Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-06-03
Tjirainia fire. grrss.
W. W. B. GALLAHER, Editor.
June 3, 1886.
VEST VIRGINIA RESOURCES.
4 NelU Road in the Great Mineral Re-
gion, Senator DdUts Explains.

A representative of The 4 aericaR met
ex-senator Henry G. Davis, of West Vir-
ginia. at the Merchants Club yesterday and
said to him:
81 see from the papers, Senator, that you
met President Roberts and his party of
Pennsylvania Railroad people at Cumber-
land few days ago"
yes" said he, they were making their
usual annual trip of inspection over their
many lines of road, and invited me to meet
them at Cumberland to talk over the con-
templated new road from Piedmont to Cum
berland-the Piedmont and Cumberland
Railway"
"Are you going to build the new road p
GAS the public is somewhat interested, |
have no objection to stating that we are
now making the necessary surveys, with
view of permanently locating the line,
which is intended to begin at the West Nir-
ginia Central Road Junction, about a mile
west of Piedmont, and follow the Potomac
river to Cumberland, distance of about
twenty-eight miles. The first two miles,
beginning at the junction, are located, and
we have some fifty to sixty men at work.
There will be no tunnels on the line, and
the grade will be comparatively light, de-
scending with the great majority of the
loaded cars"
81 am told there is a great deal Of coal ,
timber and iron ore on the line of the West
Virginia Central Road"
"A great deal hardly expresses it.
There are vast tracts of fine lumber and
millions of tons of coal of splendid quality.
There are now six or seven coal mines
opened on the road, four of which are work
ing the noted big vein We also have
some twenty saw mills in operation, and
more contemplated A large tannery is
being built at Davis, and wood-pulp mill
is projected. Very recently good quality
of iron ore has been found near Fairfax
Stone, and it is being shipped from there to
Pittsburg."
"Is the new road you are talking Of build
ing in the interest of the Pennsylvania or
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad?"
Neither. 1t is purely business enter
prise, mainly in the interest OF the West
Virginia Central Road and the develop
ment of the country it penetrates. The
! West Virginia Central wants competing
outlets to successfully market the rich prod
ucis of the country IL has opened up. and,
with this connecting link to Cumberland,
/ il would have a choice OF three competing
! lines of transportation, viz, the Baltimore
and Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad sys-
tens. and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
II is true this road will parallel the Baltl-
more and Ohio a part OF the way, but that
is often done to reach competing points.
If the situation were reversed and the Penn
sylyania Road reached Piedmont, while the
Baltimore and Ohio stopped at Cumberland,
| il is likely that we would want cOnnec-
ton with the 3. a. O., a. we now do with
the Pennsylvania. We expect to give all
three lines of transportation at Cumberland
a fair share of our business, providing, Of
course, the rates Of freight are equal, and
they treat Us in fair and just way. The
distance from Cumberland to New York by
both the Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania Roads is about the same-3jO odd
miles"
Do YOU contemplate extending your
West Virginia Central Road southwest
wardlv through West Virginia ?"
"Not at present; but as soon as the times
are more favorable, and business will war
rant it, we expect TO connect with the Ches-
apeake and Ohio system. II Is about sixty
miles from Piedmont 10 Davis, the present
terminus Of the West Virginia Central road,
and about l20 miles from Davis to the
Chesapeake and Ohio road, and we can
reach a connection By going down either
the Greenbrier, Gauley or Elk River Val
leys. If the latter route, which Is little
the longest. be chosen, it would bring us TO
Charleston. the Capital Of the state. There
is no railroad, by the way, for fifty miles
on either side Of this contemplated cOnnec-
ton. and the road would run nearly its
whole route through coal and iron ore ter
ritory, covered by a virgin forest OF finest
timber"
81 am told that Davis, your present ter
minus. is fast improving. Where IS Its e1-
act location?"
"Yes, Davis is rapidly assuming the aP.
pearance of a thriving town; It Is located
at the junction Of the Beaver and Blackwa-
ter forks Of the Cheat river, in Tucker cOun-
ty, West Virginia, in the center of vast
coal and timber region. We have built a
machine shop and engine-house there, and
we expect to make this place the headquart-
ers Of the company. Mr. Elkins and myself
contemplate building at Davis, and making
it our future residence. The company i
building hotel there also, which will be
completed by June 20th; if you should
meet with a good hotel man send him "a
me. as the hotel is for sale or rent. The
Blackwater Falls, which were made famous
by Porte Crayon years ago, are near DAVIS
they have a fall of eighty-six feet, sixty
three of which are perpendicular. This re
zion is famous for mountain trout, am
there are parties from Pennsylvania an'
elsewhere there now fishing"