The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-01-05
LET HER BOOM /!
THE TwIN-CITY RESOLVES TO
BUILD 4 THROU8N LINE.

The Roanoke and Southern Railroad
Taken in Hand by wiaston-saIeTn.
The City "a Unit Oh the Question Of a
Subscription.
Our people have long waited a
through line OF railroad. They lave
tried tiine and again to induce other
corporations and syndicates TO take
hold and build one. but without sue
cess. First came the North Carolina
Midland project. with s. line extend
ing from Danville, Va, uia Leaks
vile, Winston Salem, Mocksville and
Third Creeh on to Meoresviile, situat-
ed Oh the ''little road with the big
name" running from Statesville to
Charlotte This would have given Us
an outlet to the North by the Virgin
ia Midland Railroad and to the South
by the several roads going out from
Charlotte. Our people handed over
the construction of this road to Robt.
Garrett, then manager of the Balti-
more and Ohio Raiir, ad syndicate.
After subscription money had been
voted by Forsyth county, but before
the road was completed, it was sold to
the Richmond & Danvilie Railr lad
Company and work stopped. From
that day to this the North Carolina
Midland has lam dead, with only a
portion Of dirt bank to show for the
people. money So much for this.
Last yesr the Roanoke 81 Southern
Railroad Company was organized, or
more properly, two Roanoke 81 South
ern lroadCompanies were organic
ed, one in North Carolina and the
other in Virginia. During the sum
mer these two coin panies met III Rt,a
noke CITY, Va, consolidated under
the name Of the Roanoke q Southern
Railroad Company and gavean option
on the construction Of the road to the
Bullock Construction COMPANY, of
New York, on tire following terms
The option was to expirr on Dee. 20,
81 At that time, il the Bullock
Construction Company decided not to
build the road, all the maps, profiles
and papers Of the survey were to be
transferred to the r. & S. r. r. Co.
When the financial depression, al
most panic, came ON the Bullock
Construction Company found it i'm
possible to dispose OF their securities
and when their option expired last
month, they we're forced to abandon
the road. Immediately, the directors
| who lived in Winston Salem took the
initiative, called meeting of the di.
rectors in Winston Salem on Dec 81
At this meeting Committee on Ways
and Means was elected, steps were
taken to secure the maps and profiles
from Bullock & Co, and private rub
scriptions amounting to considerable
sum were pledged. In addition, the
delegates from each township was re.
quested to give an approximate esti
mate of how mucl, subscription its
people would probably vote. It Was
found that Roanoke City and county
had already voted $4,000 with q
probably of 100000 mere. Martins
vile township had voted $4,000, in
addition to $4,000 private subscript.
ion and 100000 from Henry county
When Winston-Salem was called up
on, its representatives thought it could
vote s75, 900 and said so.
On Monday evening, January %
the Chamber Of Commerce held .
meeting to consider the question
There were present many of the lead
ing citizens of the two cities, repre-
senting in themselves much of the
capital and progress of the place
They discussed the subject in its vari
ous lights and With one accord, with
out single dissenting voice or vote
/ they decided that the road must com,
and that they would join forces ant
build the road Speeches were mad,
By some of our very foremost citizens
aud they rang out in clear, unnistak
able language "We must and vii
!
have the Roanoke 81 Southern Rail
roadr' It was most enthusiastic, a
most encouraging meeting.
After adjournment, citizens
meeting was called and cammitte,
appointed to draw up petition to tn,
county commissioners, who met mex
day, Tuesday, requesting them t,
call an electian on the question of vot
ing 500 900 to the road. Under tn,
charter, we were entitled t, become
:, point on the road provided we voted
subscription of S75, 900, but our peo
| pie in order to make assurance doub
ly sure" aud success beyond question
determined to vote 100000 in ad
dit n to SIT 900 already pledged.
] On Tuesday morning petition
signed by large number of citizens
was presented to The commissioner
and an election is now called on FEB
sasary 18th, 1888, for the people t,
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