Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-09-27


Z. G. Crscraft had Just returned from Har-
risonburg, Va, where he had been to aid
in the completion OF plans for his standard
guage railroad from Beverly, Randolph
county, TO our future capital, Charleston,
w. Va, called upon the distinguished gen.
tleman at his pleasant sanctum, No. llSG
Chapline street, Blackstone Row.
Said the REGIsrER scribe: "Mr. Cracraft
t-fheM- -that sosE propose +to~ keF~u charter
this week for the right OF way, and to open
your books at ence for the many subscrip-
tons promised here and throughout the
State for your
Railroad In the Interior,
The REGISTER, therefore, would like an
interview with you which would give the
details or an outline OF your proposed rail-
road project, its plans, route, &c. Many OF
the REGISTER readers are greatly interested
in the development of the rich lands along
the lovely valley Of Main Elk, and are de-
sirous that an easy and speedy method OF
reaching the wonderful springs of Webster
county soon be obtained
Mr. Cracraft then gave the following ex-
cellent outline OF his project:
This summer when ! was at webster
Springs for MY health that was badly
broken, physically and mentally, | was
greatly pleased with the great benefits
received from the waters, and no less
pleased with the infinite beauty and wealth
OF lis timber and coal and farm and grazing
lands. OF course, the people were anxious
to get their lands into market and some
outlet Into All the Markets
for all their products, stock, spring water
and land burdered with coal aud timber.
This led TO railroads, Of curse, inter.
posed the reporter.
Ies. | found them a good, Intelligent
ard generous set OF people, and entered
hearty into a cheme for a railroad tn
would open up their splendid summer re
sort and their fields Uf coal and timber,
and other resources; We had a meeting
that was largely attended by the represent.
alive men OF Webster, all eager to jOn such
an enterprise, and every Ule was enthusl'
asIiC over the road, promising to give sat
isfaCtoTy right OF way, good suoscrlptions
Of money and liberal donations OF land.
Mr.. Jos Bell, Mr.. +. 4. Bennett and MIR.
James Mason, OF our 5 ate, on the tax COM
N ission, were there and saw the vast
wealth OF this country, and gave great en-
consignment to building this improvement,
and General Schutt, a very worthy and in
telligent gentleman, assistant chief survey
or the United States, confined 20 minerslo-
gy and geology, and who was making geo.
logical and mineraiogical examinations oil
this rich country, was there, and he was
invaluable aid TO me in showing the pros.
peCtive yield of the timber and coal fields,
and
The wOudrous Richness
OF the blue grass regions, that brings forth
the grandest harvests Of nutritious blue
grass when the timber Is removed, furnish
ing the finest grazing for herds OF cattle,
horses, sheep and all kinds OF stock.
Since then have been devoted to bring
ing about our plans of development by
good and profitable railwsy.'
well, what is your line
From Charleston up. Elk river, Main
Elk, through kanawha from Charleston,
almost two THIRDS across that county,
through Clay by the edge OF Nicholas,
bringing the lstter's wonderful lands into
good markets WHARF they can get fair val
ues for these excellent lands, through Web
ster almost its full length, 10 twenty miles
up Main Elk, from Webster curt House;
thence up Valley Fork TO Eikwater; then
down this stream to Valley river and then
down the loveliest valley OF this river to
Beverly or any other point TO catch the
Grafton and Greenbrier or B. and o. roads.
We thus have at the terminus OF Charles
ton the Chesapeake and great Ohio Central
10 connect with, the Shenandoah Valley
from HagerstoRn to Roanoke, and the Val
ley road from Harper's Ferry, now con-
tToiled oy the B. Il .. railroad TO LeXlng-
ton, Va, and then at Beverly with the
Grafton and Greenbrier, or a. Philippi, II
satisfactory arrangements can be had with
the G. & &. to eIther Of the latter points.
| think ! could arrange for a broad gusge
to PhIlippi or margin OF Randolph towards
the Bar bour line, if left to me, and can ind
the company to do it. This would give
Every County
through which our main line runs an easy
and direct course and way TO Green 9FieT
Sulphur SPRING, open our CDnneCtOn IN
PoCahontas et an early date with the
road to be butt By rich company
ffum Washington, II. e. TO HirrIsOnburR,
one from Harrisonburg to tLe line between
rOcshontas and snear Webster and Ran
de- IN counties, or b. Charleston very
s.ca. the sOH Hthwest terminus being Cnar-
les on. and the northeast Beverly, NOD an
uu,let in the valley Of Virginia. 80 az 70
connect with the ChesApeake at S'ounfon,
Augusta, Va. for White Sulphur. These
outlets with the hest outlet We have ol tbs
Ksuawha rlver for our great co... ani tim
bsr fields, will give US all The Southern
cities"
What are the prospects OF the route =.
Well the counties through which II
goes will subscribe literally, and just re-
ceIy.d a glorious letter from Judge John
Brannon, assuring me OF the great
est interest in our road IN Ein'
dr,ph and Wester counties. espe-
cially in Randolph county, which Sc
cures ell The outlets 1t wishes, and because
they feel their road is now assured from
one company or the other. DOUBT very
seriously the propriety of the good people
OF the Grafton and Greenbrier road build-
ing to
a narrow guage road. | can take their pas
sengers and freight quickly 10 Charleston,
and then they can go there in few hours
on the Chesapeake and their road from
Beverly TO Greenbrier will be,,s very eGpen-
sive road to them. dependant on passenger
and freight alone, while our shareholders
will be held up by many thousands OF acres
of richest coal and mineral and timber
lands that shall be.gensrously given Us.
don't catch on to your suggestion about
your land security
No don't wonder. / didn Tor miny
| long DAYS and until had as thought dem.
orstra,ed this wonderful development our
rosd yonld make, the sales Of their vain
| HE lands in that community at good
| prjces the means OF ready transportation
| for their cattle and stocks aud farm pro-
ducts especially their vast crops of hay,
ard only when proved as hsys
| reason to believe to every gentle
| man in Webster and Randolph counties
| that if they donated us half Of their prop
| srty .he construction Of our road furnish
ing an oatlet everywhere BY
The Best Railroads
In America The B. 90. r r, Chesa-
| peake. shensdoah Valley and Washington
| City. POcohOBtas giving ready and short
transit to the Capital At Washington and
q, Richmond, Va. and only then a. said
did SET daylight from it These many
prom. inent and liberal gentlemen found
IN my suggestsd scheme what assured
| mem success in the completion OF tn q
way snd splendid prices for the re-
msinder OF their lands, and the high
est devtlopmeRtof tne rich and
neglecud places Of their fine valley
and mountains. and kindly offered on ths
condition We should build this way, !arS'