made in Philadelphia, prepara-
tory to letting the work The officers OF the
company will be at Walnut place. Philadelphia
until the road is complete. when the general
offices will be located at Chicago. 1t is the in
tentiOn of those interested to make Norfolk an
export point and the company will build large
grain elevators there and improve the harbOr
The road connecting Lake Michigan and the
Atlantic Ocean by direct line must open new
field for manufacturers and shippers as it will
be the shortest road to the sea- and open uD
traffic between Norfolk and Chicago that has
heretofore gone to Baltimore, New York and
Philadelphia.
The object Of the harbOr improvement Is to
divert the grain and other export trade from
New York. Philadelphia and Baltimore. and no
doubt will, at least to considerable extent
The Danes are represented by Mr. Ferdinand
Hanson anG the English by VIM Adair, both Of
whom are well known In New York 1t is in
tended to have premnaries arranged 80 that
the line will be let for contract by April of next
year.
This Is not line mapped out on paper or a
Wildcat scheme created by land or mineral
SPECTATORS but an enterprise long under con-
sideratien by men of MEANS and the enterprise
will doubtless be q success OF the proposed
line, however, the Huntington interests speak
adversely One Of its agents recently said:
THE line would not be built as it could rot be
sustained, and that the country could not sup
port such road at the present; besides. Hunt
ing ton had the trade in hand, and would hold
it,"
Such an opinion, however, Is merely the
thought OF one opposed to rival line. The
same was said of the Cincinnati Southern when
1t was first proposed to build the road and now
those who were then loud, In denOuncing the
scheme, are first In pralsing the enterprise.
With S150. 900 900 capital and such men as are
represented In the scheme there can be NO
doubt 40 to its success.