The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-12-25
THE F. b. v. AND A. & h. r.. RS.
A Letter from YIce-Presldent w.
NJ. Cooke.

A Letter from Vlce-Presldent w.
M. Cooke.
Editor Citizen:-As vice-president oi
the French Broad Valley Railroad Com.
pany, and the Asheville and Bristol Rail,
road Company, desire to submit some
facts to the citizens of Asheville.
The above companies are regularly
chartered under the laws of North Caro-
lima. The French Broad Valley Company
design the construction of a railway line
from the city of Asheville to the South
Carolina or Georgia State line; the Ashe-
vile and Bristol Company design the
construction of line of road from this
city to Bristol, Tenn.
The officers of the two companies are
President, c. G. Dyatt, railroad contrac,
tor and negotiator Of railroad securities,
commonly called broker), New York
City; vice president, w. M. Cooke, jr.,
Asheville, N. c.. secretary and treasurer,
f. B. Williams, of New York and Phila-
delphia; assistant secretary and treas
urer, Through whom the money at home
will be paid,) J. E. Rankin, cashier West
ern Carolina Bank, Asheville, N. c.. d.
rectors, c. G. Dyatt, E. B. Williams, W.
c. Buckln, D. B. French, of New York
w, M. Cooke, jr., J. f. Rankin and H. M,
Ramseur, of Asheville, N. c.
The object of these roads, which will
ultimately constitute one line from Bris-
tol to the South Carolina or Georgia line,
via Asheville, N. c., is to afford the short
est line for the inexhaustible coal and iron
fields of Southwest Virginia and East
Tennessee; the magnificent timber and
mineral fields of Yancey to the South, and
other resorts Of trade. A glance at the
map will indicate the superior advan-
tages of such line. At Bristol connec-
tions will be made with the Louisville
and Nashville system, giving the short
est route from Ashevile to the North,
west; the Norfolk and Western system
giving the shortest route from Ashevile
to the Northeast. To the South it will
afford the shortest route to South Caro-
lima and central Georgia marts of trade.
AS an evidence Of our good faith we
have already placed on deposit several
thousand dollars in the Western Carolina
Bank; our associates in New York and
elsewhere are men of known financial and
business character and standing, and
pledge themselves to act in the fullest
good faith in this undertaking.
The feasibility of these lines has beer
demonstrated by competent engineers
In comes much nearer our means of ac-
complishment than any other line we
know of. 1t is this fact we would I'M,
press on our fellow citizens of Asheville
and of the counties of Pennsylvania, Hen,
derson, Buncombe, Madison and Yancey,
With reasonable assurance of assistance
from the business community of Ashe'
vile, so vitality interested in securing
others and as many more railroads as is
possible, we will begin work at an early
day and prosecute it till both lines are
completed. Not a cent will be asked fol
or expected until the road or roads are
completed, equipped, and regularly NOV
ing. Will our people give us this assistance!
We do not ask anything beyond what
the ability and the interest of the people
will enable them to pay! An enterprise
which promises so much to our com
munity and section surely should, in oul
judgment, meet with prompt and liberia
response, the more readily as not one
cent will be asked for until the work il
done and service being rendered. If yot
get nothing you pay nothing if thu
roads are completed as proposed, yot
can afford to aid in securing them.
We submit this matter to the business
Judgment and intelligence of our people
Pennsylvania and Henderson counties
have moved promptly; Yancey will dc
likewise. What will Asheville do? Lei
our people move too, and move promptly
so that before we shall scarcely have en-
tered upon the new year the work o
construction will have been begun. Nov
is Asheville's golden opportunity. Shal
it be allowed to pass from US, possibl,
for many years1
Truly your fellow citizen,
w. NJ. Cooke, Jr.,
Vice President F. B. V. and A. & B. Rail
roads