Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-24
DANyILLE HAPPY.
THE FORMAL OPENING OF THE At
LANTlC AND DANvILLE ROAD.
Tho Reception of the Guests nv Danvii-
Iians--The History of the
Enterprise.
rs..cio, Telegram to tho pIsp.,oh.l

D,Svuty. VA. January 23.-The Atlantic
and Danyilie railroad was formally opened
today between Danville and Portsmouth.
The officials of the road arrived here THIS
afternoon, bringing about $50 guests from
the Underwater cities and points along the
line of the road. The train came in two
sections and arrived mere az o;9O L. Nj.
A COMMITTEES of Danville citizens went
70 Milton on a special train and returned
with the visitors. and the party marched up
town. preceded by q brass band, and as
eemhled ut Odd-Fellows' Hall, from which
nlace the ruests were sent TO the homes OF
their entertainers. At Q O'clock the guests
reassembled at Odd-Fellows' Hall and
went thence 10 Masonic Hall, where an
elegant banquet was served.
ursronY OF THE ROAD.
The history of the Atlantic and Danville
road 10 interesting as showing what great
results may come from very small begin
pincs. Some eight or ten years ago COM
many was organized, known as the Atlantic
and Danville Railroad Company. Its OBJ:
iect was to build narrow-gauge railroad
from Claremont. on the lower James, 10
Danville. Here the road was TO connect with
the Danyille and New-River narrow-gauge,
and 90 on TO the West. which would have
made IT the longest narrow-gaugc road III
Atlantic and Ohio road, was one OF the
prime movers in the enterprise, and, II
mistake not, was its first president. MIR.
b. ID. Iillar. of Greenesville county, was
afterwards elected to the presidency, and
1t was under his management that Dan
VILE voted her first subscription OF Sl5O,-
900.
LITTLE TOO FAST.
But am a little to fast. When tho
company was first organized it had neither
capital nor credit, and 1t started out as a
lumber road, having purchased hye miles
of tramway leading out from Claremont
into Surry county. Finally, however, Sus-
sex and Greenesville counties voted each
a liberal subscription to the road, and IN
the course of time the narrow-gauge ROAD
was completed TO Hicksford, IN Greenes-
vile county.
ABANDONED.
Subsequently Mr.. Tillar decided TO
abandon the narrow gauge as the man
line, and TO build standard-gauge road
from Portsmouth TO Danville. Brunswick
and Mecklenburg counties each voted
50 900 a mile TO the road for every mile
built in those counties, and Mr.. Illlar. IN
NAV. 1886, got subscription OF Sl5O.OOO
from the city of Danyille. Not long after
this the county of Halifax voted $lJO.OO0
TO the road. and Portsmouth city followed
suit with like subscription.
TOOK HOLD.
Mr.. A. f. Bateman and Senator Plumb
were then induced to take hold OF the en-.
terprise and the work was begun In dead
earnest. 1t was decided to abandon the
route through Halifax county, and the
subscription from that county was OF
course forfeited.
THE TERMS.
Under the terms OF Danville's subscrip-
ton the road WAS to be completed by Nav,
1889. but it was found impossible to COM
pete the road within the period specl-
ned. and IN November, 1888, the Ques-
ton of extending the time to Decem-
Der, 1889, was submitted to the. peo-
pie and the time was extended by
AN almost unanimous vote. 1t should be
explained, however, that the Bateman party
did not take hold of the enterprise until a
year after the subscription was first voted.
The work Oh the line progressed as rapidly
as possible and the company decided last
year to build west provided the city OF
Danville would vote an additional sub
scrption of $3.50, 600 to the western end,
which is chartered as the Danvllle and East
Tennessee Railroad Company. An election
on tins question az well as on the question
OF 1u1lncr eAUtDuiIp JIt itllc Niiuii W III IA
the Atlantic and Danville road should be
completed under the terms of the sub
scription from December. 1888. to February.
1890, was had. Both questions were carried,
and the Atlantic and Danville has issued its
bonds. so far as the first subscription OF
$3.50, 600 is concerned.
SURVEYS.
Surveys are now making tor the western
extension, and 1t is believed that the work
of construction will begin as soon as the
spring weather opens.
The new road will give us outlet to the
seaboard, and will connect at Hicksford
with the Atlantic Coast Line giving us
another route to Richmond, and at Nor
folk with the New York, Philadelphia and
Norfolk road, thus giving direct line. to
New York city. The road to Nor
folk is 207 miles in length and Is
well built. The western line Will
pass through the rich mineral-felds of
Southwest Virginia and will go into the
coal-felds. Its western terminus will pro-
badly be at Bristol, and it is said that 1t
will make close connection with tho Louis
vile and Nashville system, thus giving
Danville a new line to the great West.