Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1890-01-25

IN trade relations with southwestern
Virginia, but soon, within twelve
months, all this will be changed.
Within that time the Alleghanies will
have been crossed, and Cincinnati and
the West will be nearer them than we
are 70 the West.
Within that time the Cripple Creek
extension will have met at North
Carolina line. the ape Fear and
Yadkin Valley railroad. SO this whole
section which heretofore has been our
trading ground, will be lost to us, for
all Southern and Western products,
they being the nearer, can then ship
to us instead of our supplying them.
Are we left without remedy?
Thank heavens! Mo-!
The Roanoke and Southern will
give US all we need to make US say
and everybody feel that there are two
"Ricbmonds in field" But says the
cautious one, want to know that
when we vote another hundred thous-
and dollars, that we will get what we
vote fora completed road. There
seems to be Misrepresentation, and i'm
perfect notions about the Roanoke and
Southern railroad and the North Car
DINA and Virginia Construction COM
pany. and their relations to each other.
The writer. having stood by the
cradle that rocked the infant road
during its tender months, is perhaps
IN position to know upon what kind
OF nourishment the child has fattened,
and how it can be made to stretch his
graceful arms to embrace our lovely
city.
About three years ago the county Of
Henry voted, authorizing the county
supervisors to subscribe to capital
stock OF Roanoke and Southern rail.
road, not exceeding 100000, tho only
conditions In vote, that the road should
be located within one mile of Ridge
way and within corporate limits OF
Martinsville. Soon after this vote
was taken, the North Carolina and
Virginia Construction company was
formed, under laws OF both states,
with power to CONTRACT to build rail-
roads. The stockholders Of Roanoke
and Southern railroad made their
statement and offer to the North Caro-
lima and Virginia Construction COM
pany. Winston Salem has voted to
subscribe 100000 to the Roanoke
and Southern road; Madison has
voted $4,000, Henry has voted 800, 900
and Martinsville $4,000. Besides
these the governor Of Virginia has
promised 200 convicts to work on the
road. All these assets we will turn
over to you to assist you in building
the road.
The construction company was will
ling to contract to build to Martins
vile, with an option on remainder Of
the line. The Henry county super
visors said I'VE will make su description
as authorized by vote, on condition
that you agree that we shall iss1e
only fifty thousand Of bonds for the
southern portion OF the road, reserv-
ing the remainder OF fifty thou
sand when road is put under contract
from Martinsville north. The parties
mentioned commenced building the
road under these stipulations and
this week saw seventy-five convicts
working within the corporate limits
OF Martinsville, who will be ready,
with their number augmented, to
begin work on this end Of the line
w lilllh oIASN IL bGy UkIC WIN.
More than three years ago Roanoke
voted one hundred thousand for the
Roanoke and Southern road and she
is called upon to vote. authorizing the
city council to subscribe one hundred
thousand more to the capital stock Of
said road Everybody seems to adj
INIT that the additional hundred thou
sand. under the circumstances, is not
too much, the only apprehension e1-
pressed is, will twenty miles of the
road be built with this two hundred
thousand, and then we forced to sub
scribe two hundred thousand more to
complete the road, or lose the benefits
Of Il completed road.
Never was people so we'll protect
ed in making railroad subscription
as we are in this one. Just as Henry
county supervisors W, re Empowered, .
is the city council to represent us and
our interest i" carrying out the will
of the people as expressed at the polls.
Under this authority, the two hundred
thousand dollars are not subscribed,
until contract is made between the
Construction company and railroad
company by which the whole road
from Martinsville to Roanoke is put
under contract.
Now, the only remaining question
is, who are the North Carolina and
Virginia Construction company
Mr.. Fries, the president of the Con-
struction company, when asked this
same question by the Henry county
supervisors, stated that it was COM
posed of fifty-four men, of whom sew
pnteen were quoted by Bradstreet as
worth six millions of dollars that
for every dollar they put in the Con-
struction company they had humid
red more to send after that one to
make it good. In addition to this.
they have now thirty miles OF COM
pleted road with trains running on
them, and the remainder OF the road
to Martinsville graded, save about
six miles of light work in North Caro-
lima. With Henry county's reserved
fifty thousand, and whatever tax ex-
emptions can be secured from, Frank
lin, and our two hundred thousand,
the Construction company, it is I'M
derstood, is willing to sigR contract
to put whole line under construct
ion at once. These are the circum-
stances that confront us. and at this
while we are bickeriog our
little daughter Salem, who thinks
she is sufficiently grown to entertain
notions, is coquetting with these
gentlemen, and with unmaiden
modesty is actually making proposals.
Backed by her foster-father, the
Salem Land company, and the posi-