The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1889-12-19
THE COMEY.
Johnson City. Tsun.. Dec. 10, 1889.
The Embreevllle Road.

from Jonesboro writes to the Chatta-
nooga Times that Johnson City is try
ing to get the road but there is not
much doubt that it will be built to
Jonesboro. We will venture to say
that such an idea is not dreamed OF by
one-tenth OF the citizens OF Jonesboro,
The correspondent says it is only
eight miles from Jonesboro to En-
breeville and that a survey has been
made and O charter obtained and that
the road can be built from there on a
"most excellent grade and at a very
small cost per mile" Now, that
sounds we'll, and we hate to disturb it,
but as an actual fact the statement is
not based on facts at all. In the first
place, it would be almost impossible to
build a railroad from JoneSboro to
Embreeville. 1t could be built, Of
course, but it would cost a mint Of
money and the road would be OF little
value as easy grades could not be got
ten at all in many places. And again,
there is nothing at Jonosboro to in
duce a company to build there. There
is not even a suitable place to
transfer ore and coke. 1t seemed bad
enough to have JonesbOro claim the
road, but when it is claimed by Bristol
it is more than we can stand. The
Courier rises to remark
ut is hardly worth while for John
son City and Joncsboro to quarrel
we this enterprise. AS a matter Of
business it ought to be built to Bristol.
The markets for the iron and ore will
be in the east and west. A road to
Johnson City or Jonesboro would
place the company at the mercy o fthe
East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia
road, which charges $500 per car
load from the former place to Bristol.
A splendid line can be secured from
Bristol to Embreeville, via Elizabeth
ton. From Bristol, direct cor1muni-
cation can be had with the north and
east over the Norfolk and Western
road, and through carload lots could
be sent west over the East Tennessee.
Virginia and Georgia about as cheap
as from Johnson City or Jonesboro
and, then, it will not be long until sew.
eral other important lines are built tc
Bristol, for it is going to be the impor
tant railroad town Of all this section
Being the terminus of the East Ten
nessee, Virginia and Georgia, and the
Norfolk and Western roads, it mus
be the crossing point for an importani
line, via Danville, west. Abingdon
and Johnson City may get little
branches, but main line, for reasons
stated, must come by Bristol. Bristo
will also have direct communication
with the immense coal fields of Wise
by the South Atlantic and Ohio. Oh
we are in the fight"
Have you read that carefully? l
not, read it again. 1t is a remarkable
article. The first proposition is tina
the E%mbreeville road must be built t.
Bristol as a matter Of business as tn
markets for the iron and ore will b.
in the east and west. 1t might hav,
added north and south. The compa
ny does not expect to shipa pound o
ore, but, on the contrary, work it VI
at their own works, and even the PHI
iron will be utilized on their propert,
in q short time after they get in oper
alton. They will ship the manufact
ured articles alone. AS a matter o
fact Bristol has no advantages owe
Jonesboro as a shipping point, tn
only difference in the two points
that the E. T., V. & G. freight train
stop at Bristol. 1t is a very reasonabl
conclusion to arrive at, that a railroad
from Bristol, via Elizabethten, to En-
breeville would be a good thing-fo
Bristol, but the gentlemen who pun
chased the iron works know a littl
about railroads themselves and vii
use their knowledge in locating thei
road. II they should build to Bristc
they would have to ship their cokinI
coal from Johnson City to Bristol t
get it on their road. 1t is claimed b,
our contemporary that Bristol is con
nected with the Immense coal field
Of Wise, by the South Atlantic an
Ohio" There is a road running GU
from Bristol to the coal fields, or rath
er it is projected to the coal fields
and is built q short distance but it wa
built in such an excellent name tha
it is impossible for a locomotive to pul
more than two loaded cars over tn
grades. Under such conditions hoy
could it be expected that a compan,
would depend on such a road to ful
nish coal for 2 or 3 furnaces. The lC
comotives necessary to haul the Goa
that will be used daily by the En-
breevilie furnaces would consum
coal as fast as the s. A. & o. roa.
could haul it to Bristol. This is on
Of the important lines" that will no
be built to Bristol before long.
THE COMET interviewed the repre-
sentatives of the English syndicat
when they were here and found tina
they recognize Johnson City's advar
tages W any other town, in fact, az
knowledged hal johnson City wa
the place. If they build here the
can ship their products to any part Q