Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1889-02-27
Railroad Situation.
ALL ABOUT THE NORFOLK
~ WESTERN.
Correspondent Iron,ou Register.

that can add very much new
material to that which has already
been given by your paper, in regard
to railroads in which lronton is in
terested, but l can, ut least, combine
in one article all the facts and fan
cies so far advanced by railroad
men with whom come in contact.
The Nocfolk K Western r. r. De-
gins at Norfolk, Va. and runs
westerly through Petersburg,
Lynchburg and Roanoke to Bristol,
Tenn, where it connects with the
Richmond Terminal System. 1t
has 554 miles of road, including the
New River Branch, which leaves
the main line AZ miles west of
Roanoke and runs northwesterly
into coal-felds about Bramwell and
Pocahontas, SO miles. This branch,
with its spurs, has become the i'm
portant part of the n. Il w. system.
and the tail now ways the dog, with
the possibility of becoming a new
dog itself before long. This part
of the road has not been open many
years. In 1883. they shipped
los, sos tons of coal and coke; in
1887, the shipment was 1908, 594
tons, while in 1888 freight traffic
increased ID per cent. Two. thirds
Of this went to tide water at Nor
folk. The iron ore shipments of
the y. & w. for 1887 We're 12S,699
tons, an increase of 80 per cent
over the previous year. Within six
years the mileage of the road ir-
creased only - per cent, while the
passenger business increased 159
per cent, and the freight $40 per
cent, and passenger traffic increased
% per cent, last year.
In addition to the New River
Branch, the company is building
what is known as the "Clirch Val
ley Extension" which, when com
plcted, will give direct connection
with the Louisville & Nashville
system and open up wonderful
mineral field. But the extenion of
the New River Branch under the
name of the West Virg MIA & Iron
ton" is what lronton is interested
in, and III tell you about how it il
situated, SO far as an outsider can
see. This branch is completed and
in operation to point s miles this
side of the Flat Top Mountain, di-
viding Virginia from West Virgin
ia. Within one mile of the present
terminus, or Z miles west of the
tunnel, a town called Elkhorn has
sprung up within year or two.
send you copy its newspaper,
the Progress, that you may see what
is going on up there. You will notice
that il states that 30 miles from there
west have already been let to con-
tract. 1t is reported that grading
will be begun in April. This town
of Elkhorn is on the Elkhorn fork
of Tug, and you know Tug is fork
of Big Sandy, SO that the road is
already on the waters of Sandy
Wherever there is sufficient level
land along Elkhorn below tho tun-
mel, coke ovens are at work, and 400
are now in operation day and night
and Sunday and others are being put
up as rapidly as winter weather will
permit The Barlow Company
has so; Anderson 100; Turkey
Gap 80 and building so more;
Crozier 100 and building 100 more:
Houston 100, and the Powhatan
Company is building 100 at end OF
the road, s miles below the tunnel
1872 miles from Ironton, and SO miles
from Radford. where the branch
leaves the main line.
The Grocer company is the large
one, and owns 10000 acres running
down Elkhorn as far as the No. 3
vein shows. II. Bramwill, who
will be remembered in connection
with the Ironton Furnace some
years ago, is manager for this com
pany. This No. 3 vein is marvel
Gus. 1t is il fec, a; Pocahontas and
has no parting; on the head of Elk
horn it runs IL and II feet, and re.
duces rapidly as it comes down the
creek. 1t goes out Of sight about / )
miles below the tunnel, or 8 miles
this side of Elkhorn, ard when last
seen is 8 feet thick. From that
point no coal in paying quantities is
seen for 20 miles dowr tug. when
good coal again shows up on Pig.
con, Mate and Twelve Pole Creeks.
and in the Warheld region. The
veins are not so thick, but they are
ample working size and of excellent
quality, some Of them being cannel
coal. The field continues to within
about 30 miles Of the Ohio river.
and will probably furnish much oil
the traffic of the new road. Almost
the entire route is heavily timbered
with poplar, oak and walnut.
/ am informed that the business
OF the New River Branch is so
great that surveys have been made
with a view to double-tracking. |
and that the only thing limiting the |
output on the Tug is the lack of
transportation for the coke. 1t is |
reasonable, therefore, to predict the
early completion of western out.
let Three surveying parties were
put in the field last April, and they
are sill at work and will not com.
plete the location for thee months
yet. They are making the most
thorough and exhauefive e,yvn,,