The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-10-18
THE THREE C'S" ROAD.
An lmpOrtantSOuthern Link Completed
1.-The Surveys and Estimates all
Made--JOhnsOn City Grow.
ing Rapidly.

NANAN 'AAN NAoAFllle journal.
General ]. 7. Wilder was in town
and lett Sunday evening for Indiana,
his native state, where he will this
week attend the reunion of his old
regiment.
lie was met by Journal represent
ative who inquired of him as to the
progress being made by the Three
US " road, in which he has taken a
great interest during the past two or
three years.
at is getting along splendidly," said
the general. "The road has been
completed from Rutherfordton, N. c.,
to Camden, S. c., distance of 1854
miles, where it strikes the Camden
branch of the South Carolina road, 143
miles from Charleston. The grading
is done, the track laid, and the cars
will be running next week."
" From Rutherfordton to Marion, at
the foot OF the Blue Ridga, "a miles,
the road is under contract and a large
force of hands is at work"
The north end of the road begins at
Richardson, fifty miles south of the
Ohio river to the south end of the
Chatteroi road. From this place,
twelve miles of the road has been COM
pleted and is in operation to the Can
nal coal fields. This leaves 267 miles
of the road to be completed, from
Paintsville, KY, through Johnson City
to Rutherfordton, NC. The surveys
for this have all been completed and
the estimates made. 1t will all be un-
der contract in short time, some of
it in thirty days perhaps and will be
completed within two years. The
whole road, from Ashland, KY, on the
Ohio river, to Charleston, s. O., will
be, when completed, 636 miles long.
The grade across the mountains will
be something wonderful for such a |
region, no grade being above 52.s
feet per mile, or one per cent. grade.
The gentlemen having this great en-
terprise in charge have spent $4,000
for surveying in the mountain sec.
tions, and it has been money we'll
spent, for the work is a splendid illus
tration OF the grand progress made in
this science. Nine corps OF engineers
have been at work on the line within
the last year.
Gen. Wilder speaks enthusiastically |
OF the early completion of this great
enterprise, and of the grand things
which are to be accomplished for the
country through which it runs, by its
completion. 1t penetrates a country
rich in coal and iron which has never
been developed, and opens up a field
for manufacturing enterprises which
will add much to the wealth of the
south, and be the source OF magnifi-
cent fortunes to those who enter it.
1t will, also, penetrate vast virgin |
forests, which will prove to be one of |
the richest lumber fields on the CONT
nent. Gen. Wilder is sure that it will |
prove source of great wealth to the
region penetrated by the road, and that
it will be one Of the very best paying
roads of the south.
He has taken up his residence at
Johnson City and is fully assured that
a bright future is i'll store for that
pluckey little city. 1t is rapidly put
ting on city airs. 1t has already an |
electric light plant, and the system is
being extended and improved. Ar
are being made for the
OF water-works, which
will give the city an abundant supply |
Of pure water The water is to be
brought from mountain spring two
miles distant, which will furnish an
ample supply for population of
25,000 people. The point from which
the water is to be brought affords
pressure of seventy.two feet. These
works are to be completed during the
next year.
Gen. Wilder claims for Johnson City |
a population of $500, which is rapidly
increasing. A great deal of building
has been done and much more is in |
contemplation. The city already has
a number Of manufacturing establish
ments and others are to be built. |
There is every reason to believe that |
this will become one of the most inn
portant manufacturing points in this
section.
When the Trhee C's road is COM
pleted, Johnson City will be at the
junction of that road and the East
Tennessee. tits now the terminus of
the narrow-gauge road running to the
iron ore mines at Cranberry,
N. G. The "Three C's" road will
place it very near to an abundant sup
ply of excellent fuel, the Southwestern
Virginia coal fields. With this fine
ore and excellent quality of coking
coal, there is no reason why Johnson